Rule 539-2-.12 - Advertising(1) If a school, after approval, wishes to use the name of the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board in its advertising, it should indicate that the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board approves the course(s) as meeting the requirements of Georgia laws. Advertising includes any type of solicitation, and advertisements may not indicate in any fashion that the board has any interest in the school other than insuring that it complies with the standards imposed by Georgia law. In no event can the phrase "Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board" appear anywhere in the advertisement in larger type than the words and phrases preceding or following the phrase "Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board."(2) An approved school shall not advertise courses approved under this Chapter with non-approved courses that it may offer in such a manner as to lead the public to believe that the non-approved courses bear board approval or meet any registration, license, or certification requirements. An approved school shall not name and/or advertise non-approved courses in such a manner as to lead the public to believe that the non-approved courses bear board approval or meet any registration, license, or certification requirements.(3) An approved school shall not advertise a course as being offered, sponsored, or conducted by or in conjunction with a real estate appraisal firm or other organization or individual which is not an approved school. However, a school may advertise that it will offer a course at the location of a real estate appraisal firm or other organization provided that only personnel of the approved school: (a) provide students and prospective students with information concerning course offerings except that the school may allow other persons to distribute written information prepared by the school's director/coordinator. Such printed information shall include no telephone number other than the school's number and the following statement: "This information provided by (name of school). Direct any questions concerning this information to (name of school).";
(b) handle paperwork for registering and enrolling students and for certifying students' completion of the course; and(c) maintain all records required by the board.(4) While a course may help to prepare students to take a state examination, the board will not approve any course if the name of the course or any advertising of the school or person offering the course indicates that the primary objective of the course is to prepare students for passing a state examination and may rescind approval of any course which so advertises.(5) An approved school may not advertise that successful completion of its courses will assist an individual in passing a Board approved examination unless it includes its passing percentage in the advertisement in type as large as the reference to passing the examination. In calculating and advertising its passing percentage, an approved school must include the following information: (a) the passing rate of its students: 1. on the examination(s) to which the advertisement refers;2. expressed as a specific percentage (language such as "more than 80% passing" is not acceptable);3. based on only first-time examinees and so state in the advertisement; and 4. for the calendar year prior to the advertisement (the year must be identified in the advertisement);(b) whether the passing rate is for the licensing and certified residential examination or the certification examination (passing rates for the two examinations may not be combined);(c) the actual number of its students taking the examination during the calendar year cited; and(d) the actual number of its students passing the examination in the calendar year cited. An approved school which advertises non-approved courses which do not qualify an individual to sit for an examination but which are held out to the public as assisting an individual to pass the examination must comply with the requirements of this paragraph in advertising those courses.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 539-2-.12
O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-39A-3, 43-39A-8, 43-39A-9, 43-39A-11, 43-39A-13, 43-39A-18, 43-39A-22.
Original Rule entitled "Advertising" adopted. F. Sept. 25, 1990; eff. Oct. 15, 1990.Amended: F. May 8, 1991; eff. May 28, 1991.