Working as an auctioneer in North Carolina is both exciting and challenging. Exciting because no two days are the same, and you will get the chance to sell all kinds of items. Challenging because you’re working in a high-pressure environment that’s highly regulated. Part of the regulations requires you to renew your licence every other year.
For most auctioneers, this can be disappointing news, but the good part is that it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Here are some tips to help you sail through.
1. Understand the Deadlines and Requirements
Before rushing into the process, you first want to make sure you know your calendar. Auctioneer licences in NC expire on June 30 every year, which means you must submit your renewal application and fees before then. You must also complete your continuing education (CE) by May 15 to renew your licence effortlessly.
Missing these deadlines attracts late fees, and in the more serious cases, a licence expiration. If you leave your licence expired for more than 24 months, you will have to reapply for a new one, which is a lengthy and expensive process.
2. Complete Your Continuing Education (CE)
CE is often the part that most auctioneers dread, but if you see it as a way to brush up on your skills, it will feel less like a chore. The licensing board requires you to take at least 4 hours of Ethics Continuing Education NC from an approved provider like RocketCert every year. Your course will cover topics like:
- Ethics and professional responsibilities
- Updates to state laws and auction regulations
- Risk management and safety practices
- Appraisal & valuation
- Handling of funds
- Writing contracts
After completing your course, be sure to keep the certificates safe because the board may require proof. And if life gets in the way, there are hardship waivers you can apply for, but you must request them in advance.
3. Use Renewal as a Chance to Reflect on Your Practice
Many auctioneers make the mistake of treating their renewal process, continuing education included, as just a way of ensuring they don’t lose their licence. But that’s not how you should do it. The entire process should be a chance to think about your business and your skills.
Ask yourself questions like what you can do to improve your auction setup or bidding processes, whether you’ve learnt anything new that can improve your career recently, and more. By treating the renewal process as a mini-audit for your career, you will know where to direct more of your effort and even think about continuing your education beyond the renewal period.
4. Avoid, By All Means, Waiting Until the Last Minute
Procrastination is one of the biggest traps when renewing your licence. If you wait too long to finish your CE course or even submit your renewal application, you risk missing important deadlines should something related to work come up at such a time, and you have no option but to deal with it first.
That’s why it’s generally a good idea to start your renewal 1-2 months early. You will have enough time to work on it a little each week. That way, you can cross the finish line calm, confident, and a CE course more knowledgeable.
Take the Next Steps Now
Renewing your NC auctioneer licence might feel like a workout, especially if you are doing it for the first time, but not when you know what to do and when to do it. With the information in this post, you should find it a tad easier to walk through this process.
And if you want to streamline your processes even more, head over to rocketcert.com today to get a simplified course that makes studying fun.