Depending upon the economy, the numbers may vary from year to year. However, as a rule of thumb, there are about 2 million people that hold a real estate sales agent of broker license. It is widely accepted that approximately 50% of this group (1 million) are people that derive their primary income from the marketing and selling of real estate. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) averages a membership of 800,000; representing 40% of all licensees or approximately 80% of all active/full time agents and brokers.

Large Associations and Councils such as REBAC and CRS each have about 40,000 members while many smaller Associations might only have 1,000 or so members. Identifying the total number of those that hold a real estate designation is a complex matter as many real estate professionals hold more than one designation. Taking that into account, it is estimated that less than 200,000 professionals hold one or more of about 20 designations; 25% of NAR members, 20% of active/full time agents and 10% of all licensees.

Having a designation obviously does not guarantee that you will be successful, but being educated, attending quality classes such as those represented by the many designation organizations, clearly contributes significantly toward improving your skills, increasing your professionalism and usually results in an increase in your income … need we say more.

Many designations are aimed toward established professionals that already have a few years of experience. So where do you start? Which designation should you get first? How long should you wait before you're ready?

The following is alphabetical listing of the major designations currently available in the industry …

(ABR) Accredited Buyer Representative Geared to real estate agents who wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice (similar to CBR and Includes over 30,000 designees). This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Real Estate Agents Buyer's Council www.Rebac.net 800-648-6224

(ABRM) Accredited Buyer Representative Manager Geared to real estate brokers, owners and managers that have or wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Real Estate Agents Buyer's Council www.Rebac.net 800-648-6224

(ALHS) The Accredited Luxury Home Specialist designation is awarded by the Luxury Home Council to agents that have completed advanced training and work in the field of selling luxury homes.
Accredited Luxury Home Specialist www.luxuryhomecouncil.com

(AHWD) A groundbreaking professional educational initiative designed to provide America's real estate professionals with training and tools to expand their business as well as homeownership opportunities for more Americans. AHWD certification relays to the public that those certified have been professionally trained in and are sensitive to a wide range of cultural issues, thus inviting a wider volume of business from a greater variety of cultures. This is a National Association of REALTORS® certification.
At Home with Diversity

(ALC) Accredited Land Consultant The designation is for individuals that specialize in land brokerage transactions such as farms and ranches; undeveloped tracts of land; transitional and development land; subdivision and wholesaling of lots; and site selection and assemblage of land parcels. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Realtor's® Land Institute www.rliland.com 800-441-5263

(A-REP) Accredited Real Estate Professional. This is a starter designation for real estate professionals who complete the one-day Accredited Real Estate Professional course offered exclusively by RealtyU® Schools.
Real Estate Professionals Society www.repsociety.com 949-349-9394

(ARM) Accredited Residential Manager Geared to individuals that manage rental properties: apartment complexes, mobile homes, condominiums, single-family homes, single-room occupancy apartments, homeowners' associations or individuals that are resident managers, property managers or asset managers.
Institute of Real Estate Management www.irem.org 800-837-0706

(C-CREC) Consumer Certified Real Estate Consultant Geared toward helping professionals focus on what consumers want from today's real estate professionals, not just what the industry has to offer. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
National Association of Real Estate Consultants www.narec.com 800-445-8543

(CCIM) Certified Commercial Investment Member® Geared to experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management valuation and investment analysis (includes over 6,500 designees). This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
CCIM Institute www.ccim.com 800-621-7027

(CIPS) Certified International Property Specialist Geared to professionals that have demonstrated their international experience and participate in international programs offered by NAR. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
National Association of REALTORS® www.realtor.org/cips 800-354-2831 (Fax On Demand)

Certified Seller’s Agent (CSA) is geared towards Seller’s Agents and is awarded by the Seller Agency Council (SAC) to real estate professionals that have successfully completed the two day Seller Representative Specialist course.
Seller Agency Council www.SellerAgencyCouncil.com (949) 349-9394 x 100

(CM-REP) Career Management Real Estate Professional. This is a starter designation for real estate professionals who complete the one-day Career Management Real Estate Professionals course offered exclusively by RealtyU® Schools.
Real Estate Professionals Society www.repsociety.com 949-349-9394

