Celebrate November as REALTOR® Designation Awareness Month by starting, completing or continuing the courses necessary to earn an official REALTOR® designation.

Earning a designation from NAR or one of its affiliated Institutes, Societies and Councils can help you succeed in all aspects of your business and help you earn more money.

REALTORS® who pursue professional designations have a distinct competitive edge as a result of their increased expertise and marketability. Based on 2009 survey data, the median income of REALTORS® without a designation was $28,400 and the median income of those with at least one designation was $57,700. The difference between the two is $27,300.

There is an official NAR designation for practically every specialty area in the real estate industry. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and its affiliated Institutes, Societies and Councils provide a wide-range of programs and services that assist members with increasing skills, productivity, marketability, proficiency and knowledge. Designations and certifications acknowledging experience and expertise in various real estate sectors are awarded by each affiliated group upon completion of required courses.

Access a complete list of NAR designations or the NAR Education Matrix. The Education Matrix is a database of all education provided by NAR and its affiliated Institutes, Societies and Councils.

The NAR Education Matrix brochure is also available for sale, sold in packs of 100. Visit the REALTOR.org Store to purchase.

Interested in taking a designation course on-line? REALTOR® University is NAR's exclusive, online provider of courses leading to the ABR, ABRM, AHWD, ALC, CIPS, GREEN, SRES, REPA, RSPS, SFR, and TRC designations and certifications.