you need to take CEHA if u want to be part of a listed agency.
you do not need to sign up for classes if you can get the notes and exam papers and self-study.
Being a property agent is like any other sales job - your product is not the property but yourself ie you gotta convince the homeowner to let u be the ONE to sell his property in the first place.
As for property boom being over - so what? Since when is a sales job easy? If you are interested & determined - go for it.