Head over to the real estate jobs section of Craigslist and you’ll see repeated variations on that headline. Read the ads, and learn the minimal qualifications that are required before you can be employed as a leasing agent: a high school diploma or GED, a smart phone, perhaps a working car, no felony convictions.

Now step back for a minute, and think about what those employment standards mean to you, whether you’re considering employment as a leasing agent or working with one to find your next apartment or rent one you own.

If you’re a landlord or a renter, do you want to work with an agent who has zero experience? Do you want to work with an unlicensed agent? Are you comfortable getting in the car with, or turning over the keys to your apartment to someone who may have a criminal record?

If you’re thinking about a career in real estate, do you want to gamble your time and your dime on companies that set such minimal standards?