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Policies & Procedures

The following policies shall govern the administration of all courses offered by Gold Coast. No oral or written representation by any registrar or instructor shall supersede the written policies of Gold Coast Schools.

Tuition, Refund, and Cancellation Policy

Livestream and Classroom Courses:

Students may request a refund within 24 hours from the first class of a Livestream or Classroom course to receive a refund*. Students can swap to a self-paced online course if they no longer qualify for a refund. Livestream and Classroom students who do not attend their scheduled class will not qualify for a refund. If a course is completed, it does not qualify for a refund. If the student purchased a membership or package and completed at least one for-credit course, a refund is no longer available for the entire membership or package. *Physical textbooks, manuals, and shipping are non-refundable.

Online Courses:

Starting from the date of purchase, students have 30 days to request a refund*. If a course is completed, it does not qualify for a refund. If the student purchased a membership or package and completed at least one for-credit course, a refund is no longer available for the entire membership or package. *Physical textbooks, manuals, and shipping are non-refundable.

Transfers

Students who enroll in online courses may have the opportunity to audit or review in-person classroom courses, subject to availability. Students should call the Gold Coast office to ensure space is available before attempting to audit a course. Students who wish to transfer to the classroom course will be able to do so upon paying a $50 transfer fee plus the difference between the classroom and online course tuition. Students transferring from a classroom course to an online course can do so upon paying a transfer fee. This fee may vary depending upon the course. All transfers must be approved by the school Administrator or Director. Classroom and online courses are different courses. Time spent in each cannot be transferred or interchanged. Any course materials will be shipped within 7 days of registration. Additional charges for shipping may apply to any materials being shipped outside of the Continental United States.

All Modalities:

  • If a course is completed, it does not qualify for a refund.
  • If the student purchased a membership or package and completed at least one for-credit course, a refund is no longer available for the entire membership or package.
  • Physical textbooks, manuals, and shipping are non-refundable.
  • A check returned by students’ bank for any reason, will incur a service charge.

Bookstore items:

No returns or refunds on bookstore purchases including: books, videos, cd’s, dvd’s, calculators, flashcards, etc. All sales are final. If an item is defective we will gladly exchange it for a new one of the same version within ten (10) days of purchase date.

General Policies

Study Buddy Program:

A 10% study buddy program discount will apply for any group of two or more students that register at the same time for the same pre-license class. Both students must be pre – registered and tuition must be paid in full at least 24 hours prior to the start of class. No retroactive discounts will be given, and no study buddy discounts will be honored on the start date of the class. Can not be combined with any other discount or promotion.

Coupons, Discounts, etc:

Any student registering with a referral card or discount coupon must be pre-registered and paid in full at least 24 hours prior to the start of the class to receive the discount. The card must be presented during the initial registration. No retroactive discounts will be given, and no discounts will be honored on the start date of the class. Gold Coast does not accept or honor coupons or discount codes that are not specifically authorized and published by Gold Coast (ie: online coupon sites). Can not be combined with any other discount or promotion.

Transfer Policy:

Students cannot arbitrarily switch back and forth between schools, classes, or crams without the prior written authorization from the Director or Administrator. Instructors cannot authorize transfers. Students who switch schools for crams, classes, or exams without prior written authorization may find themselves bumped from class as seating priority is given to those who attended class at each location. Students switching from one program to another (ie: online to class, or English to Spanish) may be charged a transfer fee if the transfer is permitted.

NSF Check Charges:

An NSF fee of $30 shall be charged for all returned checks. The student is responsible for all payments, regardless of who pays for the class (ie: company or relative).

Tuition fees:

Tuition covers class fees and one set of materials (if included in tuition). Tuition must be paid in full prior to the start of any class. Certain classes (ie: contractor, etc.) may require additional materials that are not included in the c ourse tuition. Please check with staff regarding what is or is not included with each class.

Tuition is valid for the specific program the student signed up for, and for a specific time period. Gold Coast will consider transferring tuition to another program, provided the request would meet refund guidelines. Students who do not complete courses within the allotted time will be required to pay the current tuition, minus a prior student discount to continue. The following are the time-frames that tuition is valid:

  • Real Estate Sales and Broker Pre-license classroom courses: 2 years
  • Real Estate Sales and Broker pre-license online courses: 1 year
  • Contractor continuing education online courses: 1 year
  • Contractor cram course: the course that the student signed up for
  • All other courses: 1 year

Material updates:

From time to time course materials will be updated and changed. For courses that include materials, Gold Coast will provide the student with one set of materials. If the materials are later updated or revised, it is the student’s responsibility to pay for upgraded materials.

