Real estate designations and certifications are special endorsements to add to your real estate expertise arsenal. They aren’t required, but they go a long way in making you stand out from the crowd and building trust. Trade organizations and other real estate institutions offer real estate designations and include the education and support you need to develop a stronger skillset or start working in a specialty, like buyers, luxury homes, or investors.
The right real estate certificates for you depend on the clients you want to work with and the skills you need to improve. I’ve gathered 10 of the best real estate certifications for agents—find out which is the best for you!
The Close’s Top Picks of Real Estate Designations & Certifications
| Designation or Certification | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) | Residential realtors who want to work primarily with homebuyers | Free for NAR members |
| Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) | Residential realtors wanting to specialize in listing properties | $295 |
| Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) | Realtors who want the highest recognition and training for selling properties | $2,000+ |
| Military Relocation Professional (MRP) | Realtors who specialize in helping military families find and finance properties | $195 |
| Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) | Residential realtors who specialize in working with maturing homebuyers and sellers | $295+ |
| Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) | Experienced agents with a high volume of sales and active community involvement | $2,500+ |
| Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) | Commercial real estate agents and brokers | $5,500+ |
| Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) | Agents who work with foreign buyers and international investors | $149+ |
| Luxury Homes Certification (LHC) | Current or aspiring luxury real estate agents | $99+ |
| Certified Property Manager (CPM) | Current property managers | $7,600+ |
1. Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR)
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Cost:
Free for the online course (for NAR members)
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Best for:
Residential realtors who want to work primarily with homebuyers
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Time commitment:
Two-day course
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Where to get it:
National Association of Realtors
The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) designation might be the edge you need to work with buyers in a crowded market. ABR is the most popular of all the National Association of Realtors certifications. It includes valuable education about working with buyers, ongoing resources, and updates about the industry. This skill set will help you attract, communicate, and convert buyers more successfully and make transactions run more smoothly.
Before starting the two-day course, you must complete at least five transactions as a buyer’s agent and be a member of the NAR. However, once you earn the ABR designation, the NAR provides ongoing education, resources, marketing tools, and networking opportunities.
2. Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)
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Cost:
$295
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Best for:
Residential realtors wanting to specialize in listing properties for sale
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Time commitment:
About a week
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Where to get it:
Real Estate Business Institute (REBI)
Like the ABR, the SRS is the go-to certification for residential realtors who want to stand out as listing agents. Having this designation gives homeowners actual proof that you know how to sell homes. Plus, the SRS designation is one of the few that will appear on your National Realtor Database System record, showing that you’re recognized by the country’s most prominent professional trade organization for your excellence as a listing agent.
3. Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
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Cost:
$99 application fee, $195 annual membership fee, $2,000+ for classes
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Best for:
Residential realtors who want the highest recognition and training for selling properties
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Time commitment:
4 to 6 weeks
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Where to get it:
Residential Real Estate Council
The CRS designation is much more intensive than the ABR and SRS, which means it has a higher cost and is generally more valued by clients. It’s focused primarily on listing and selling, so it’s only available to experienced agents (with at least 60 completed transactions or $30 million in sales in the last five years).
It takes weeks of rigorous training and an investment of over $2,000, so it isn’t the right fit for every agent. However, it’s well-known as the highest certification that residential agents can earn, so it is a valuable use of your time and effort. In addition to specialized education, community, and support, this designation includes subscriptions to multiple publications and provides branded marketing materials and an online directory.
4. Military Relocation Professional (MRP)
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Cost:
$195
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Best for:
Realtors who specialize in helping military families find and finance properties
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Time commitment:
One day
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Where to get it:
National Association of Realtors
The MRP designation gives you specific training on serving military clients with unique needs, challenges, and VA financing. This program is an NAR certification course that goes in-depth to help you understand the military market. The MRP is an ideal designation to work for if you’re interested in working with military families and want to stand out as their go-to resource when they’re relocating to your area.
5. Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
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Cost:
$295 plus $99 per year to the SRES Council
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Best for:
Residential realtors wanting to specialize in working with maturing homebuyers and sellers
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Time commitment:
Two days
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Where to get it:
National Association of Realtors
The SRES designation is for those wanting to work with older homebuyers and sellers, helping you identify and understand their specific needs and considerations. For example, the SRES course includes education on various housing options for senior buyers or homeowners and how to use pensions, 401(k) accounts, and IRAs to finance properties.
The resources in this course will help you support older clientele and minimize stress on all sides of a transaction—making you highly respected within this niche. Plus, the course is offered by the NAR, so it comes with additional benefits like newsletters, an SRES member database, and marketing scripts and materials.
