Sec. 20-317. Persons licensed in another state as a real estate broker or salesperson. Requirements for Connecticut license. Consent to suits and actions.

(a) A person licensed in another state as a real estate broker or salesperson may become a real estate broker or real estate salesperson in this state by conforming to all of the provisions of this chapter. The commission or Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall recognize a current, valid license issued to a currently practicing, competent real estate broker or real estate salesperson by another state as satisfactorily qualifying the broker or salesperson for a license as a real estate broker or real estate salesperson under this chapter, provided (1) the laws of the state in which the broker or salesperson is licensed require that applicants for licenses as real estate brokers and real estate salespersons establish their competency by written examinations and allow licenses to be issued to residents of the state of Connecticut, licensed under this chapter, without examination, (2) the licensure requirements of such state are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state, and (3) the broker or salesperson has no disciplinary proceeding or unresolved complaint pending against the broker or salesperson. If the applicant is licensed in a state that does not have such requirements, such applicant shall be required to pass the Connecticut portion of the real estate examination.

(b) Every applicant licensed in another state shall file an irrevocable consent that suits and actions may be commenced against such applicant in the proper court in any judicial district of the state in which a cause of action may arise or in which the plaintiff may reside, by the service of any process or pleading, authorized by the laws of this state, on the chairperson of the commission, such consent stipulating and agreeing that such service of such process or pleading shall be taken and held in all courts to be as valid and binding as if service had been made upon such applicant in the state of Connecticut. If any process or pleadings under this chapter are served upon the chairperson, it shall be by duplicate copies, one of which shall be filed in the office of the commission, and the other immediately forwarded by registered or certified mail, to the applicant against whom such process or pleadings are directed, at the last-known address of such applicant as shown by the records of the commission. No default in any such proceedings or action shall be taken unless it appears by affidavit of the chairperson of the commission that a copy of the process or pleading was mailed to the defendant as required by this subsection, and no judgment by default shall be taken in any such action or proceeding within twenty days after the date of mailing of such process or pleading to the out-of-state defendant.

(1953, S. 2352d; 1967, P.A. 460, S. 8; 1971, P.A. 381, S. 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 226, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A. 82-422, S. 8, 14; P.A. 87-137; P.A. 88-329, S. 8, 15; P.A. 90-332, S. 10, 32; P.A. 91-229, S. 9, 19; P.A. 93-354, S. 13, 54; P.A. 94-36, S. 41, 42; P.A. 96-200, S. 11; P.A. 98-10, S. 12; P.A. 01-100, S. 3; P.A. 16-185, S. 28.)

History: 1967 act updated statute to provide for service of process on chairman or executive director of commission rather than on commissioner or his deputy; 1971 act deleted reference to filing of bond by nonresident applicant “in the same amount as is required of a resident of this state”; P.A. 77-614 deleted references to executive director of commission as proxy party for nonresident applicants in suits and actions filed against them; P.A. 78-280 replaced “county” with “judicial district”; P.A. 82-422 limited licensure by reciprocity to licensees currently practicing in a state having licensure requirements substantially similar to or higher than those of this state, who have no complaints or disciplinary proceedings pending against them and who pass the Connecticut portion of the real estate examination; P.A. 87-137 provided that, for licensure by reciprocity of individuals licensed in another state with requirements substantially similar to or higher than those of this state, the applicant need not pass the Connecticut portion of the real estate examination; P.A. 88-329 made licensure requirements for nonresident brokers and salesmen applicable to nonresident real estate appraisers and residential appraisers, effective July 1, 1989; P.A. 90-332 amended section to include references to the real estate appraisal commission and provisions re certification for general certified and residential certified appraisers; P.A. 91-229 divided section into Subsecs., deleted all references to general certified and residential certified appraisers, in Subsec. (a) added a provision re certification and qualifications for nonresidents applying for licensure or certification in this state and added new Subsec. (c) re temporary licensing or certification for a period of 20 days for a $150 fee; P.A. 93-354 deleted Subsec. (c) re licensing and certification of nonresident real estate appraisers and deleted all references to real estate appraisal commission and real estate appraisers elsewhere in the section, effective in accordance with Sec. 20-528; P.A. 94-36 changed effective date of P.A. 93-354 but without affecting this section; P.A. 96-200 substituted “salesperson” for “salesman” in Subsec. (a); P.A. 98-10 made technical changes; P.A. 01-100 deleted references to nonresidents and replaced with references to persons licensed in another state and made technical changes, including changes for the purpose of gender neutrality; P.A. 16-185 amended Subsec. (a) to add “or Commissioner of Consumer Protection”, effective July 1, 2016.

Notation

Cited. 144 C. 647. If a nationally recognized real estate brokerage corporation wants to engage in real estate business in this state, section provides a means for it to do so legally. 266 C. 572.