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Introduction: The industry is saturated with an abundance of real estate designations, certifications and accreditations. This is largely due to the fact that real estate industry spans many different professions and occupations such as brokerage, appraisal, construction, inspection, etc., as well as various functions such as sales, management, administration, etc. and over numerous types of real estate, such as residential, commercial, agriculture, resorts, etc. In each of these market segments or niches there are many Institutes, Associations, Councils and Societies resulting in various different designations and certifications. Although most have very specific rules governing the awarding of their accreditations, there is no consistency across the board and it is impossible to compare or rank the different real estate designations and certifications.
The List: This is to the best of our (RealtyU®) knowledge the most comprehensive list on real estate designations and certifications. Since being created in 2003 it has been updated every year and has steadily grown from about 28 to almost 100. RealtyU®, the largest career development company in the residential real estate industry, manages the largest network of real estate schools in the country, and educates over 300,000 real estate professionals every year.
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Featured Designation of the Month |
AHS - Accredited Home-Staging Specialist
The Accredited Home-Staging Specialist (AHS) course focuses on giving real estate agents a foundation and solid overview of all the key aspects of home staging. No other home-staging course offers this amount of comprehensive information at such an affordable price!
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Categories of Certifications and Designations Listed:
- Residential Real Estate Sales
- Relocation
- Property Management
- Farm Land, Industrial and Commercial
- Construction
- Appraisal and Home Inspection
- Technology and Internet
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Residential Real Estate Sales |
ABR® - Accredited Buyer Representative
This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® who wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. |
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ABRM - Accredited Buyer Representative Manager
This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS®, owners and managers that have or wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. |
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AHS – Accredited Home-Staging Specialist
This course enables agents to gain a quick grasp and basic knowledge of the most important elements involving the staging of a property and home for sale. More Details... |
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AHWD - At Home with Diversity
This certification is geared toward increasing an agent's sensitivity towards a wide range of cultural issues, thus inviting a wider volume of business from a greater variety of cultures. |
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ALHS - Accredited Luxury Home Specialist
This real estate designation is awarded to agents that have completed advanced training and work in the field of selling luxury homes. More Details... |
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AREP® - Accredited Real Estate Professional
Awarded to real estate agents that have completed an introductory course that deals with the fundamentals of getting your real estate business up and running. |
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ASP® – Accredited Staging Professional
This program has been developed to assist home owners to present their homes for sale in the best possible way. This designation has a special course for agents (ASPRE) and an advanced master level (ASPM) |
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ASR® -
This designation is geared towards improving the skills of real estate professionals working with home sellers. |
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C-CREC - Consumer Certified Real Estate Consultant
This real estate designation is geared toward helping professionals focus on what consumers want from today's real estate professionals, not just what the industry has to offer. |
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CBR – Certified Buyer Representative
This real estate designation is geared to real estate agents who wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. |
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EcoBroker Certified®
A program for real estate professionals and industry affiliates who care about our environment and who want to take advantage of the green marketing opportunities. |
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CBS - Certified Buyer Specialist
Shows agents how to develop an online relationship early in the buying process to attract those consumers to your website. |
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CFS - Certified Financial Specialist
This real estate designation is geared toward residential financing principles, techniques and programs developed by the Residential Financing Council. |
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Certified Foreclosure Specialist |
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CLHMS - Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
This real estate designation is geared to position agents as an expert for affluent buyers and sellers. |
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CNE – Certified Negotiation Expert
Provides real estate agents provide negotiation training to enable agents to better results in all different types and situations of negotiations. More Details...