6. Counselor of Real Estate (CRE)
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Cost:
$2,500 plus annual dues of $1,950
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Best for:
Experienced agents with a high volume of sales and active community involvement
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Time commitment:
2 to 3 months
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Where to get it:
The Counselors of Real Estate
The CRE is as much an award as it is a designation. Unlike all the other real estate designations I’ve recommended, this one is only available by invitation. You must have at least ten years of experience and stand out with innovation, problem-solving, and community involvement. Although there’s no course to be a CRE, members get access to an active networking group and a weekly email with industry news and updates. CREs are typically nominated by other CREs, so networking with experienced agents will be critical if you want to earn this certification.
7. Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
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Cost:
$5,496 to $8,074 for tuition, plus $695 per year
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Best for:
Commercial real estate agents and brokers
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Time commitment:
1 to 3 years
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Where to get it:
The CCIM Institute
The CCIM is the gold standard of commercial real estate designations. Legally, any licensed real estate agent can work on a commercial real estate deal. Still, building a real estate niche in commercial properties will be extremely challenging without this designation. It’s only available to earn if you have a solid real estate resume, with at least three commercial transactions under your belt and $10 million in sales.
The CCIM is more like a college program than a simple certification course, requiring a few years of dedication and a large financial investment. However, being a commercial real estate agent generally results in a significantly higher income so the effort will pay off.
8. Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS)
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Cost:
$149 for the course, $75 application fee, and $220 in annual dues
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Best for:
Agents who work with foreign buyers and international investors
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Time commitment:
6 to 8 weeks
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Where to get it:
National Association of Realtors
This designation is for agents who want specialized knowledge about the intricacies of international real estate transactions. Like other niche designations, foreign buyers and investors have specific challenges, and this course helps you understand their challenges and potential solutions. Plus, CIPS designation holders get branded, customizable marketing tools and an online directory to help them market more effectively to international buyers.
To get this designation, you must have at least three transactions involving foreign parties and meet a minimum threshold of international business experience or foreign language mastery. These requirements will exclude a lot of realtors, but if you put in the effort, this is an affordable designation in a very lucrative specialty.
9. Luxury Homes Certification (LHC)
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Cost:
$99 to $259, depending on your membership to the Residential Resource Council and course format (live classroom or online self-study)
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Best for:
Luxury real estate agents
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Time commitment:
13 hours
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Where to get it:
Residential Real Estate Council
The LHS designation is designed for agents already working with high-end properties or wanting to become luxury real estate agents. The only requirement to earn this certification is that you’re a member of the NAR, and it’s one of the most affordable options on this list. The 13-hour course includes details on how to price luxury homes with unique home features, negotiation tactics, and how to start working with luxury real estate.
There is also a complete module on how to be successful in this niche. The LHC is an excellent certification to work towards because it will increase your chances of working in a market that will directly increase your potential income, and it’s relatively easy to qualify for and complete.
10. Certified Property Manager (CPM)
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Cost:
$7,600 to $8,600
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Best for:
Current property managers
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Time commitment:
14 to 18 months
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Where to get it:
Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
The CPM certification is the dominant professional accreditation in the property management industry. The CPM is not an entry-level program for brand-new agents but for licensed professionals already managing properties. To receive the CRM designation, you must be a NAR member, complete a one-year candidacy, and be interviewed and approved by a representative of your local Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) chapter.
After that, there are eight to ten courses (depending on your choice of electives) to complete. You’ll need 36 months of qualifying property management experience by graduation. Even though this certification requires a considerable investment of time and money, the IREM says that those with this designation make more than double the average property manager.
Note: The CPM is the main certification program for property managers, but it isn’t the only one. If you want even more of a specialty within the property management industry, check out other certifications like the Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) or Accredited Commercial Manager (ACoM®).
FAQs
What are the best real estate designations?
A few of the most well-known real estate designations are the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), Seller Representative Specialist (SRS), and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). However, the best real estate designation depends on each agent’s individual goals. For example, if you want to work in commercial real estate, then a commercial real estate designation like Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) would be best for you.
What does the designation “Realtor” refer to?
The Realtor designation is for licensed real estate agents who are National Association of Realtors (NAR) members. Not every real estate agent is a realtor, but every realtor is a licensed agent. To learn more about what it means to be a Realtor, read Realtor vs Real Estate Agent: What’s the Difference?
What is the difference between a certification and a designation?
Real estate designations and certifications are very similar. The real difference between the two is that designees have to pay annual dues, while those who hold certifications only need to pay an initial application fee.
Bringing It All Together
Real estate designations aren’t a requirement for a successful real estate career, but they can be instrumental in helping agents build their skillset, reputation, or niche. Understanding some of the best realtor designations, you will choose the right one for your real estate career.
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