Courses in DePaul University’s Commercial Real Estate Certificate Program have been approved for continuing education (CE) credit through the Illinois Office of Banks and Real Estate’s course sponsor, REALTORS Real Estate School, a division of the Chicago Association of Realtors.

The approval means real estate brokers and sales people seeking to fulfill state certification requirements may earn CE credits by completing DePaul’s real estate certificate courses. These courses also are suitable for self-reporting CE requirements for professionals, such as architects and Certified Public Accountants.

To earn a Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate, participants must complete five courses. The courses are intensive, two-day seminars that cover such topics as:

· Commercial and industrial leasing

· Land use controls and zoning

· Legal issues in commercial real estate acquisition, financing and investment

· Commercial real estate appraisal

· Buildings and construction

· Negotiating real estate transactions

· Construction management

Each two-day course meets weekdays at DePaul’s Loop Campus, with some offerings at the Lincoln Park campus. “These courses were developed in conjunction with the Real Estate Center at DePaul to cover advanced topics that are highly suitable and appealing to experienced real estate professionals,” said Susanne Cannon, director of the center, which offers education, research and career enhancement programs tailored to the needs of Chicago’s real estate professionals.

“Whether you are looking to enhance your skill base with applicable tools for immediate use, or seeking to fulfill continuing education requirements for licensure renewal, DePaul’s real estate certificate courses offer quality programs with outstanding faculty,” Cannon said. She noted that the faculty includes such noted professionals as Jack Guthman, partner in the commercial transaction law firm Shefsky & Froelich Ltd.; Donna Pugh, partner and leader of the Land Use Practice Group of the Vedder Price law firm, and Shawn Hunt, principal of Mesa Development.

DePaul’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education offers a wide variety of high-quality certificate programs for adult learners seeking new skills for professional development and certification for career advancement. Although standard college credits are not awarded, program graduates receive continuing education units, which provide recognition of professional achievement and competence.

In addition to real estate and construction management, certificate programs are offered in the following areas: business; communications; financial planning; fund raising; human resources and training; management; marketing; law; leadership; negotiation and mediation; online/distance learning programs; organizational development; payroll; sales; and quality standards.

For more information about DePaul’s real estate certificate programs and other continuing education offerings, contact Eilish McDonagh-Hermer, program manager, at (312) 362-5295 or emcdonag@depaul.edu, or visit the OCPE web site: http://www.learning.depaul.edu/.