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CNS – Certified Neighborhood Specialist
Provides real estate agents the ability to obtain an intimate knowledge of the specifics of a neighborhood thereby enabling them to become the local neighborhood expert. More Details... |
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CRB - Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
This real estate designation is geared toward REALTORS® that consistently increase their level of industry knowledge and increase their firm's profitability. |
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CRE - Counselor of Real Estate
Bestowed by invitation only real estate advisors who have been recognized by their peers and clients for their high level knowledge, experience, and integrity. |
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CRIA - Certified Realty Investment Associate
Covers the practical aspects of Commercial and Investment real estate such as dealing with clients and in transactions with other agents. |
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CSP – Certified Short-Sale Professional
This real estate designation is awarded to people who complete advanced training how to handle short sales and foreclosures.Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist More Details... |
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CRS - Certified Residential Specialist
This real estate designation is awarded to experienced REALTORS® who complete advanced training in listing and selling. |
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CSS – Certified Staging Specialist
Certifies people that have proven their practical knowledge of staging. |
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GHS – Generational Housing Specialist
Seniors, Boomers, X’ers and Y’ers. This real estate course covers all generations and teaches agents how to communicate, work, sell and manage buyers and sellers of all ages. |
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GRI - Graduate REALTOR Institute
This real estate designation is geared towards REALTORS® that are involved in residential real estate and desire a solid base of information for their practice. |
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HSR – Home Staging Resource
Self paced, online, 21-day intensive training on all aspects of interior decorating. |
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IMC - Internet Marketing Certified
Positions agents as the expert in marketing properties online. |
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MIRM - Member, Institute of Residential Marketing.
The top-level achievement for real estate professionals in new home marketing. |
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The Master of Real Estate (MRE)
The MRE designation signifies a broker dedicated to the highest professional development and the highest levels of customer service |
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MSP –Master Sales Professional
In order to earn the Master Sales Professional designation, Master Sales Association an agent must complete a variety of courses, mentoring and sales performance requirements. |
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PME – Property Marketing Expert
Positions agents as the expert in marketing of property. |
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PMN - Performance Management Network.
Geared to bring you the real-world skills, the know-how and the tools that will keep your business out front and on top of a lighting-fast market. |
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QSC - Quality Service Certification.
This certification is for sales professionals willing to be held to a standard, which requires accountability, reliability and consistency - the ongoing delivery of quality service on each transaction. |
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REPA - Real Estate Professional Assistant
This certification is geared to provide an intensive introduction to the real estate business and to the specific ways support staff can become valuable assets to their employers. |
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RSPS – Resort & Second-Home Markets Certification
Certification requirements include the NAR Resort & Second-Home Market Course, the RLI Tax-Deferred (1031) Exchange Course and nine different electives. |
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SHS – Senior Housing Specialist
The certification program trains real estate agents to understand, work and serve the needs of senior home buyers and sellers. |
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SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist
The program trains REALTORS® to profitably and ethically serve the real estate needs of clients age 50+. |
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SRS - Seller Representative Specialist
This designation is geared toward proving the skills of real estate professionals regarding listings and working with sellers. |
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International Designations and Certifications |
CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist
This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® that have demonstrated their international experience and participate in international programs offered by NAR. |
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IRES – International Real Estate Specialist
An international certification helping agents understand the second home luxury market. |
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TRC - Transnational Referral Certification.
This certification is to prepare agents to use the Transnational Referral system developed by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations-ICREA. |
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Relocation Designations and Certifications |
CRP - Certified Relocation Professional
This real estate designation is geared toward professionals who have demonstrated a minimum of two years' experience dealing with relocation issues. |
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CRTS – Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist
Course training for those beginning in the senior move industry. The program advances to a master level CRTM after 3 years of experience and additional CE courses. |
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Property Management Designations |
ARM - Accredited Residential Manager
This real estate certification reflects today's management practices and new ideas. |
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CAM - Certified Apartment Manager.
Nationally recognized education program for people who own or manage rental property. |
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CLP - Certified Leasing Professional
The program enables agents to improve their knowledge regarding multifamily leasing and selling skills. |
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CPM - Certified Property Manager
Real estate management skills through educational offerings, leading in every area of real estate management from residential to commercial to industrial. |
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RAM - Registered in Apartment Management.
RAM is a designation program offered to property management professionals. |
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Farmland, Industrial & Commercial |
AAC - Accredited Agricultural Consultant
You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. |
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AFM - Accredited Farm Manager
You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. |
ALC - Accredited Land Consultant
This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® that specialize in land brokerage transactions such as farms and ranches; undeveloped tracts of land; transitional and development land; subdivision and wholesaling of lots; and site selection and assemblage of land parcels. |
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CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member
This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management valuation and investment analysis. |
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CREP - Commercial Real Estate Professionals Society
Awarded to real estate agents that have completed a certified commercial course that deals with the fundamentals of conducting commercial real estate transactions. |
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SIOR - Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS®.
