Realtor vs real estate agent vs broker comes down to who grants the title. In Ontario, “real estate agent” is the everyday term for anyone registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) to trade in real estate. Every registered agent is either a salesperson or a broker, and a broker has more experience and education. A REALTOR® is a registered agent, salesperson or broker, who is also a member of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). In Ottawa that also means membership in the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB). And every agent works through a brokerage, the registered company that your agreement is actually with.
| Title | Who grants it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate agent | Umbrella term | Registered with RECO to trade in real estate, as a salesperson or a broker |
| Salesperson | RECO | Completed the required education and registered to trade on behalf of a brokerage |
| Broker | RECO | Has at least 24 months as a salesperson in the last 36 and completed the broker program |
| Broker of record | RECO | The broker responsible for a brokerage’s compliance and supervision |
| Brokerage | RECO | The registered business that employs agents and holds your agreement |
| REALTOR® | CREA | A registered agent who belongs to CREA and follows the REALTOR® Code |
RECO controls which of these words agents may use in advertising. Its bulletin on permitted terms lets a salesperson call themselves a salesperson, sales representative or real estate agent, and lets a broker use broker or real estate agent. Only CREA members in good standing can use REALTOR®. I’m Jason Polonski, a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty in Ottawa, and here’s what each title means for you as a buyer or seller.
A salesperson is the entry-level registration in Ontario, and most agents you’ll meet hold it. To register, a person completes the required pre-registration education delivered through Humber College’s real estate program, passes the exams, and is hired by a brokerage. RECO’s page on becoming a real estate agent outlines the path, and new salespersons must complete further courses during their first two years.
A salesperson can’t work independently. They can only trade in real estate on behalf of the brokerage that employs them. That doesn’t make them a junior advisor in your transaction, though. A salesperson owes you the same legal duties under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act as a broker does: to act in your best interests, disclose conflicts and treat everyone in the deal honestly.
The title also doesn’t tell you how good someone is. A salesperson with 15 years in Kanata will usually price a Bridlewood semi more accurately than a broker who mostly works downtown condos. Experience in your neighbourhood and property type matters more than the registration category.
In Ontario, a broker is a more experienced registrant. According to RECO’s Real Estate Broker Program requirements, a salesperson must have worked as a salesperson for at least 24 of the 36 months before applying and must complete the broker program. Brokers can supervise other agents and manage a brokerage, but many brokers simply continue serving buyers and sellers directly.
If you’ve watched American real estate shows, note that “broker” means something different here. In much of the U.S. the broker is the licensed business owner and agents work under them. In Ontario, that role belongs to the brokerage and its broker of record. An Ontario broker is an individual agent with more time in the business.
So is a broker better than a salesperson? Not automatically. The title guarantees a minimum amount of experience and extra education, which is a reasonable signal. It doesn’t guarantee local knowledge, negotiating skill or responsiveness. Judge the person by their track record, not the word after their name.
This is the part most buyers and sellers don’t realize: your representation agreement is with the brokerage, not the individual agent. Every agent in Ontario must be employed by a registered brokerage, and the brokerage is the party you’re contracting with.
That matters in a few practical ways:
Every brokerage also has a broker of record, the broker responsible for making sure the brokerage and its agents follow the law. If you have a problem with an agent you can’t resolve directly, RECO notes that the broker of record is often the best place to start.
REALTOR® isn’t a licence. It’s a trademark owned by CREA, and only members can use it. To be a REALTOR® in Ottawa, an agent must be registered with RECO and belong to CREA and the Ottawa Real Estate Board. Members agree to follow the REALTOR® Code, a set of professional standards that sits on top of the legal minimum in TRESA.
Membership also connects agents to the board’s MLS® System, the database where most Ottawa homes are listed and where sold prices are recorded. That access is why a REALTOR® can show you what comparable homes actually sold for, not just what they were listed at, which is the foundation of accurate pricing for both buyers and sellers.
So the hierarchy looks like this: every REALTOR® is a real estate agent, but not every real estate agent is a REALTOR®. In Ottawa, most active residential agents are both.
Real estate marketing is full of labels. Here’s how to read the common ones:
Whatever the label, you can confirm the basics in two minutes on the RECO public register. It shows whether a person is registered, whether they’re a salesperson or broker, which brokerage they’re with, and any discipline in the past five years.
Look at the business card, email signature or listing. Ontario’s advertising rules require agents to describe themselves with a permitted title and to identify their brokerage clearly, so you’ll usually see something like “REALTOR®, Salesperson” or “Broker” next to the brokerage name. If it isn’t clear, ask. A good agent will tell you their registration category, how long they’ve been registered and which brokerage will hold your agreement, without hesitation. Then confirm it on the RECO register.
Also ask who else will work on your file. Some agents handle everything personally. Others pass showings, paperwork or negotiations to team members or assistants. Unlicensed staff can help with scheduling and paperwork, but they can’t advise you on price or negotiate for you. Knowing who does what before you sign avoids surprises later.
Less than most people expect. Once you’ve confirmed an agent is registered, the questions that predict a good result are about the person, not the title:
I’ve put the full interview list in how to choose a realtor in Ottawa. If you’re weighing whether local knowledge is worth prioritizing, read why use a local realtor. And for how all of these roles fit into a transaction, start with the Ottawa real estate guide.
Registration requirements and permitted titles are set by RECO and can change. Check RECO’s current guidance for the latest rules.
Jason Polonski is a full-time REALTOR® registered with RECO through Right at Home Realty and a member of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. For more than 15 years he has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers across Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Nepean and the rest of Ottawa, handling each file personally from first meeting to closing. Before real estate, he worked in construction and the electrical trades and holds a technical diploma in construction electricity, which gives clients a practical read on a home’s condition. He also earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University with a double major in Marketing and Finance. You can check his registration on the RECO register, read his client reviews, or call or text him at (613) 601-9333.
Not exactly. A real estate agent is anyone registered with RECO to trade in real estate. A REALTOR® is a registered agent who is also a member of CREA and, in Ottawa, the Ottawa Real Estate Board. Every REALTOR® is an agent, but not every agent is a REALTOR®.
Not necessarily. A broker has at least 24 months of experience as a salesperson and has completed extra education, but both owe clients the same legal duties. Local experience and track record matter more than the title.
The broker of record is the broker responsible for a brokerage’s compliance with Ontario’s real estate rules and for supervising its agents. They’re often the best person to contact if you have a problem with an agent.
The brokerage. Representation agreements in Ontario are between you and the brokerage, even though an individual agent is your main contact.
No. Every salesperson and broker must be employed by a registered brokerage and can only trade on that brokerage’s behalf.
It’s owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association and can only be used by members in good standing, who agree to follow the REALTOR® Code of professional standards.
Search their name on RECO’s public register. It shows their registration status, whether they’re a salesperson or broker, their brokerage and any discipline in the past five years.