REALTOR® Designations & Certifications

What are Designations/Certifications? REALTOR® designations & certifications are advanced educational credentials recognized and endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The requirements vary but all of them include education classes and exams. Some of them also require a certain level of experience, while others also require membership in an affiliate REALTOR® council which provides ongoing training, support and national referral networks. Each one has a different area of educational focus to help those who earn them become specialized in different aspects of real estate business.

I hold the following Designations & Certifications: ABR, AHWD, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SRES, SFR & TRC. In fact, I am one of the only REALTORS ® in entire United States who holds all eight of these prestigious and nationally recognized credentials.

Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR): This designation is conferred by The Real Estate Buyers Agent Council (REBAC) to REALTORS® who meet all course and professional experience requirements. Requirements include additional education classes, passing exams, and proof of closing a specified number of real estate transactions representing buyers only. For more information go to the What is an ABR? page of my website.

At Home With Diversity (AHWD): This certification teaches real estate professionals how to increase their sensitivity and adaptability to future market trends. The course addresses issues of diversity, fair housing, and cultural differences. All three subjects are closely related and have value for real estate professionals who must serve diverse local markets. For more information go to the What is AHWD? page of my website.

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS): This designation is conferred by the Council of Residential Specialists and is the most prestigious REALTOR® credential that can be earned in the field of residential real estate. It requires not only class work & passing exams but a high level of experience documented with a very high number of closed transactions. It is considered the ultimate mark of excellence among residential real estate professionals. For more information go to the What is a CRS? page of my website.

e-PRO Internet Professional (e-PRO): This certification is a professional real estate educational program that focuses on training in effective use of the Internet and Technology. It was designed to create a well-trained, real estate professional who is thriving in the online-based real estate industry. It is specifically designed to help real estate agents thrive in the competitive world of online real estate. For more information go to the What is an e-PRO? page of my website.

Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI): This designation focuses on intense but well rounded education with course topics including contracts, legal issues, agency law, technology, fraud, environmental issues, commercial real estate and more. It requires taking more classes than any other credential I have and passing exams for each. For more information go to the What is a GRI? page of my website.

Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR): The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS ® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.

Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES): This designation is conferred by the SRES Council and course work includes topics such as distinguishing characteristics and trends related to the 50+ population; housing, finance, and retirement income considerations of these consumers; and counseling strategies to help clients and customers plan ahead for life transitions. For more information go to the What is an SRES? page of my website.

Transnational Referral Certification (TRC): This certification was developed to help real estate professionals better serve clients and customers who are looking to buy or sell real property outside their own country and who will benefit from working with a real estate professional in that foreign market. TRC real estate professionals are trained not only in the mechanics of cross-border client referrals, but also in how to work in the client's best interests in the same manner they would a domestic client. For more information go to the What is a TRC? page of my website.

		Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR): This designation is conferred by The Real Estate Buyers Agent Council (REBAC) to REALTORS® who meet all course and professional experience requirements. Requirements include additional education classes, passing exams, and proof of closing a specified number of real estate transactions representing buyers only. For more information go to the What is an ABR? page of my website.

		At Home With Diversity (AHWD): This certification teaches real estate professionals how to increase their sensitivity and adaptability to future market trends. The course addresses issues of diversity, fair housing, and cultural differences. All three subjects are closely related and have value for real estate professionals who must serve diverse local markets. For more information go to the What is AHWD? page of my website.

		Certified Residential Specialist (CRS): This designation is conferred by the Council of Residential Specialists and is the most prestigious REALTOR® credential that can be earned in the field of residential real estate. It requires not only class work & passing exams but a high level of experience documented with a very high number of closed transactions. It is considered the ultimate mark of excellence among residential real estate professionals. For more information go to the What is a CRS? page of my website.

		e-PRO Internet Professional (e-PRO): This certification is a professional real estate educational program that focuses on training in effective use of the Internet and Technology. It was designed to create a well-trained, real estate professional who is thriving in the online-based real estate industry. It is specifically designed to help real estate agents thrive in the competitive world of online real estate. For more information go to the What is an e-PRO? page of my website.

		Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI): This designation focuses on intense but well rounded education with course topics including contracts, legal issues, agency law, technology, fraud, environmental issues, commercial real estate and more. It requires taking more classes than any other credential I have and passing exams for each. For more information go to the What is a GRI? page of my website.

		Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource (SFR): The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS ® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.

		Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES): This designation is conferred by the SRES Council and course work includes topics such as distinguishing characteristics and trends related to the 50+ population; housing, finance, and retirement income considerations of these consumers; and counseling strategies to help clients and customers plan ahead for life transitions. For more information go to the What is an SRES? page of my website.

		Transnational Referral Certification (TRC): This certification was developed to help real estate professionals better serve clients and customers who are looking to buy or sell real property outside their own country and who will benefit from working with a real estate professional in that foreign market. TRC real estate professionals are trained not only in the mechanics of cross-border client referrals, but also in how to work in the client's best interests in the same manner they would a domestic client. For more information go to the What is a TRC? page of my website.