RECO, OREA, CREA & Ontario Real Estate Boards Explained

If you are starting your real estate career in Ontario, you will quickly encounter a soup of acronyms: RECO, OREA, CREA, TRREB, OREB, and more. Each organization plays a distinct role in the industry, and understanding who does what is essential for both your exams and your career. This guide breaks it all down.

RECO: Real Estate Council of Ontario (The Regulator)

RECO is the regulatory body that governs all real estate professionals in Ontario. Think of RECO as the "police" of the Ontario real estate industry. RECO operates under the authority of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA) and reports to the Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.

What RECO Does

• Registers all salespersons, brokers, and brokerages in Ontario
• Enforces TRESA and its regulations, including standards of conduct
• Investigates complaints against registrants and conducts inspections
• Disciplines registrants who violate rules (fines, suspensions, revocations)
• Educates consumers about their rights in real estate transactions
• Administers the Insurance Program that protects consumers through deposit insurance

RECO's MyWeb Portal

RECO operates an online portal called MyWeb where registrants and aspiring agents manage their registration. Through MyWeb you can apply for the salesperson program, track your education requirements, renew your registration, and check your licence status. For a complete walkthrough, see our RECO MyWeb Portal Guide.

Why RECO Matters for Students

RECO is heavily tested on the Humber real estate exams, especially in Course 1. You need to understand RECO's powers, the registration process, the Code of Ethics, and the discipline process. Before you can practice real estate in Ontario, you must register with RECO.

OREA: Ontario Real Estate Association (The Trade Association)

OREA is the trade association representing Ontario's real estate boards and their members. It is important to understand that OREA is not a regulatory body. OREA advocates for the real estate profession and for homeowners.

What OREA Does

• Advocates on behalf of real estate professionals at the provincial and federal level
• Develops standard forms used in Ontario real estate transactions (the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, for example)
• Provides resources and professional development for its members
• Represents over 90,000 real estate professionals through its member boards

OREA and Education: A Common Misconception

Historically, OREA delivered the real estate education program in Ontario. However, OREA no longer delivers education. The pre-registration education program was transferred to Humber College (now Humber Polytechnic). This is why you hear people refer to "OREA exams" even though the exams are now administered by Humber. If someone tells you to sign up for the "OREA course," they mean the Humber College real estate program. The name "PassOREA" itself reflects this legacy. For step-by-step details on the current education path, see our guide on how to become a realtor in Ontario.

CREA: Canadian Real Estate Association (The National Body)

CREA is the national trade association for the real estate industry across Canada. While OREA operates at the provincial level, CREA operates at the federal level.

What CREA Does

• Owns and operates REALTOR.ca, Canada's most popular real estate listing website
• Controls the REALTOR trademark in Canada — only CREA members can call themselves REALTORS
• Advocates for real estate professionals on national policy issues (taxation, housing policy, mortgage rules)
• Publishes national housing statistics and market reports
• Provides professional designations (e.g., ABR, SRS, SRES)

REALTOR vs. Real Estate Agent

Not every licensed real estate agent is a REALTOR. The term "REALTOR" is a trademark owned by CREA and can only be used by members of a real estate board that belongs to CREA. While most practicing agents in Ontario are REALTORS, the terms are not interchangeable.

Local Real Estate Boards

Ontario has several local and regional real estate boards. These boards are member organizations that provide MLS access, professional development, and local advocacy. The major boards include:

TRREB: Toronto Regional Real Estate Board

Formerly known as TREB, TRREB is the largest real estate board in Canada with over 70,000 members. It covers the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and provides access to the MLS system for the region. TRREB publishes monthly market statistics that are widely referenced in media.

OREB: Ottawa Real Estate Board

OREB serves real estate professionals in the Ottawa and surrounding area. It provides local MLS access and market data for the National Capital Region.

Other Ontario Boards

• RAHB — REALTORS Association of Hamilton-Burlington
• LSTAR — London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS
• WDBAR — Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS
• KAR — Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS
• BDAR — Barrie and District Association of REALTORS

When you begin practicing, you will join the local board for the area where you intend to work. Your board membership gives you access to the MLS system, the REALTOR designation (through CREA), and local resources.

How These Organizations Relate to Each Other

Here is the hierarchy at a glance:

• RECO regulates you (mandatory — you cannot practice without RECO registration)
• Your local board (e.g., TRREB) provides MLS access and local support (you join through your brokerage)
• OREA represents your local board at the provincial level
• CREA represents your local board at the national level and gives you the REALTOR designation

In practice, when you join a brokerage, your brokerage handles your local board membership, which automatically includes OREA and CREA membership. The only separate step you handle directly is RECO registration.

What Aspiring Agents Need to Know

If you are currently studying for your real estate licence in Ontario, here is what matters most:

1. RECO will appear on your exams — Understand its powers, the registration process, and the Code of Ethics thoroughly
2. TRESA is the legislation, RECO enforces it — Do not confuse the Act with the regulator
3. OREA does not deliver education anymore — Your courses are through Humber Polytechnic
4. You need RECO registration to practice — Complete your Humber courses, then apply through RECO's MyWeb portal
5. Board membership comes through your brokerage — You do not need to worry about CREA, OREA, or your local board until you join a brokerage

RECO, OREA, and the Code of Ethics are heavily tested in Course 1: Real Estate Essentials. Our study guides condense 1,500+ textbook pages into focused notes covering exactly what appears on the exam, including RECO's powers, TRESA compliance, and the registration process.