Amends GS Chapter 93A to modify continuing education requirements for real estate brokers by (1) making minor changes to GS 93A-4; (2) repealing GS 93A-4.1 and moving that language with minor changes to GS Chapter 93A, Article 3 (previously entitled Private Real Estate Schools, renamed to Private Real Estate Education Providers and Continuing Education Requirements) in newly enacted GS 93A-38.5; (3) amending the other existing statutes in Article 3; (4) repealing GS 93A-37; and (5) throughout Article 3, references to "schools" are changed to "education providers," and references to "license" or "licensing" are changed to "certifying" or "certification."  More specific amendments are as follows.

Amends GS 93A-4 by replacing references to "school" with "real estate education provider" and reducing the required time for a provisional broker to complete postlicensing education from three years to 18 months.

Repeals GS 93A-4.1 (continuing education) and moves its language to newly enacted GS 93A-38.5, in GS Chapter 93A, Article 3, with two minor changes: (1) in subsection (a), clarifies that continuing education consists of no more than eight hours annually and (2) in subsection (d), reference to "approved course sponsor" is changed to "private real estate education provider."

Amends GS 93A-32 by changing the term private real estate school to education provider, the definition of which is expanded to include individuals.  Expands definition to education providers who conduct continuing education in addition to prelicensing and postlicensing courses.

Amends GS 93A-33 by changing references to "issuing licenses" and "licensing to certifying or certification," changing "schools" to "education providers," and removing from the Commission's authority inspections of real estate schools.

Amends GS 93A-34(a) by removing references to "licenses" and replacing with "certification"; expands prohibition from operating as an education provider to any entity, and adds language whether live or in any online format.  Amends GS 93A-34(b) by dividing its text between (b), regarding application for certification, and newly created subsection (b1), containing a list of items that must be included in applications for education providers who use methods other than distance learning.  Changes language in (b) and (c) from "license" to "certification" and from "school location" to "education provider." Clarifies in subdivision (c)(5) that all of the enumerated information about the education provider must be contained in a published document accessible to students.

Amends GS 93A-35 and 93A-36 by changing references to "licenses" to "certification" and "schools" to "education provider."  Repeals GS 93A-37.

Effective July 1, 2020.