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How to compare real estate designations

Before you pay for any designation, from us or anyone else, ask these seven questions. Here is how we answer each one, so you can hold every option to the same standard.

Two front doors side by side, one painted navy and one teal.
  1. 01

    Can a client check that the credential is real and current?

    Letters anyone can claim are worth little. A public lookup is what turns a credential into proof.

    ACIEvery certificate has a verification ID and a public page showing who holds it, which designation, and whether it is current.
  2. 02

    Is there a real exam, marked by a person?

    A click-through quiz proves you clicked. Written answers show you can apply the material.

    ACIMultiple-choice questions plus short written answers read by a person. 70 of 100 passes; 2 attempts included.
  3. 03

    Does it stay current, or is it a one-time event?

    Rules and practice change. A credential from years ago may describe a market that no longer exists.

    ACIValid for 12 months, then renewed with a short update on what changed and a ten-question check.
  4. 04

    Is it honest about what it is?

    Some programs blur the line with licenses or continuing education credit.

    ACIIndependent designations. Not a license, not state CE credit, and not affiliated with or endorsed by NAR, and we say so on every page.
  5. 05

    Can you see the certificate before you buy?

    You are paying for something you will show clients. You should know what it looks like.

    ACIEvery designation page shows a full US Letter specimen certificate you can download.
  6. 06

    What does it cost, and is there a way to earn several?

    One designation rarely covers a whole business.

    ACIFrom $97 per designation, or All-Access at $199 a year for all 17, renewals included.
  7. 07

    Can you get your money back?

    A program confident in its value lets you walk away.

    ACIA 30-day money-back guarantee on every designation.

Comparing with a designation from the National Association of REALTORS or another organization? Many are well respected, with longer histories and in-person options. Ask them the same questions; the right choice depends on your business, budget and how you like to learn. Our guide to the full list of real estate designations covers the best-known ones.

Find the one that fits your business

17 designations across 4 tracks, each with an exam and a certificate clients can verify.

Browse designationsTake the 60-second quiz