Learn it. Earn it. Own it.

An apprenticeship program in six connected careers: real estate, underwriting, insurance and investments, lending, development and internet technology. Train with people who do the work, get licensed, and build a book of business you own.

Start learning free See the tracks
BBrokerageResidential, commercial, rentals, property management UUnderwritingProcessing, appraisal, title and closing IInsurance and InvestmentsProperty & casualty, life, health, securities LLendingMortgage, commercial, SBA, credit repair DDevelopmentLand, flips, new construction, the trades ITInternet TechnologySocial media, lead generation, websites, AI
38years in the industry
400+homes rehabbed since 1992
1,400+first-time homeowners helped
6connected career tracks

Six tracks, one deal

Every home sale touches all six. Someone lists it, someone underwrites it, someone insures it, someone lends on it, someone builds or fixes it, and someone brings in the buyer online. Learn one track or stack several.

Brokerage

Real estate sales and management. This is where most people start, because it's the fastest license to earn and every other track feeds deals to it.

What you'll learn

  • Residential sales and listings
  • Commercial real estate
  • Rentals and property management
  • First-time homebuyer programs
  • Prospecting and client follow-up

Credentials

  • NYS real estate salesperson license
  • Associate broker and broker license
  • Continuing education

Where it leads

  • Licensed agent at a partner brokerage
  • Team leader or listing specialist
  • Property manager
  • Your own brokerage

Underwriting

The people who decide whether a deal closes. Learn to read a file the way lenders, appraisers and title companies do, and you'll be valuable on every side of the table.

What you'll learn

  • Mortgage underwriting and loan processing
  • Appraisal and property valuation
  • Title search and closing
  • Risk review for commercial files

Credentials

  • Loan processor training
  • NYS appraiser trainee license
  • Title and closing training

Where it leads

  • Loan processor or junior underwriter
  • Appraiser trainee, then licensed appraiser
  • Title closer

Insurance and Investments

Property and casualty, life, health, and the securities side. Every house you sell, every truck on a job site and every small business in our chapters needs coverage, which makes this the most renewable income in the program: you sell a policy once and it pays you every year it stays on the books. We have securities-licensed professionals on the direct team who mentor apprentices through the exams and handle sponsorship.

What you'll learn

  • Homeowners, auto and commercial coverage
  • Life and health insurance
  • Annuities and retirement products
  • Investment products and 529 plans

Credentials

  • NYS property & casualty license
  • NYS life, accident & health license
  • SIE exam
  • Series 6, Series 7 and Series 63

Where it leads

  • Licensed insurance agent
  • Registered representative
  • Agency producer, then your own agency

Lending

Mortgage, commercial, SBA and private money, plus credit repair. Nothing closes without financing, and the people who arrange it are paid on every deal.

What you'll learn

  • Residential mortgage origination
  • Commercial and SBA lending
  • Private and hard-money lending
  • Credit restoration and mortgage-ready coaching
  • Business credit building

Credentials

  • NMLS mortgage loan originator license
  • SBA lending program training
  • Commercial lending and broker certificates
  • Credit consultant certification and compliance training

Where it leads

  • Loan officer at a partner lender
  • Commercial and SBA loan broker
  • Credit restoration specialist or your own credit practice
  • Business capital advisor inside our chapters
  • Private lender placing your own or investor capital

Credit repair is the easiest door in this track: low startup cost, and the demand never runs out, because a buyer who gets turned down is a buyer who becomes a client. You'll be trained on the federal and state rules that govern this work, including what you may charge and when, before you take a single client.

Our founder has funded hundreds of real estate projects as a private lender. This track teaches the deal from the lender's chair, not just the borrower's.

Development

Land, flips, new construction and the construction trades. Contractors across the country can't find enough skilled workers, which means a trade learned now is a career that's waiting for you.

What you'll learn

  • Finding and evaluating land and properties
  • Fix-and-flip from purchase to resale
  • New construction and project management
  • Estimating, permits and scheduling
  • Hands-on trade skills

Credentials

  • Home improvement contractor license
  • OSHA 10 and OSHA 30
  • EPA lead-safe (RRP) certification
  • Trade apprenticeships and certifications

Where it leads

  • Skilled tradesperson
  • Project manager or site supervisor
  • Licensed contractor
  • Developer and investor

Our founder is both a licensed real estate broker and a licensed contractor, with more than 400 home rehabilitations since 1992. You'll learn from someone who has done the work on both sides.

Internet Technology

The skills that bring customers to every other track. Every agent, lender, agency and contractor needs someone who can run their online presence, and most of them will pay for it.

What you'll learn

  • Social media management
  • Lead generation and paid ads
  • Website building
  • AI assistants and automation

Credentials

  • Google and Meta platform certifications
  • A portfolio of real client work

Where it leads

  • Social media manager
  • Lead generation specialist
  • Web and AI freelancer
  • Your own digital agency

Every trade has a seat

The Development track covers the full range of construction trades. Pick one, or learn enough of several to run a job.

