Can I become an auctioneer online without attending in-person school?

Some auction education is available online, including continuing education and some introductory courses, and online selling has become a major part of the auction business. Whether online training alone meets licensing requirements depends on your state. Some states require courses from approved schools, and the approved list may or may not include online programs.

Even if online training is accepted, many auctioneers find that in-person practice is hard to replace. Learning a bid call, working a crowd and managing a live sale are skills built by doing them in front of real people.

If you plan to focus mainly on online auctions, your most important skills may be photography, cataloging, writing descriptions, customer service, and managing pickups and shipping. Check your state licensing board's rules, since some states apply auctioneer licensing to online sales and others do not.