I don' know if they give credibility to anyone.  I think the word broker means more to the general public.

They enhance my education so it makes me more valuable to clients.

I believe they enhance your knowledge OF the business.  How you use them to enhance the profitability of the business is up to the individual agent.   Mostly, the designations mean nothing to the public... unless you explain them.  Blogging is a good place to do that.  

 I used to have several designations however I find paying for designations that don't offer anything but a $99 a year  a big waste of my money....

Broker tops the list.  CCIM if you are in commercial.  CRB and CRS used to get a lot of traction; maybe not so much anymore, other than for referrals. 

They can enhance your business if you put into practice the lessons learned from these designations.

Deanna, 

I agree with Richard Weeks .  The public at large has no idea what they mean.  And I also agree with Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington   A

For the knowledge if you want to expand into that area and can't find any other options, yes.

As far as having CRS, ePro, Diversity, EIEIO, GRI, ... after your name, no.  Reason: certifications only matter to hiring managers who understand what they mean.  In our world, sellers and buyers don't even know who NAR is, let alone what the certifications are.

Yes and yes and they enhance credibility with your clients if you know how to "sell" it.

The average buyer or seller has no clue what GRI, ABR, SRS, etc stand for. These designations provide for added education in handling certain population groups and types of transactions - and other realtors should understand what they mean. But I know of many successful agents who have never received a designation other than licensed real estate agent.

IMO most designations are just another source for agents to spend money.  I feel Broker imports the most credibility from clients and peers alike.  Mark

I'm all about the education and that's about it.

Not a fan of them on my business card but I take the classes to learn

If you learn something from the courses, it's a plus. Customers don't care about designations and the alphabet soup on the cards means nothing to them.

I think the knowledge is the only benefit - I really don't care abour peer thoughts myself

The education can be valuable but the annual cost is usually a poor investment with the exception of a few highly respected designations. 

Definitely overplayed by many and the general public usually doesn't have a clue.

There is no right/wrong answer.  It depends on the person.   I don't have any and the only one that would make a difference for me would be a broker license.  

A wealth of knowledge that helps your business. The initials next to your name, not so much!

I had 9 of them when I was actively listing property....no one else in my area had that many and it worked well for me....no one knew what they meant...but they knew I earned them and was educated....

I learned a lot from them

It depends on the designation.

Deanna Fortney - having it is a good thing for sure.

I am a little cynical about most of them.  They are one more way for NAR to make money!

They absolutely enhance your business...one from an educational advantage and two if you use / market them. 

no - I don't think they enhance with anyone

I commend my peers when they invest their time getting additional education and designations. I think the knowledge can be very helpful. The letters themselves not so much.

My REO Specialist designation has gotten me clients. Although most of the designations really don't mean much to the consumer. That is what I believe. 

I obtain a new designation every two years to fulfill my hours.

Depends on the designation really, but hopefully it enhances your credibility, reputation and productivity because you're more educated. I know enough smart people without 10 million letters and I know enough people with 10 million letters who are not, so I do not tend to be impressed one way or the other with designations.

I think that it is completely dependent on how well you utilize the info that you learned while gaining the designation.

Your clients will not care though.

19+ years, no one has ever asked me for mine orif I have any

Both applications as mentioned. What counts is the end results....

I think the earning of the desginations is what helpd you be more valuable! I hope you have a great day!

I am actually slightly envious of those with designations because I know the time, money and discipline that was put into achieving those, but other than that, I don't feel the public understands the  value.

Hi Deanna - I don't think they do eiather very well, but they do let us expand our capabilities and expertise.

Deanna, 

Shortly after I became a full time Realtor, I got the GREEN certification.  It cost about $500 to take the test.  

I was already a huge alternative building, solar, granola-crunching tree-hugger, so I just blew threw the test for the designation.  

I started attending the LEEDs meetings in my area, and put it on my business card.  

My wife and I still use that as an example of a good way to throw away what was a lot of money at a bad time. 

I think if I would have done that later when the $500 wasn't that big of a deal and been in a market where that was of some value, (Not in the state I grew up in and lived in :) it would have been a good thing. 

I don't think most agents are that impressed by letters at the end of your name, because we all know people who have the e-Pro designation, for example, who are totally technically handicapped.  

To me the fact that you have passed the test doesn't mean anything to me as a fellow agent.

To civilian non-Realtors, it means even less.  

If someone asks you, what does ePro or GREEN mean here on your card, it gives you a good way to explain it and ask them questions to see how your skills would be meaningful to them. 

Otherwise, I think most people work with an agent they feel they can trust.  Or they get a referral from someone who has had a good experience with their broker. 

I didn't feel like even the training was that helpful.  It seemed very superficial.  Very much like my CE classes. :)

It is more important to learn the skills or gain the expertise.  If the designation is a vehicle for you to start down the road to being a true expert, then that is of value. 

Just you getting more education doesn't benefit your client.  

I took a diesel mechanic class at the local college a few years ago.  I learned a lot.  I don't think it has helped my clients even a tiny bit. :)

When appended to an agent name they are a measure of vanity.

However, a little more knowledge is seldom a bad thing.

When flaunted to the public they are a gesture of 'vanity metrics," which is always accompanied by 'success theater' and 'suragate endpoints.'

Who'll give me $1,500 for PDQ?

No I don't. I just saw someone send me an email with a litany of consonants & I just laughed saying 'wow, they spend an awful lot of time collecting these & money too'. BUT .... does it make them more money? I say no.

Neither, I'd say, it is more for you to be able to provide a better service to your clients. 

In my opinion, they boost your ego and perception about how you value your knowledge. I am more prepared in dealing with an agent with specific designations

Most people and agents ignore them. The designations don't enhance anything, but the training you get while earning the designation might come in handy.

Deanna Fortney I think designations will enhance your knowledge. Work towards your Broker's License.