CarpentryFraming and finish
ElectricalResidential and commercial
PlumbingSupply, drain, fixtures
HVACHeating and cooling
RoofingShingle, flat, repair
MasonryBrick, block, stone
ConcreteFoundations and flatwork
DrywallHang, tape, finish
PaintingInterior and exterior
FlooringWood, vinyl, carpet
TileKitchens and baths
Windows and doorsInstall and replace
SidingVinyl, wood, fiber cement
InsulationEnergy efficiency
LandscapingHardscape and grading
DemolitionSafe tear-out
WeldingStructural and repair
Heavy equipmentExcavation and site work

How it works

Four steps from your first free lesson to your own book of business.

Start free

Take the free introduction to all six tracks and see which one fits you.

Pick your track

Choose one track or stack several. Apply for a scholarship if you need one.

Train and get licensed

Work alongside a mentor, take your courses and pass your exams with support.

Build your book

Work real deals through our network and grow a client base that belongs to you.

Mentorship

Every apprentice is paired with a working professional in their track. You'll sit in on real appointments, closings and job sites, not just classrooms.

Incubator

When you're ready to open your own brokerage, agency, credit practice or contracting business, we help with the setup, the first clients and introductions across the National Small Business Chamber of Commerce network.

Licenses and certifications

What each credential lets you do and what it takes to earn it.

CredentialTrackWhat it lets you doWhat it takes
Real estate salespersonBrokerageHelp clients buy, sell and rent property under a brokerState pre-licensing course and exam, sponsoring broker
Real estate brokerBrokerageRun your own brokerage and supervise agentsExperience as a salesperson, broker course and exam
Appraiser traineeUnderwritingAppraise property under a certified appraiserQualifying education and a supervising appraiser
Property & casualtyInsuranceSell home, auto and business coverageState pre-licensing course and exam
Life, accident & healthInsuranceSell life and health insurance and annuitiesState pre-licensing course and exam
Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)InsuranceEntry-level securities credential and the prerequisite for registrationSelf-study and exam, no sponsoring firm required to sit
Series 6 / Series 7InsuranceSell mutual funds and variable products, or a full range of securitiesSIE plus the exam, with sponsorship and registration through a firm
Series 63InsuranceRegister to do securities business at the state levelExam alongside your Series 6 or 7 registration
Mortgage loan originator (NMLS)LendingOriginate residential mortgagesFederal pre-licensing hours, state requirements, national exam
Credit consultant certificationLendingWork with consumers on credit restoration and mortgage readinessCertification course plus federal and state compliance training
Home improvement contractorDevelopmentContract for home improvement workCounty license application and insurance
OSHA 10 / OSHA 30DevelopmentShow job-site safety training employers ask for10- or 30-hour safety course
EPA lead-safe (RRP)DevelopmentWork on pre-1978 homes with painted surfacesOne-day certification course
Google and Meta certificationsInternet TechnologyShow clients you can run ads and analyticsOnline courses and exams

Requirements change. We confirm current state and federal requirements with every apprentice before enrollment.

Scholarships and enrollment

Money should not be the reason you don't start. Everyone can begin free.

Free start

$0
  • Introduction to all six tracks
  • Live info sessions
  • Career fit conversation
Start learning free

Scholarship

Reduced or covered
  • Full track training
  • Mentor pairing
  • Help with course and exam fees
  • For applicants who qualify
Apply for a scholarship

Full program

Ask about tuition
  • Full track training
  • Mentor pairing
  • Incubator support
  • Stack multiple tracks
Apply now

Questions

What people ask before they apply.

Do I need experience?

No. The free start is built for people who are new to all six industries. Your mentor meets you where you are.

Is this a paid job?

This is a training and mentorship program, not an hourly job. Once you're licensed, you earn from the deals and clients you work, and the book of business you build is yours.

Can I do more than one track?

Yes. Many apprentices start in Brokerage or Insurance and add Lending or Development later. The tracks are designed to work together.

Does the program cover securities or investments?

Yes, on the Insurance and Investments track. Insurance is licensed by the state and securities is regulated by FINRA, so they're two separate paths. You can sit for the SIE exam on your own, and the registration exams after it require a sponsoring firm. We have securities-licensed professionals on the direct team who mentor apprentices through the exams and handle that sponsorship side. Most people license in insurance first and add securities once they have a book of clients.

Is credit repair included?

Yes, as part of the Lending track. You'll learn credit restoration, mortgage-ready coaching and business credit building, and you'll be trained on the compliance rules before working with clients.

How do scholarships work?

Apply through the form below and tell us about your goals. Scholarships can reduce or cover training and help with course and exam fees for applicants who qualify.

Where are classes held?

Our office is in Freeport, New York, with training on job sites, at closings and online.

Who it's for

If you want a career you can own, there's a track for you.

Career changers

You're ready for work where effort shows up in your income.

Young adults

You want a license and a skill instead of debt.

Tradespeople

You already know the work and want to run jobs or build your own business.

Licensed professionals

You want to add a second license and serve your clients on more of the deal.

Small business owners

You want to learn lending, insurance or marketing for your own company.

Future investors

You want to understand every side of a real estate deal before you put money in.

Apply or ask a question

Tell us which track interests you and we'll set up a call. There's no cost to apply.

Prefer to talk? Call 516-710-3374 or email todd@toddeliott.com.

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builditapprenticeship.com

Office
42 Guy Lombardo Avenue
Freeport, NY 11520
Phone
516-710-3374
Email
todd@toddeliott.com