California Department of Real Estate Takes Disciplinary Action Against Lance McHarg and Real Estate Education Provider Real Estate Trainers, Inc.
January 6, 2026
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Real Estate (DRE) has entered into a settlement with
Real Estate Trainers, Inc. (RETI) and its former President, Lance McHarg.
The discipline comes after DRE discovered that McHarg took the real estate license exam numerous times without receiving a passing score. After an
extensive investigation, DRE concluded that McHarg had subverted exam content for the purpose of including this information in educational materials
offered by RETI intended for students preparing to take the State's real estate license exam.
"The subversion of real estate license examination content is something DRE takes very seriously," said Assistant Commissioner Jeff Oboyski, who is
responsible for DRE's Licensing Division, which includes the Education and Research and Examination Administration sections. "Ensuring that those who
attempt to compromise the integrity of our real estate license exams are held accountable for their actions underscores DRE's commitment to consumer
protection."
RETI is a real estate course provider that offers educational courses to real estate professionals. Through this settlement, DRE barred McHarg for
three years from applying for, taking, or any type of participation in an examination for a California real estate license or holding a real estate
license and prohibit him from holding any position of employment, instructor, management, control or ownership in a real estate business or a business
that offers pre-license, continuing education or any type of real estate license exam preparation courses.
The settlement requires McHarg and RETI to pay $60,000 covering monetary penalties, damages, and the Commissioner's reasonable costs of investigation
and litigation which led to this disciplinary action.
As part of the settlement, RETI, including all its officers, directors, instructors, and any other affiliated persons are also barred for three years
from applying for, taking or any type of participation in any examination for a California real estate license, as well as offering any type of real
estate license exam preparation course or pre-license course(s) which use questions copied or subverted from DRE license exams. The settlement also
requires that McHarg be removed as an instructor, officer, director agent, associate, independent contractor, employee, or affiliate of RETI.
DRE's Education and Research section is responsible for the review and approval of all real estate license continuing education course offerings, as
well as statutory/pre-license qualification courses offered by private course providers. Currently, there are 63 continuing education course providers
offering 525 approved courses and 163 statutory/pre-license course providers offering 859 approved courses.
If you are an applicant attempting to complete the required coursework to qualify to take the real estate exam, or an existing licensee looking to
complete continuing education hours, DRE encourages you to visit www.dre.ca.gov for more information about DRE's education
requirements and approved courses.
DRE Disciplinary Actions, including the settlement agreements for McHarg and RETI, can be found on DRE's website.
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The Department of Real Estate is the regulatory agency that enforces the Real Estate Law, Subdivided Lands Law, and Vacation Ownership and Timeshare Act. DRE oversees the licensure of approximately 434,000 licensees. The Department's mission is to safeguard and promote the public interests in real estate matters through licensure, regulation, education, and enforcement. Consumer protection is its highest priority. For more information, visit: www.dre.ca.gov.
