If you’re entering the real estate market for the first time, you may find real estate professional's various titles a little confusing. Sometimes consumers use these titles interchangeably, but there are some important differences between the roles of the various professionals, as well as different requirements for using particular titles.

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Titles for real estate professionals

The real estate profession is regulated by state governments, which have different requirements for earning a license. In general, though, the titles you may come across include:

• Real estate agent: Anyone who earns a real estate license can be called a real estate agent, whether that license is as a sales professional, an associate broker or a broker. State requirements vary, but in all states you must take a minimum number of classes and pass a test to earn your license.
• REALTOR®: A real estate agent who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, which means that he or she must uphold the standards of the association and its code of ethics.
• Real estate broker: A person who has taken education beyond the agent level as required by state laws and has passed a brokers license exam. Brokers can work alone or they can hire agents to work for them.
• Real estate salesperson: Another name for a real estate agent.
• Real estate associate broker: Someone who has taken additional education classes and earned a brokers license but chooses to work under the management of a broker.

Working with a real estate professional

While you are more likely to work directly with a real estate salesperson or an associate broker, some brokers provide services for buyers and sellers themselves. If you have hired a real estate agent to help you buy or sell a home, that agent typically reports to a broker. The broker handles the earnest money deposit and establishes the escrow account.

In addition, the broker bears responsibility for the actions of the real estate agents under his or her supervision. While the majority of real estate transactions go through without any glitches, a broker will step in if there are any problems with your home purchase or sale.

If you are unhappy with your real estate agent and cannot resolve the issues directly, your next step should be to talk with the broker to ask for help and perhaps another agent for you to consult.

Experience and education

Real estate brokers not only have higher education requirements than real estate salespersons, they also must have experience working as an agent. For example, in Utah the license requirements are as follows:

• A salesperson must take 120 hours of classes and pass an exam with both state and national sections.
• A broker must take an additional 120 hours of broker-specific classes, pass an exam with both state and national sections, and have actively worked as a real estate salesperson for 3 of the previous 5 years

When you are looking for a real estate professional, it is wise to work with a member of the National Association of REALTORS® who is committed to maintaining the professionalism of the real estate business. You can choose to work with a salesperson or a broker, but in any case you should take the time to interview your agent and ask for references.

If you want to work with someone new to the profession, you may want to ask to meet the broker as well so you can feel comfortable that someone with experience will be representing your interests.

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