Deposits:

Partial deposits will be honored for one year from the date the deposit was made. During the one year period deposits may only be transferred to another student or another class provided the student has not attended any class sessions and provided that Gold Coast is notified in writing as to the student’s intentions. Gold Coast has the sole right and discretion to approve or disapprove of any deposit transfer.

Repeats/Retakes: (Real Estate and Appraisal students only)

FREC and FREAB rules dictate that students who fail a class exam must wait at least 30 days before retaking the exam. If a student wants to test prior to the 30 days, he or she must repeat the entire course before being eligible to retest. If a student fails the retake exam, he or she must repeat the entire course before being eligible to retest. Retake students will have priority over review students if classes are full.

Review Students:

Review students are students who have passed the end of course exam, but wish to further review prior to the state exam. Three rules apply for review students. 1) Review students are asked to register with the office. 2) All review is on a space available basis. New students and retake students will have priority over review students. 3) Review students are asked not to participate in classroom discussions.

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Policy

In the event of inclement weather, Gold Coast management will monitor storms and make decisions regarding cancellation of classes on a case by case basis. In the event of a class cancellation all efforts will be made to quickly reschedule classes as time and classroom space permit. It is not always possible to schedule makeup classes on the same days and times as the classes that are cancelled.

Cram Courses:

Students must pre-register for all cram courses and are expected to complete all cram materials prior to attending the cram. Crams are intended for those who have completed their class and are preparing for the state exam. Students can only register for one cram at a time.

ID Badges:

Students will be issued an ID that is your “PASS TO CLASS”. ID must be worn at all times when in Gold Coast buildings, including attending classes or doing business with the office. ID’s will be checked prior to admittance to all cram courses. Admittance and all administrative work (including notary, pass-slips etc.) will be denied to any student who cannot show a valid and current ID. There is a $10 fee to replace lost ID’S.

Cell phones:

Cell phone usage is discouraged inside Gold Coast buildings, due to the noise level created. Please be courteous to other students and hold conversations outside of the building. Cell phones must be turned off or in silent mode while in class. Repeat offending students may be asked to leave class and will not be permitted back in with their phones.

Laptop computers:

Laptops are permitted in class provided they are being used for note taking purposes and are not distracting to surrounding students. Students with laptops will be asked to sit in specific areas. Anyone found to be using a computer in any manner deemed inappropriate by the instructor will not be permitted to further use the computer in class.

Recording Devices:

Recording devices (including tape recorders, digital recorders, cameras, camera phones, video recorders, etc.) are not permitted to be used in class.

Absences:

Each state agency limits the amount of time students are allowed to miss. Instructors will explain this policy in class. Students missing in excess of the allowed time will be required to make up the time and material prior to testing.

Smoking:

Smoking of any type, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited inside all Gold Coast facilities. Students are permitted to smoke outside of the buildings, away from the building entrances.

Classroom comfort:

Classrooms are generally kept in the range of 73 – 75 degrees. Instructors will adjust for overall class comfort. Classroom temperatures may vary, please dress accordingly.

Neatness:

Students are asked to please replace chairs when leaving class and to place trash in the containers provided. Please do not place chewing gum under our chairs. Any students found to be vandalizing any Gold Coast property will be dismissed from class, without a refund.

Questions:

The nature of the State required material and the time frame allowed requires that class be presented in a highly structured format. Each instructor has his or her own specific policy on answering student questions which will be explained at the start of class.

Class Examinations:

Class exams are required to be administered under secure conditions. Students are not permitted to use cellular phones or apps on phones during exams. Students found cheating on an exam will be dismissed from class with no credit and no refund. Any incidents of suspected cheating may be reported to the appropriate state agency.

Exam Review:

Class exams are utilized as an evaluation to determine whether or not a student is qualified to proceed to the State examination. Class exams are not part of the learning process. Gold Coast does not review class exams with students.

