REALTOR Designations

Did you know that professional designations can significantly increase a Realtors® income? According to the 1999 National Association of Realtors ® Member Profile: 32 percent of Realtors® have a professional designation and, of those agents, sales agents holding professional designations have incomes that are $18,100 higher than those who don’t hold a designation and brokers with designations earn $14,700 more per year.

By and large, those Realtors® who are the most successful at earning a comfortable living in the industry are those who have completed four years of college and acquired professional real estate designations. Significantly, specific designations, like Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), can provide an even greater boost to agent income levels. According to the latest industry data, the median personal income for CRS designees is $95,000, while the annual median gross income for brokers who hold the CRB designation is $128,130.

This data clearly demonstrates that furthering one’s professional education translates into higher income earning potential for Realtors®. Consider further that just one-third of all Realtors® both nationally and in Massachusetts have earned at least one designation, and you can see there is a real opportunity for brokers and agents who acquire professional real estate designations to do more business.

The REALTOR® Institute is a national program of real estate instruction administered and delivered by state REALTOR® associations. Designed primarily for members involved in residential real estate, the series of six courses, totaling 90 hours, helps members increase their knowledge and skill in a broad array of technical subjects, and in the fundamentals of real estate.

The National Association of Realtors® has nine affiliated Institutes, Societies, and Councils that offer a vast menu of programs and services to assist members in increasing skills, productivity and knowledge. Each affiliated group, upon completion of required courses, awards designations acknowledging experience and expertise in various real estate sectors.

A description and contact information is available on each designation program offered in the link above. The time you invest in earning a real estate designation this year will help you become a better informed, more highly skilled professional, increasing the likelihood that you’ll become a more prosperous, successful Realtor® in the years to come.