(C-REP) Commercial Real Estate Professional. This is a starter designation for real estate professionals who complete two of the four modules of the Commercial Real Estate Professional course offered exclusively by RealtyU® Schools.
Real Estate Professionals Society www.repsociety.com 949-349-9394

(CRIA) Certified Realty Investment Associate Geared to the practical aspects of Commercial and Investment real estate.
Realty Investment Association of California www.riaoc.com 714-544-6604

(CPM) Certified Property Manager Real estate management skills through educational offerings, leading in every area of real estate management from residential to commercial to industrial. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Institute of Real Estate Management www.irem.org 800-837-0706 ext 4405

(CRB) Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager Geared toward professionals that consistently increase their level of industry knowledge, advance their earning and career potential, increase their firm's profitability and benefit from active involvement in our network of real estate professionals. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers www.CRB.com 800-621-8738

(CRP) Certified Relocation Professional Relocation professionals who have demonstrated a minimum of two years' experience dealing with relocation issues are allowed to sit for the exam.
Employee Relocation Council www.erc.org

(CRS) Certified Residential Specialist® Awarded to experienced REALTORS® who complete advanced training in listing and selling. CRS Designees benefit from nationwide referral opportunities, a professional image that attracts customers and sales and marketing support. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Council of Residential Specialists www.crs.com 800-462-8841

(CRE) Counselor of Real Estate Frequently mistaken as a designation but rather depicts membership of The Counselors of Real Estate. Geared towards seasoned counselors that provide objective advice on real property and land-related matters (by invitation only). This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Counselors of Real Estate www.cre.org 312-329-8427

e-PRO Not a designation but a certification. It is a new training program presented entirely online to certify real estate agents and brokers as Internet Professionals. This is a National Association of REALTORS® certification.
National Association of REALTORS® www.realtor.org

(E-REP) Electronic Real Estate Professional. This is a starter designation for real estate professionals who complete the one-day Electronic Real Estate Professional course offered exclusively by RealtyU® Schools.
Real Estate Professionals Society www.repsociety.com 949-349-9394

The Institute for Luxury Homes Marketing's Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist .
The Institute for Luxury Homes Marketing www.luxuryhomemarketing.com

(GAA) General Accredited Appraiser Awarded to appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification requirements and is supported by the NAR. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
National Association of REALTORS® www.realtor.org 800-354-2397

(GRI) Graduate REALTOR Institute Sales professionals that are involved in residential real estate that want a solid base of information for their practice. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
National Association of REALTORS® www.realtor.org 312-329-3278

(LTG) Leadership Training Graduate Focuses on career improvement, individual goal attainment and provides recognition to professionals who excel in career leadership through the dynamic combination of education and experience. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Women's Council of REALTORS® www.wcr.org 800-547-4772

(M-REP) Motrgage Real Estate Professional. This is a starter designation for real estate professionals who complete the Mortgage Real Estate Professional course offered exclusively by RealtyU® Schools.
Real Estate Professionals Society www.repsociety.com 949-349-9394

(R-REP) Referral Real Estate Professional. This is a starter designation for real estate professionals who complete the Referral Real Estate Professional course offered exclusively by RealtyU® Schools.
Real Estate Professionals Society www.repsociety.com 949-349-9394

(QSC) Quality Service Certified® Sales professionals willing to be held to a standard, which requires accountability, reliability and consistency - the ongoing delivery of quality service on each transaction.
www.QualityCertified.org 888-547-4772

(RECS) Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist Designed to let clients and colleagues know of your proficiency in serving the public with recognized skills for utilizing CyberSpace marketing programs and for effectively adopting special technology and networking systems.
Real Estate CyberSpace Society www.recyber.com 617-559-0000

(RAA) Residential Accredited Appraiser The RAA designation is awarded to appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
National Association of REALTORS® www.realtor.org 800-354-2397

(SIOR) Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® Geared towards professionals in industrial and office real estate brokerage. This is a National Association of REALTORS® designation.
Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® www.sior.com 202-737-8763

(SRES) Seniors Real Estate Specialist Geared toward producers that help seniors make wise decisions concerning selling the family home, buying rental property or managing the capital gains and tax implications of owning real estate.
Senior Advantage Real Estate Council® www.seniorsrealestate.com 800-500-4564

For our your needs regarding real estate education, real estate training and real estate designations search online for the RealtyU® School nearest you at www.RealtyU®.com