About 36% of Realtors have obtained at leas one professional real estate designation,
The most common designations are:
GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute)
ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative)
CRS (Certified REsidential Specialist)
While many realtors have earned multiple designations, those acronyms don't indicate how much experience they have.
With the CRS designation, which I have, agents have to document that they have completed a minimum number of transactions. It is one of the few real estate designations that REQUIRE agents to their experience in the field.
22% of Realtors belong to one or more of National Association of Realtors affiliated organizations.
12% of Realtors belong to the Council of Residential Specialist * (source 2013 NAR Member Profile)