This real estate designation is geared towards Realtors® in industrial and office real estate brokerage. |
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Construction Designations & Certifications |
CMP -Certified New Home Marketing Professional
Mid-level designation for Institute of Residential Marketing students who have completed their marketing courses. |
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CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist
Join more than 30,000 professionals and enjoy real estate’s most popular and comprehensive training for working successfully with builders, developers and new home buyers in all areas of new home sales and marketing. |
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CSP - Certified New Home Sales Professional
Designed for specialists in new home sales to increase their marketability in the home building industry, and sell more homes. This course also has a Master Certified New Home Sales Professional (MCSP) level. |
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Residential Construction Certified (RCC)
For real estate professionals active in either Resale or New Home business, Residential Construction Certified delivers the most comprehensive training covering materials, methods, terminology and details of residential construction. |
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Mortgage Designations and Certifications |
AMP - Accredited Mortgage Professional
Recognizes the achievements for pursuit of educational excellence by completing all three levels at the School of Mortgage Banking. |
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CLMO - Certified Loan Modification Officer
More Details... |
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CMB - Certified Mortgage Banker
The industry standard of professional success. It symbolizes respect, credibility, ethics, and achievement within real estate finance. Earning a CMB instantly places you at the top of your dynamic industry and makes you a part of the elite group that has achieved the highest level of professional success. |
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CMPS – Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist
A training, certification and ongoing membership program for financial professionals who provide mortgage and real estate equity advice. More Details... |
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CMS - Certified Mortgage Servicer
Recognizes an individual's superior knowledge and experience in residential servicing practices, theories and applications. This specialist designation has three tracks: default administration, financial controls and investor administration and loan administration. |
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CMT - Certified Mortgage Technologist
Demonstrates a solid technological foundation in mortgage banking operations through a combination of experience, education and industry participation. |
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CRU - Certified Residential Underwriter
Reflects an individual's superior knowledge, experience, education and industry participation in pursuit of excellence in residential underwriting. |
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CRMA - Certified Reverse Mortgage Advisor
More Details... |
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MREP - Mortgage Real Estate Professional.
This certification e agents upon completion of a certified mortgage or finance course that incorporates the fundamentals of the lending process. |
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Appraisal & Home Inspection Designations and Certifications |
ARA - Accredited Rural Appraiser
You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. |
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ASA - Accredited Senior Appraiser
Accreditation is based on appraisal education, experience, intensive written examinations and submission of acceptable appraisal reports. |
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CREA - Certified Real Estate Appraiser |
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MAI – Member Appraisal Institute
Awarded to appraisers who are experienced in the valuation and evaluation of commercial, industrial, residential and other types of properties, and who advise clients on real estate investment decisions. |
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MFLA - Master Farm and Land Appraiser
Granted upon presentation of evidence of extensive practical experience in real estate appraisal, completion of classroom study and testing. |
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GAA - General Accredited Appraiser
This real estate designation is geared toward appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification requirements and is supported by the NAR. |
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RAA - Residential Accredited Appraiser.
This real estate designation is geared toward appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification. |
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RPRA - Real Property Review Appraiser
You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. |
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SRA
The SRA professional membership designation is held by real estate solutions providers who are experienced in the analysis and valuation of residential real property. |
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SRPA
The SRPA membership designation is held by appraisers who are experienced in the valuation of commercial, industrial, residential and other types of property. |
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Technology & Internet Designations & Certifications |
e-PRO®
Training program presented entirely online to certify real estate agents and brokers as Internet Professionals. More than just technology but how you can leverage your most powerful asset, your people-skills, into doing more business on the Internet. |
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RECS - Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist
This certification is geared to let clients know of your proficiency in serving the public with recognized skills for utilizing CyberSpace marketing programs and for effectively adopting special technology and networking systems. |
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REW - Real Estate Webographer
This certification helps real estate agents in determining where they should invest their resources to generate leads, acquire new clients, advertise and facilitate closings and how to develop and maintain an effective business strategy in a web-based environment. |
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Disclosure: RealtyU® and/or its affiliated schools have strategic alliances with, or licensing or training agreements with, a significant number of the certifications and designations listed above. Numerous of the Institutes, Associations, Councils and Societies such as the National Association of Realtors® undertake their own training.
© Copyright 2007. If you wish to reproduce this list you may so, but only as is, without changes.
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