After you’ve gone through the process of getting your real estate license and gaining some industry experience, it might be time for a few more real estate certifications or designations. These additional qualifications can help you market yourself a certain way and establish your expertise in a specific area of real estate.
With the right real estate certifications and designations, you’ll be able to take on different types of clients and gain more business. Many of the certifications and designations will require a certain amount of real estate experience, specific courses, and you might have to pass an exam.
Choosing the right certifications and designations will depend on where you work as a real estate agent. Let’s look at some of the options in Texas and the benefits you will gain from getting the right real estate certifications and designations.
Texas Real Estate Certifications & Designations
1. Real Estate Negotiation Expert
If you want to become a better negotiator the Real Estate Negotiation Expert or RENE certification is for you. You’ll learn how to improve your negotiation skills and deal with behind-the-scenes issues in a real estate deal.
The RENE certification requires a two-day course with day one covering The Power Negotiator’s Playbook and day two covering Advanced Field Negotiations. You won’t need to take an exam to get this certification.
2. Seniors Real Estate Specialist
As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, you will be able to help your senior clients in a better way. This is a real estate designation providing you with the necessary knowledge to guide buyers and sellers over the age of 50.
You will need to be an active member of the NAR to get this designation. It’s also necessary to complete the SRES designation course, which will cover:
- The difference in housing options assisted living communities, and age-restricted communities
- The Housing for Older Persons Act
- Reverse Mortgage
- Pensions, 401(k) accounts, and IRAs and how they can be used during real estate transactions
- And more!
You will need to take a two-day course, which can be done in person or online. If you want to work with senior clients, this real estate designation is a great option to further your skills.
3. Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification
Working with clients looking for foreclosures and short sales can be very rewarding. The Short Sales and Foreclosures certification is another offering from the NAR. You will need to be a member in good standing with the NAR to earn the SFR certification.
It’s necessary to complete the course called Short Sales and Foreclosures: What Real Estate Professionals Need to Know. It’s a one-day course in the classroom, which will also satisfy the ABR Elective.
4. Texas Affordable Housing Specialist
The Texas Affordable Housing Specialist certification gives you the necessary knowledge to work with first-time buyers and underserved homebuyers. You will earn 12 continuing education hours from the course and you must complete all 12 hours to earn this certification.
The course includes:
- United Texas: Housing Initiatives that Work – 4-hour course
- FHA Lending
- Fair Housing
- Homebuyer resources workforce hosing
Once you’ve completed the course; you will earn the Texas Affordable Housing Specialist certification.
5. Accredited Land Consultant
Offered by the REALTORS Land Institute, the Accredited Land Consultant designation provides the most prestigious option for those looking to become land sales experts. If you want to sell more than just houses, this might be a good real estate designation to consider.
You will need to complete a total of 104 Land University contact hours. These hours are split into three sections including:
- Required Courses – Land 101, Land Investment Analysis, and Transition Land Real Estate Transactions
- Specialty Courses – Agriculture Land Brokerage & Marketing, Subdivision Land Development, Land Real Estate Site Selection, Recreational Land Real Estate, Tax-Deferred 1031 Exchanges
- Elective Courses – Real Estate Mapping Technology & Techniques and Timberland Real Estate
You will need to complete all three of the required courses and a selection of the others to earn your ALC designation. Along with other requirements you will need to meet, you will have to pass the ALC final Exam.
6. Certified International Property Specialist
If you want to work with people moving to the United States from other countries, the Certified International Property Specialist designation is for you. As a member of the NAR, you can earn this designation by completing two core courses, and three electives from the CIPS list of classes. Courses can be taken online or in the classroom. Course options include:
- Global Real Estate: Local Markets (1-day core course)
- Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools (1-day core course)
- Europe & International Real Estate (1-day Elective course)
- Asia/Pacific & International Real Estate (1-day Elective course)
- The Americas & International Real Estate (1-day Elective course)
7. Certified Residential Specialist
Learning to better generate leads and market yourself comes from the Certified Residential Specialist designation from the Residential Real Estate Council. The CRS Designation is an investment in your future in real estate.
You can choose the 60/30/30 program or the Pro Program to get your CRS. The 60/30/30 program requires you have 60 transactions or $30 million in volume over the most recent five years. You will also need to complete 30 hours of RRC Education through classroom learning or the eLearning courses.
If you choose the Pro Program, you will need to have 10 or more years as a licensed real estate agent 150 transactions or an average of $1 per year with at least 40 transactions. This program also requires 16 credits of RRC Education.
8. E-PRO Designation
Learn the necessary technology you need to become a better real estate agent with the E-PRO certification. You’ll learn about digital marketing and plenty more when you decide to get this certification.
You must be a current member of the NAR to earn this certification. It can be done in person or online with a one-time application and the E-PRIO course.
9. Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist
If you plan to work with buyers and sellers of resort home and second homes, getting the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist certification will help you advance your career. It’s another real estate certification from the NAR.
You will need to complete the RSPS course online or in the classroom to earn the certification.
10. Graduate REALTOR Institute
The market of a real estate professional is what the Graduate REALTOR Institute designation provides. It shows a high level of professionalism and the ability to understand new laws, procedures, and technology used during real estate translations.
This designation is given to those who complete the correct courses for progressive real estate professionals. You will also need to have a solid foundation of skills and knowledge for today’s real estate world and you will need to be nationally recognized.
11. Military Relocation Professional
If you want to work with military families, the Military Relocation Professional Certification offers a great choice. You must be in good standing with the NAR and complete a one-day Military Relocations Professional Certification Coe Course online or in the classroom. You will also need to complete two, one-hour webinars and submit your application.
12. Pricing Strategy Advisor Certification
Price is vital to any real estate transaction. Get the list price wrong and you might struggle to find the right buyer. With the Pricing Strategy Advisor certification, you’ll learn how to properly price homes for sale.
You can earn this certification by completing a one-day course called Pricing Strategies: Mastering the CMA. This course can be taken online or in the classroom.
Benefits of Real Estate Certifications & Designations
The right real estate certifications and designations provide many benefits including:
- Increased knowledge
- Ability to market more credentials to clients
- Help you stand out above the competition
- Provide networking tools and resources
- And More!
Many of the courses for real estate certifications and designations count towards your continuing education course, which provides another benefit. You can gain specialized knowledge while fulfilling your real estate license requirements.
If you’re ready to advance your career, consider the right real estate certifications and designations for your needs. There are many to choose from and many offer courses you can take right online.
