Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS®

REALTOR® Designations and Certifications

REALTORS® who hold professional designations or certifications demonstrate to potential clients and customers that they have mastered their skills and have the necessary credentials to be considered an expert in the real estate industry.

The designations and certifications listed below are offered by organizations, societies, and councils affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS®. These courses provide extensive training and certification in the areas of residential sales, commercial sales, management and brokerage, property management, land use consulting, buyer representation, and much more. They are designed to increase skills, productivity, and knowledge.

Please click on the links provided below to learn more about the sponsoring organizations and the designations and certifications that they offer.

Designation: Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)
Description: The ABR designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. The goal of the ABR course is to prepare buyer's representatives to provide the kind of service and fidelity to buyers that sellers have always enjoyed. The ABR courses also provide methods for building a buyer representation business. ABR education creates a comprehensive guide to help agents become effective, efficient and productive buyer's representatives.
Offered by: REBAC - Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council (National)
Directory: Membership Directory
Note: The Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS strives to offer the ABR courses on an annual basis. Please contact the Education Department to inquire as to the course schedule.

Designation: Accredited Buyer Representative Manager (ABRM)
Description: The ABRM designation course was developed in partnership with the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB) specifically for managers, brokers and owners who wish to better incorporate buyer representation into their companies' service offerings. Course topics include: creating a new company vision, company and technology policies, disseminating policy changes, training and marketing systems, risk management, and marketing and evaluations.
Offered by: REBAC - Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council (National)
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Accredited Land Consultant (ALC)
Description: ALC designees are recognized experts in land brokerage transactions of five specialized types: (1) farms and ranches; (2) undeveloped tracts of land; (3) transitional and development land; (4) subdivision and wholesaling of lots; and (5) site selection and assemblage of land parcels.
Offered by: RLI - REALTORS Land Institute (National)
Directory: Membership Directory

Certification: At Home with Diversity
Description: The At Home with Diversity program is your best opportunity to learn powerful strategies in dealing with changing demographic patterns within your market area quickly and effectively. This enlightening course gives participants both insight and power: insight into patterns of thought and behavior - and the power to change patterns that can hinder potential business relationships. Topics include: respecting differences while maintaining equal treatment; differences in cultural style that impact real estate transactions; how to build successful business relationships; marketing approaches that fit the cultural patterns of different ethnic groups; effective strategies in dealing with changing demographic patterns; and opportunities to build diversity strategies into personalized business plans.
Offered by: NAR - National Association of REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
Description: A Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) is a recognized expert in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate. The CCIM curriculum represents the core knowledge expected of commercial investment practitioners, regardless of the diversity of specializations within the industry. The CCIM curriculum consists of four core courses that incorporate the essential CCIM skill sets: financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis for commercial investment real estate.
Offered by: CCIM Institute (National) CCIM Institute (Michigan Chapter)
Directory: Membership Directory
Note: The Commercial Alliance of REALTORS (CAR) strives to offer the CCIM courses on an annual basis. Please contact the CAR Education Department to inquire as to the course schedule.

