Membership

Honorary Membership

Honorary Membership Requirements
In order to obtain REALTOR® Emeritus status from the National Association of REALTORS® or Honorary Member-for-Life status from the California Association of REALTORS®, each Association's respective membership requirements must be met and forms must be filled out and submitted to OCAR's Laguna Hill's office with the necessary paperwork and sufficient time to meet approval deadlines.

California Association of REALTORS®: Honorary Member-for-Life
Requirements / Steps for Approval:

Note:
The Honorary Member-for-Life application requires approval of the C.A.R. Membership Committee and the Board of Directors at one of its three annual membership meetings (January / May / September). C.A.R. must receive the application in advance of the meetings in order to be effective (if approved) for the following dues year. Once approved, the member is exempted from paying C.A.R. and Local Association Dues (he/she must still pay NAR dues, unless an NAR Emeritus). Honorary membership status at C.A.R. does not automatically extend to OCAR membership. Specific criteria and approval must be met at each level of the organization in order for the waiver of dues to apply. For additional information, please contact OCAR's Member Services Department.

National Association of REALTORS®: REALTOR® Emeritus
Any person who has held membership in the National Association as a REALTOR®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®, or a combination of both, for a cumulative period of 40 years in one or more Associations of REALTORS® is eligible for REALTOR® Emeritus status. Upon approval by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®, no further payment of dues is necessary to the National Association by the Member Association of which the REALTOR® Emeritus is a member.

Requirements / Steps for Approval:

  • Have 40 years cumulative National Association of REALTORS® membership
  • Complete NAR's REALTOR® Emeritus Application
  • Fax application with a copy of your Driver's License to OCAR (949) 586-0382 (attn: Amanda)
  • OCAR will submit your application electronically to NAR

Note:
The dues waiver does not take effect until the following “dues season.” For example, members approved as Emeritus at the NAR MidYear or Annual meetings in 2011 would have their dues waived starting in 2012, as membership fees are due at the beginning of each year. REALTOR® Emeritus members are exempt from the Quadrennial Ethics Training requirement. Additional information and application requirements are available on NAR's website here.

Department of Real Estate--Exemption of Continuing Education Courses
Real estate licensees who submit satisfactory evidence to the Real Estate Commissioner that they are 70 years of age or older and have been "licensees in good standing" for 30 continuous years in California are exempt from the continuing education requirements for license renewal. Licensees must have been in good standing and hold an active license which has not been suspended, revoked or restricted as a result of disciplinary action.

To file an exemption with the DRE (not OCAR):

  • The DRE requires that form RE213 Continuing Education Extension / Exemption Request and Renewal Application and fee be submitted to the DRE prior to the licensee's expiration date.
  • Include a copy of your birth certificate or driver's license to verify your age, along with supporting documentation indicating the number of years you have been licensed.
  • If you are applying for the exemption for the first time, your renewal application must be submitted by mail or in person. If an exemption has been granted, you may file your renewal application using eLicensing.

Please contact the DRE if you have questions about the exemption requirements.