One important thing to know is that a realtor and a real estate agent are two different occupations and they are not interchangeable.  Even the requirements to become either one are different.  A real estate agent is one who is licensed to help their clients buy and sell their property.  A realtor is one who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and is a broker but you first must be a real estate agent before you can become a realtor.  The National Association of Realtors is the biggest professional association of real estate professionals world-wide.



To become a realtor you start as a real estate agent who is licensed.  To become a licensed real estate agent you need to have either your high school diploma or your GED in most locations.  You also have to be eighteen years of age.  Each state has different requirements to become a licensed real estate agent so you will need to check to see what your state requires.  In most states you will need to complete certain coursework and pass an exam before getting your license to become a real estate agent.

To find the required courses you need to take to get your real estate license you can call a real estate agency in your area or contact the agency that handles real estate licensing.  After you become a licensed real estate agent you should work for approximately two years with a realtor to get experience and learn what it is to be a realtor.  After this time period you will take a ninety hour renewal course in real estate to prepare you for the exam to become a real estate broker.  A real estate broker is the agent who helps the sellers sell their property. They are an intermediary between the sellers and buyers.  You will need a real estate broker’s license, especially if you have real estate agents working under your supervision and money exchanging hands.  To get the license to be a broker you must pass an exam on real estate law.

Once you have your real estate broker’s license you should apply for membership through the Association of Realtors in your state.  Once you have been accepted you can use the realtor designation along with its trademark symbol. This membership will let people know that you are associated with an organization that is known for its high standards of ethics and excellence in the field of real estate.  You will also gain valuable learning opportunities others in your field will not have.