Real estate professionals earn designations in order to advance their careers and stand out among their competition. Most designations require you to be a member in good standing of the issuing organization and sometimes another affiliated council as well. For example, to maintain your CRS designation you must be a member in good standing of both the NAR and the RRC.  The professional earns their designation upon completion of the required coursework and, if required, an exam and documented work experience. Our selection of the best designations to strive for will give you several niche paths you can choose from based on your interest and what makes the most sense for your locale.