The Virginia Certified Title Settlement Agent course is an OPTIONAL course designed to offer advanced training to licensed title insurance agents & attorneys. This is not the required pre-licensing course for the Virginia title insurance license.
The Virginia Certified Title Settlement Agent™ course is the
only formal instructional program available for title settlement agents in
Virginia. VLTA developed the VCTSA course to promote higher standards and
skills for title settlement agents to benefit the land title industry and real
property consumers. Those who complete this course are awarded the VCTSA
designation, a voluntary accreditation currently not required by Virginia
law.
NOTE: This course DOES NOT count toward the mandatory 16-hour pre-licensing training course for the title insurance license. To learn more about Virginia licensing requirements, consult the Virginia Bureau of Insurance. The Title Insurance Pre-Licensing Course required to sit for the Title Insurance Licensing Exam is available here.
Course time limit: VLTA highly recommends that you start the course within 30 days of purchase. Students have 120 days from the date of purchase to complete all the course components.
This course has been
approved for:
- 16 hours of CE (13 Title + 3 Law/Regulations)
- 15.5 hours of CLE (Title)
Students who complete the course and pass the final exam also earn the only universally accepted designation in title settlement in Virginia.
Continuing Education: Virginia Certified Title Settlement Agents are required to complete 16-hours of continuing education each biennium, ending in odd-numbered years. VCTSA Continuing Education courses are mid- and advanced-level courses designed to offer depth and insight into common problems faced by settlement agents; reduce claims; and provide resources for closers to resolve issues.
Course Content
The VCTSA program is organized is a generally chronological approach. Covered topics include:- Real Estate Transactions and the Role of the Settlement Agent
- Explaining the Deed and Owner's Affidavit
- How to Become a Settlement Agent (RESA Registration Requirements)
- Explaining FIRPTA
- Three Sets of Instructions for the Settlement Agent to Follow: Sales Contract, Title
- Commitment and Lender's Papers
- Explaining the R-5 and 1099 Reporting
- Pre-Closing Activities: Giving & Gathering Information
- Processing the Information
- Handling the Money
- Closing Protection Letters
- The Method and Authority to Sign for Oneself and On Behalf of Other Individuals and Entities
- Preparing Documents that Summarize the Transaction Financially: CD, ALTA Settlement Statement and HUD-1
- Post-closing Activities
- Managing a Settlement Conference
- Managing & Protecting the Escrow Account
- Explaining Documents that Summarize the Transaction Financially: CD, ALTA Settlement
- Statement and HUD-1
- Restraints on Marketing and Fees
- Explaining the Lender’s Papers
- Everything "e" and the Future Role of the Settlement Agent
Instructor
Kevin T. Pogoda, Esq.Kevin T. Pogoda, Esq. serves as First Vice President and Virginia State Manager, Northern Division at Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. In his capacity as Virginia State Manager, Kevin regularly speaks as an instructor before various groups, including attorneys, real estate agents, title examiners and title settlement agents. Kevin is also a Past President of the Virginia Land Title Association and is the proud recipient of VLTA's Distinguished Service Award for 2017 and the 2021 VLTA Presidential Award for Service.
Reminder: Only the account holder can receive credit/certification for the courses completed. Employers cannot purchase courses for their employees from their personal account – the employee must create and/or login to their own account to purchase and complete this course. If you have any questions, please contact VLTA Program Director at 800-564-8582 or by email at vlta@vlta.org.
For course specific questions please contact the Instructor, Kevin Pogoda at instructor@vlta.org.