Comments on: The ABC’s of earning your GRI in Illinois

By: Carrie Elliott

Carrie Elliott — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:23:20 +0000

I have been approached by students who are enrolled in a college program where they do accept credit for prior continuing education and pre-licensing course work towards certain degree programs. This of course is on a case by case basis and you would need to speak with an advisor at the college of your choice to see if they do have programs like that available. In the case where they are available, IAR is always happy to comply with providing letters, or certificates of completion for real estate continuing education and pre-licensing programs to the institution of their choice.

Carrie Elliott
Education Manager
Illinois Association of REALTORS
522 S. 5th St., Springfield, IL 62701
Ph: (217) 529-2600 Fax: (217) 529-3904

By: Jenny Basantes

Jenny Basantes — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 04:25:42 +0000

Hi we are required to have/get CE hours for our license and or designations. Can we ever use our CE hours for/toward a degree? With all the education and money we invest in our Real Estate education, fees, dues etc, IAR/NAR should help Realtors be able to get classroom hours toward a Finance/Business degree. Is there ever any discussion on this? or for the future? This would be absolutely wonderful instead of constantly trying to get money out of Realtors for education…

By: Sheila Starke

Sheila Starke — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:36:26 +0000

Any chance the GRI classes will be held in the southern portion of the state? I plan to take the on-line I course right away, but I think I will have trouble going up north for 3 days.

By: Mike Long

Mike Long — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:50:01 +0000

Hi Harry,

The next GRI will be held November 29-December 2 and will be in Bloomington. More details as we get closer to that date but mark your calendar today. Let me know if you have any more questions and hope your 2010 is off to a great start!!

Mike Long, GRI
Long Realty

By: Harry Ventimiglia

Harry Ventimiglia — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:03:02 +0000

I missed the December GRI. When will the next class be held?

By: Mike Long

Mike Long — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:27:46 +0000

Hi Vicky,
As a resident of Naperville who practices real estate in the Western Suburbs I would love nothing more than to see GRI return to this area. The problem came about when nobody in and around Chicago decided to attend the GRI in Lombard. The tough decision was made for the GRI program to be offered once a year and in a “centralized” location. I can’t imagine when we will expand back to two offerings of GRI with one of them being in and around Chicago but I can tell you it is something I am interested in seeing down the road. I truly believe GRI is a designation that makes you a better agent for new agents or seasoned vets. The Bloomington GRI is a much different experience in that most people are staying at the hotel…so between the class work and the networking you learn soooo much heading into 2010. Hope to see you there and thanks for the question!!

By: Mike Long

Mike Long — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:22:35 +0000

Hi Betty,
The GRI program consists of 90 classroom hours not credit hours which you would typically find in a college or university setting. I am not sure I could compare the program to a Master’s degree because it is more practical and less intense. I am sorry you had a bad experience with an online program but I would like to assure you that we have some of the best instructors in the country teaching our GRI program, and between the instructors and the Board of Governors who are in each classroom, I would be very surprised if there would be any questions you couldn’t get answered on the spot. The GRI program, in my opinion, is outstanding because it provides practical information which allows you to succeed in real estate. If you have any more questions, please feel free to be in contact with me at any time.

By: Vicky Todorova

Vicky Todorova — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:32:18 +0000

Last year you offered the course in Lombard but I could not attend. I wish you had an opportunity for those of us who are very far from Bloomington. Do you think that you may offer locations a little closer to the city of Chicago?

By: Betty Moorhead

Betty Moorhead — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:02:14 +0000

90 hrs. seems like a huge comment. How do you compare 90 hrs. of GRI to earning a Masters Degree? Would it be comparable? It just seems so long. The last program I took and lost all over $300 from the RealEstate Inst. was not user friendly at all. So I anticipate problems. I don’t like paying in full for something I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish. There’s alot I don’t understand about RE and would love to learn, but I’m afraid of not being able to get the help I’ll need.