What do those letters mean? Designations and certifications signifying experience and expertise in various real estate sectors are awarded by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), its affiliated groups, and other industry organizations upon completion of required courses and, in some instances, demonstrated experience. Following is a list and descriptions of the most common industry designations and certifications. You can include a designation within your search criteria when you search for a Realtor®.
ABR®, Accredited Buyer’s Representative
ABRM, Accredited Buyer Representative Manager
ALC, Accredited Land Consultant
CCIM, Certified Commercial Investment Member
CIPS, Certified International Property Specialist
CRB, Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
CPM®, Certified Property Manager
CRS®, Certified Residential Specialist®
CRE®, Counselor of Real Estate
DREI, Distinguished Real Estate Instructor
EBA, Exclusive Buyer’s Agent
GAA, General Accredited Appraiser
GREEN, NAR’s Green Designation
GRI, Graduate, Realtor® Institute
MAI, Member Appraisal Institute
PMN, Performance Management Network
RAA, Residential Accredited Appraiser
SIOR®, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors®
SRES®, Seniors Real Estate Specialist®
NAR Family Certifications
AHWD®, At Home with Diversity
BPOR, Broker Price Opinion Resource
e-PRO®
RSPS, Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist
SFR®, Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource
ABR®, Accredited Buyer’s Representative
The mark of excellence in buyer representation services and expertise.
ABRM, Accredited Buyer Representative Manager
Expert training for brokers, owners and managers incorporating buyer representation into their businesses.
ALC, Accredited Land Consultant
Brokerage and management expertise for land transactions, from farms to developments.
CCIM, Certified Commercial Investment Member
CIPS, Certified International Property Specialist
Hands-on experience in international real estate transactions with knowledge of the critical aspects of transnational transactions.
CRB, Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
The measure of success for real estate brokerage management.
CPM, Certified Property Manager
Demonstrating real estate management skills in all property sectors.
CRS®, Certified Residential Specialist®
The highest professional designation awarded to residential agents.
CRE®, Counselor of Real Estate
By invitation; an international group of professionals who provide seasoned, objective advice on real property and land related matters.
DREI, Distinguished Real Estate Instructor
Designed by the Real Estate Educators Association (REEA) to recognize excellence among real estate instructors.
EBA, Exclusive Buyer’s Agent
An EBA only represents buyers; his or her job is to get the buyer the lowest price on the best terms.
GAA, General Accredited Appraiser
Awarded to general appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification requirements.
GREEN Designation
Addresses the educational needs of practitioners in residential, commercial and property management markets in the areas of green materials, energy efficient technology, green ratings, green design, green incentives, green living and more.
GRI, Graduate, Realtor® Institute
The mark of a real estate professional who has made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation.
MAI, Member Appraisal Institute
Held by 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.
PMN, Performance Management Network
Designates real-world skills, tools and know-how centered on negotiating strategies and tactics, networking and referrals, business planning and systems, personal performance management and cultural differences in buying and selling.
RAA, Residential Accredited Appraiser
Awarded to residential appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification requirements.
SRA, Senior Residential Appraiser
Held by appraisers experienced in the analysis and valuation of residential real property.
SIOR®, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors®
Top producers in industrial and office real estate brokerage.
SRES®, Seniors Real Estate Specialist®
Trained to meet the special needs of maturing Americans when selling, buying, relocating, or refinancing residential or investment properties.
NAR Family Certifications
AHWD®, At Home with Diversity
Teaches real estate professionals how to increase their sensitivity and adaptability to future market trends; addresses issues of diversity, fair housing and cultural differences.
BPOR, Broker Price Opinion Resource
Provides knowledge and skills to perform accurate and professional broker price opinions (BPOs) and comparative market analyses (CMAs).
e-PRO®
Teaches use of cutting-edge technologies and digital initiatives to remain current in a digital age.
RSPS, Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist
Specialty training to facilitate the buying, selling, or management of properties for investment, development, retirement, or second homes in resort, recreational and/or vacation destinations.
SFR®, Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource
Demonstrated ability to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales and help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.