With so many real estate designations and certifications available, how do you choose which one(s) will move your career forward? In this post, we’re listing all the real estate designations and certifications we could find! Then we’ll help you decide which ones are the best fit for you.
The Big List of Real Estate Designations and Certifications
Let’s start with the destinations offered by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) since these are generally the most well-respected within the industry. Then we’ll move onto state-level Associations of Realtors, then to some non-Realtor offerings.
NAR Real Estate Designations and Certifications
The following real estate designations and certifications are offered by the NAR. You must be a member of NAR to qualify for any of these offerings.
Accredited Buyer’s Representative / ABR
The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) designation is specifically for agents who specialize in representing buyers.
Accredited Land Consultant / ALC
The Accredited Land Consultant (ALCs) designation is for agents who specialize in the sale of vacant land. You’ll need to complete an educational program, adhere to a code of conduct, and meet experience requirements to earn your ALC designation.
Certified Commercial Investment Member / CCIM
The Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation is for commercial real estate agents and requires a 200-hour course plus experience requirements.
Certified International Property Specialist / CIPS
The Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation is for agents specializing in international transactions. It requires the completion of five full-day courses.
Certified Property Manager / CPM
The Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation is for experts in real estate management.
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager / CRB
The Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) designation is for agents who have completed advanced educational and professional requirements relating to managing a brokerage.
Certified Residential Specialist / CRS
The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation is for Realtors specializing in residential sales.
Counselor of Real Estate / CRE
The Counselors of Real Estate CRE is an organization of commercial property experts worldwide. You must have 10 years of experience to apply for this credential.
General Accredited Appraiser / GAA
The General Accredited Appraiser (GAA) designation is for Realtors who also have their general appraiser license and meet NAR’s certification requirements.
NAR’s Green Designation / GREEN
The Green designation is for agents who specialize in environmentally friendly homes.
Graduate, REALTOR Institute / GRI
The Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI) designation is for agents who have completed the REALTOR Institute coursework covering advanced legal, tech, and sales topics.
Performance Management Network / PMN
The Performance Management Network (PMN) designation is for agents who complete courses on business development, including negotiation, networking, business systems, and leadership.
REALTOR Association Certified Executive / RCE
The REALTOR Association Certified Executive (RCE) designation is for agents who act as executives in their firms.
Residential Accredited Appraiser / RAA
The Residential Accredited Appraiser (RAA) designation is for Realtors who also have their residential appraiser license and meet NAR’s certification requirements.
Seller Representative Specialist / SRS
The Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation is specifically for agents who specialize in representing sellers.
Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS / SIOR
The Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS (SIOR) designation specifically for commercial agents specializing in industrial and/or office sales.
Seniors Real Estate Specialist / SRES
The Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation is for agents who specialize in the 50+ age demographic.
At Home With Diversity / AHWD
The At Home With Diversity (AHWD) designation is for agents who are committed to working with clients of different backgrounds and diversifying neighborhoods.
The Certified Real Estate Team Specialist (C-RETS) certification is for agents who are committed to working as a team rather than independently. Courses cover topics like team development, leadership skills, and financial performance.
Digital Marketing: Social Media
The RRC Digital Marketing: Social Media certification is for agents specializing in using social media to market their business and their listings.
e-PRO
The e-PRO certification program is for agents who want to use digital tools to grow their businesses and serve their clients.
Military Relocation Professional / MRP
The Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification is for agents who specialize in serving military members and their families.
Pricing Strategy Advisor / PSA
The Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) certification is for agents who want to take their real estate valuation skills to the next level.
Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist / RSPS
The Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) designation is for agents who specialize in tourist-friendly markets full of vacation properties and second homes.
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource / SFR
The Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) certification is for agents who specialize in short sales and foreclosures.
Smart Home
The Smart Home certification is for agents who specialize in high-tech “smart homes”.
Note: The NAR is no longer offering the Broker Price Opinion Resource (BPOR) designation.
State-Level Realtor Association Designations and Certifications
In addition to the NAR real estate designations listed above, your state-level Association of Realtors may offer additional designations and certifications. These could include designations for specialties like:
- Lease contracts
- Probate and trusts
- First-time buyers
- Transaction coordination
- Women’s groups
Check with your state association for specific offerings.
Additional Real Estate Designations and Certifications
Additional certifications are available outside of the Associations of REALTORS, but the legitimacy of these designations may be questioned. Pretty much anyone can offer a designation or certification, so do plenty of research before choosing a designation program outside of the Association of Realtors. Here are a few designations and certifications worth a closer look:
- Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS)
- Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS)
- Certified Luxury Agent (CLA)
- Accredited Staging Professional (ASP)
- Staging Design Professional (SDP)
Note: The Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation is no longer offered.
Which Real Estate Designations are Right for You?
All residential real estate agents can benefit from two key designations:
- CRS
- GRI
After that, focus only on the designations that matter to your niche. If you focus on sellers, SRS is a natural fit, and for buyer-focus, go with ABR. But you know from our branding guide that your niche should be deeper than just buyers or sellers. GREEN, SRES, and MRP are strong options for agents specializing in environmentally friendly homes, seniors, and military respectively.
Several designations are, frankly, meaningless to your clients. PMN and RCE, for example, are for your advancement within your brokerage, but your executive and personal development skills don’t matter to buyers and sellers. Similarly, some designations are more of a base-level expectation than a designation to be proud of. Designations like e-Pro and PSA fall into this category; you should be expected to understand technology and pricing without the credentials.
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Do you have a real estate designation? Has it made a difference in your career? Let us know in the comments.