Designation: Certified International Property Specialists (CIPS)
Description: Many REALTORS® work with buyers and sellers from different countries or cultures. CIPS designees have demonstrated hands-on experience in international real estate transactions, as well as successful completed of an intensive seven-day program of study focusing on critical aspects of transnational transactions, including: currency and exchange rate issues, cross-cultural relationships, regional market conditions, investment performance, tax issues and more.
Offered by: CIPS Network (National)
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Certified Property Manager (CPM)
Description: The CPM designation demonstrates expertise and integrity to those who matter most: employers, owners and investors. CPM Members are recognized as experts in real estate management, and they are at the top of the profession. 70% of those who hold the CPM designation hold higher management positions (owner/partner or officer/director) than those without the designation.
Offered by: IREM - Institute of Real Estate Management (National) IREM - Institute of Real Estate Management (Local Chapter)
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB)
Description: The CRB designation is one of the most respected and relevant designations offered in real estate business management. The CRB designation program grants credit for management experience, higher education, and previously approved NAR designations. The CRB community spans nearly 7,000 members worldwide. Through the Council's leading-edge education and resources, members are among the most efficient, effective and profitable managers in the country.
Offered by: CRB - Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (National)
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Counselors of Real Estate (CRE)
Description: CRE Designees have demonstrated that they provide valuable and meaningful real estate counseling services to their clients or employers; they hold senior positions within their firms; and are recognized for their excellence, knowledge, integrity, and judgment. This designation is awarded to members of The Counselors of Real Estate by invitation only.
Offered by: CRE - The Counselors of Real Estate (National)
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Description: The CRS designation is awarded to those in the residential field who have demonstrated professional accomplishments in both experience and education. CRS designees have access to resources and products that help them better serve the public, excel in competitive marketplaces, and realize their personal and earning goals.
Offered by: CRS - Council of Residential Specialists (National) CRS - Council of Residential Specialists (Local Chapter)
Directory: Membership Directory
Note: The Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS strives to offer the CRS designation courses on an annual basis. Please contact the Education Department to inquire as to the course schedule.

Certification: e-PRO
Description: The real estate professional must meet the needs and expectations of the technologically connected consumer. The rules of business are changing, especially within the real estate industry. The e-PRO Certification Program is specifically designed to keep agents on top of changes and help them thrive in the exciting and rewarding world of online real estate.
Offered by: Internet Crusade and the National Association of REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory
Note: The Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS strives to offer e-PRO courses on an annual basis. Please contact the Education Department to inquire as to the course schedule.

Designation: General Accredited Appraiser (GAA)
Description: The GAA Designation recognizes those valued appraisers whose experience and education exceed state appraisal certification requirements. This designation signifies advanced education and experience in commercial, industrial, and residential property valuation.
Offered by: NAR - National Association of REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI)
Description: The GRI Designation indicates to buyers, sellers, and other real estate industry professionals a commitment to provide a high level of professional service to clients by securing a strong educational foundation. The GRI designation reflects education in the areas of contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance, and risk reduction.
Offered by: MAR - Michigan Association of REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory
Note: The Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS strives to offer the GRI designation courses on an annual basis. Please contact the Education Department to inquire as to the course schedule.

Designation: Performance Management Network (PMN)
Description: The PMN designation reflects real-world skills and the know-how and tools to keep your business out front and at the top of a lightening fast market. This designation provides education in the areas of negotiating strategies and tactics, networking and referrals, business planning and systems, personal performance management, and cultural differences in buying and selling.
Offered by: WCR - Women's Council of REALTORS (National) WCR - Women's Council of REALTORS (Local Chapter)
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Residential Accredited Appraiser (RAA)
Description: The RAA Designation recognizes those valued appraisers whose experience and education exceed state appraisal certification requirements. This designation signifies advanced education and experience in analysis and valuation of residential property.
Offered by: NAR - National Association of REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory

Designation: Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS (SIOR)
Description: The SIOR designation is a symbol of the highest level of knowledge, production, and ethics in the real estate industry. Designees are top producers in industrial and office real estate brokerage, representing more than 800 offices in over 350 cities worldwide. The Society's mandatory recertification requirement assures clients of the designee's excellence in the fast changing commercial brokerage field.
Offered by: SIOR - Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory

SODREP

Designation: Society of Distinguished Real Estate Professionals (SODREP)
Description: This designation is presented to REALTOR members of the Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS as a once-in-a-lifetime award. Members are eligible for this award when they have maintained ten years continuous membership, served their community for three or more years, closed a minimum of 15 million dollars in sales (over a ten year period), earned and maintained two MAR/NAR educational designations; are actively involved politically and have served five or more years on a GRAR committee or on the GRAR Board of Directors.
Offered by: GRAR - Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS
Directory: Membership Directory