W2 & Qualifying with a Real Estate Professional Status

[Powell Chee]

Hello BP,

I have a question I am hoping to get an answer to.  Would someone who works for a real estate company as a W2 employee be able to qualify on their taxes as a Real Estate Professional?

For example: would a sales trainer who works at a brokerage qualify as a Real Estate professional?  Assuming their job is just training agents, not as a realtor himself.