The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, The Voice for Real Estate®, the world's largest professional association. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and abides by its strict Code of Ethics.

Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120 members to more than 1 million today. NAR is composed of REALTORS® who are involved in residential and commercial real estate as brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others who are engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry.

Members belong to one or more of 1,700 local associations/boards and

54 state and territory associations of REALTORS® and can join one of our many institutes, societies, and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our appraisal and international real estate specialty sections. REALTORS® are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Working for America's property owners, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research, and exchange of information among its members.

Check out the Public Awareness Campaign television and radio spots that encourage consumers to rely on the expertise and integrity of REALTORS®.

Now in its ninth year, the NAR advertising campaign runs February through November on network and cable television and network and satellite radio. This year's commercials help consumers understand the real value of working with REALTORS®. From their voluntary adherence to a Code of Ethics to their incomparable knowledge of real estate processes, REALTORS® are the experts of residential and commercial property transactions.

Code of Ethics
The Code establishes time-honored and baseline principles that come from the collective experiences of REALTORS® since the Code of Ethics was first established in 1913. Those principles can be loosely defined as:

• Loyalty to clients;
• Fiduciary (legal) duty to clients;
• Cooperation with competitors;
• Truthfulness in statements and advertising; and non-interference in exclusive relationships that other REALTORS® have with their clients.

Designations
To earn a designation, a REALTOR® has taken coursework and demonstrated specific skills, performance and knowledge in a particular area of the real estate industry.

What do the letters after a REALTOR®’s name mean? They proudly show the designations a REALTOR® has earned to further their professional development. To earn a designation, a REALTOR® has taken coursework and demonstrated specific skills, performance and knowledge in a particular area of the real estate industry. To serve today’s consumers, REALTORS® need to be strong generalists and specialists. Designations are one way practitioners develop specialized skills that help the industry thrive. Designations also help practitioners demonstrate to their clients their commitment to professional development. The National Association of REALTORS® and its institutes, societies and councils offer the highest quality real estate education in the world. Learn about the real estate designations recognized by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Information courtesy of REALTOR.org