Parking:

Students must park at the back of the parking lot away from the building in Boca Raton; and between the yellow lines in N. Miami Beach. Gold Coast is not responsible for items left in a students’ car, or for any towing charges if students have illegally parked. Gold Coast will not reimburse students for any towing charges as a result of the student’s negligence. Common sense dictates that personal items such as cellular phones, brief cases, purses, cameras and sunglasses should be properly secured and not be left in automobiles at any time. Safety is always a concern, wherever you are. As an added precaution, we recommend that you use the “Buddy System” when leaving school, especially at night.

Recruiting:

Pursuant to FREC rule, recruiting for employment opportunities for any real estate brokerage firm must be accomplished outside the prescribed classroom instructional time. Noncompliance should be reported to the Commission.

Study Aids and Products:

Throughout the course your instructor will mention different study aids and additional course offerings. These products and courses are optional. They are designed to assist you in your studying and enhance your professional knowledge.

Lost and Found Items:

Gold Coast is not responsible for any items left in our facilities. If you have lost an item, please check with the office. Please label all of your belongings to make identification easier. Please do not leave valuable items (purses, brief cases, wallets, cell phones, etc.) unattended at any time.

Disruptive Students:

Instructors have the authority to dismiss any student that the instructor feels is disruptive and or whose behavior may be detrimental to other students, at any time without a refund.

Pet/Service Animal policy:

No pets of any kind are allowed in Gold Coast offices, classrooms, or other premises. However, based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “Service Animals” are not considered pets. Service animals are defined as dogs or miniature horses that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. Therapy Dogs (TDs), Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), or any other dog whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and thus are not permitted on Gold Coast premises.

As Per: http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Do Not Call Policy 

Policy Statement:

Gold Coast Professional Schools (“GCPS”) will adhere to all applicable and enforceable federal and state laws and regulations governing outbound telephone calls for the protection of the privacy of telephone consumers. GCPS has implemented this Do-Not-Call Policy to provide the guidelines necessary to follow all applicable and enforceable federal and state Do-Not-Call laws. If you have any questions about the applicability of this Do-Not-Call Policy to any operations at GCPS, please call the Client Relationship Manager at 1-800-732-9140 ext 8207.

Purpose:

The federal government, through the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), and several states have enacted laws governing how companies contact consumers through use of the telephone. These laws generally cover the following areas: (a) Do-Not-Call Lists; (b) Do-Not-Call List Exceptions; (c) Company-Specific Do-Not-Call Lists; (d) Use of Automated or Predictive Dialers; (e) Use of Artificial or Prerecorded Voices; (f) Abandoned Calls; (g) Wireless Telephone Numbers; (h) Caller ID Requirements; (i) Time-of-Day Restrictions; (j) Sales and Upsell Disclosures; and (k) Facsimile Restrictions.

Procedures:

The following guidelines prepare GCPS employees to follow applicable and enforceable federal and state Do-Not-Call laws. Each jurisdiction, however, may have certain laws that differ from these general policies. To the extent that federal and state laws may change, GCPS may change, revise or alter these guidelines. Employees involved with activities affected by these guidelines will receive training to enable them to take actions consistent with these guidelines.

Do-Not-Call Lists:

 The federal government and several states have adopted “Do-Not-Call” lists that allow consumers to place their numbers on a list that prevents telephone solicitations, except in certain limited circumstances. When necessary, GCPS will subscribe to applicable federal and state Do-Not-Call lists and will scrub the numbers against those applicable lists, subject to applicable exceptions.

Do-Not-Call List Exceptions:

Most Do-Not-Call laws allow businesses and other entities to make telephone solicitations to certain consumers even though their number may appear on a Do-Not-Call list. Generally, these exceptions apply to (1) businesses with an “Established Business Relationship” with the consumer; (2) a consumer who has specifically consented to allow the business to call him or her; (3) charitable organizations; and (4) political entities. Given our business, the Established Business Relationship exception will apply most frequently to the activities we undertake for our clients. GCPS may contact consumers that fall within these exceptions, based on information received from each client.

Company-Specific Do-Not-Call Lists:  

Do-Not-Call regulations allow a consumer to place his or her telephone number on a Company-Specific Do-Not-Call List that prohibits a business from contacting that consumer even if the consumer and the business have an Established Business Relationship. Typically, a consumer’s Company Specific Do-Not-Call Request will become effective 30 days after the consumer makes the request. GCPS will honor Company-Specific Do-Not-Call Lists based on information provided by the consumer.

