Groundwater, wetlands, shorelines and septic systems. For some, these are not enchanting topics. But for real estate professionals, they are part of a continuing education curriculum that helps agents stay knowledgeable of the field.
WSU Thurston County Extension offers nine to 10 programs each year about waterways and water resources.
“The impetus for people to come is that they get continuing education units, and real estate professionals need a certain amount of continuing education units each year,” said Karen Janowitz, extension water resource educator in Thurston County.
“The better understanding that real estate professionals have about the land and natural processes, the better chance for them to provide information on sustainable practices (to their clients),” she said.
With a turnout of about 30 people per class — mostly from Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Pierce and King counties — the program is continually working to expand.
“We are always looking at what the need is and trying to meet it,” Janowitz said.
A new case-law program on water rights will be offered next week. Adding new programs allows professionals who already have taken many of the courses to learn something new.
Some classes are taught by Janowitz or others in the office, but typically professionals from the field are brought in.
“Being in Olympia, we have a lot of great state agencies that can present for us,” Janowitz said.
She said the classes offered through WSU Extension provide more hands-on experience than participants can get elsewhere. Other programs, offered through private industry, often provide classes and continuing education online or through distance programs.
“Our programs are in a classroom, and many of them include a field trip,” she said. “It really helps solidify participants’ learning.”
The program, which started at the WSU Jefferson County Extension, also is offered at WSU’s Spokane and Clark County Extensions, Janowitz said.