Use of Automated or Predictive Dialers:  

These laws dictate when and how GCPS can use automated or predictive dialers to call consumers. GCPS will not use automated or predictive dialers to place telephone solicitations. Should this situation change, GCPS will comply with FCC rules

Use of Artificial or Prerecorded Voices:  

These laws dictate how and when GCPS can use artificial or prerecorded voice services to call consumers. GCPS will not use automated or prerecorded voices to place telephone solicitations. Should this situation change, GCPS will comply with FCC rules

Abandoned Calls:  

Under the FCC’s rules, when using an automated or predictive dialer GCPS cannot disconnect an unanswered telephone solicitation call, when using an automated or predictive dialer until either 15 seconds have elapsed after the first ring, or after four (4) rings. The FCC classifies a telephone solicitation that does not meet these requirements as an “abandoned call”. GCPS will not use automated or predictive dialers to place telephone solicitations. Should this situation change, GCPS will comply with FCC rules regarding abandoned calls.

Wireless Telephone Numbers:  

GCPS will apply all FCC Do-Not-Call rules (for example, National Do-Not-Call Registry, Company Specific Do-Not-Call Lists) to wireless telephone numbers.

Caller ID Requirements:  

GCPS will not block Caller ID information. In accordance with the FCC rules, GCPS will transmit Caller ID information.

Time of Day Restrictions:  

Representatives of GCPS will not place telephone solicitation calls to a residential telephone number before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday (local time at the residential telephone number location) Sunday 9:00am -9:00pm . In making telephone solicitation calls to those states that have enacted applicable and enforceable time of day restrictions that are stricter than the FCC rules, GCPS will follow the stricter guidelines.

Identification of Telephone Solicitation:  

Persons representing GCPS for purposes of telephone solicitations must clearly state the name of the organization, their name, the purpose of their call and provide to the caller a telephone number through which GCPS may be contacted.

Sales and Upsell Disclosures: 

For all outbound calls that include a sales or an upsell component, GCPS must provide required telemarketing disclosures prior to the sales communication. These required disclosures include truthfully disclosing material information in a clear and conspicuous manner before a consumer pays for a good or service and obtaining the consumer’s express, verifiable authorization for payment.

Facsimile Restrictions:  

GCPS will not dial any telephone number for the purpose of determining whether the line is a facsimile or voice line. GCPS will not use facsimile machines, computers or any other device to send “unsolicited advertisements” to any telephone facsimile machine.

Do-Not-Call Training:  

GCPS requires employees directly involved in the placement of outbound telephone solicitations to undergo training on this Do-Not-Call Policy. All inside sales and service personnel will be instructed in training sessions or by a supervisor to respond to client who wishes to be placed on the Do Not Call list. All inside sales and service personnel will be required, after being trained in the procedures and the content of the guidelines, to sign an acknowledgement that they understand the guidelines and their importance.

Handling Do-Not-Call Questions

During a telephone call with a customer, employees may encounter requests: (a) for information about Do-Not-Call legislation; (b) to be placed on the National Do-Not-Call Registry; (c) to be placed on a state Do-Not-Call list; (d) to be placed on a Company-Specific Do-Not-Call List; or (e) for a copy of GCPS Do-Not-Call Policy. Please handle each of these requests in accordance with the procedures set out below. If you receive a request from a consumer that does not fall within any of these categories, please contact your supervisor immediately.

  • Requests for Information about Do-Not-Call Legislation
    Unless instructed otherwise by GCPS, please direct the customer to the FCC’s telephone number at 1-888-225-5322 or the FCC’s website located at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall/
  • Requests to be placed on the National Do-Not-Call List
    Unless instructed otherwise by GCPS, please direct the customer to the FCC’s Do-Not-Call telephone number at 1-888-382-1222 or the FCC’s website located at http://www.donotcall.gov.
  • Requests to be placed on a State Do-Not-Call List
    Unless instructed otherwise by GCPS, please direct the customer to the state government website at fldnc.com.
  • Requests to be placed on a Company-Specific Do-Not-Call List
    Please ask for the consumer’s name, telephone number, and email address. You will than email this information to the Client Relationship Manager.
  • Requests for a Copy of This Do-Not-Call-Policy
    Please ask for the consumer’s name and address and forward that information to the GCPS Client Relationship Manager. GCPS will then send a copy of the Do-Not-Call Policy to the consumer.

Written Policy

These guidelines serve as GCPS’s written Do Not Call Policy as required by the FCC Rules.