Since there was such a debate over my blog on designations and their relative value, I thought it would be nice if I culled through the responses in order to get a consensus and also offer up some references for further reading.

There were 41 responders to the blog – excluding those who posted more than once and of course my responses.  There were three distinct camps:

1.  49% Felt designations were of dubious value (I included myself in that group.)
2.  29% Felt that having one or two made sense.
3.  22% Felt  that felt multiple designations were valuable.

This is hardly scientific and may be skewed against the pro-designation camp because of the venue involved.  Bloggers as a group are probably more likely to gain knowledge through reading and disseminating information on-line and may have less of a need for a formal classroom.

One trend I did see was that of all the designations out there the CRS appeared to mentioned over and over again as the most valuable for the agent and their clients.  Here is link to blog about the CRS  - My CRS Designation – by Randy Prothero.

The following are some links for further reading on this subject.

The e-Pro Designation – Where it all began for me….

My journey started with the ePro designation So I first turn to Jim Cronin of the Real Estate Tomato for inspiration:  e-Pro is a Tinfoil Badge.

Nick Van Assche also wrote something similar on AR in 2008.  E-Pro is a waste of a designation.

Designations and Agent Education in General….

Kris Berg from Inman wrote a scathing piece on  the state of the low bar to entry and the training that is currently state-of-the-art for agents.  In Real estate dodges tech bullet - she mentions designations specifically.  For those who thought that what I wrote was too strong,  I warn you – this article might raise your blood pressure to a point of no return.  She writes better than I do – so it is well worth the read and if you like sarcasm, you will like Kris Berg.

While you are at it, you might also want to take a look at another article she wrote along a similar train of thought.  Don’t forget the customer.

Mariana Wagner  of Agent Genius wrote a very critical blog about designations and the process.    Proposed New Real Estate Designations for 2009.

Renee Porsia – also from Agent Genius – wrote a piece highly critical of the “self-aggrandizing” ways in which agents behave and unleashed some of her wrath on those with too many designations.  Do You Need a Trophy Case For Your Meaningless Accolades?

Also, David Saks wrote a rather strong blog on AR.   Designations: Continuing Education or Continuing Humongous Absurd Rip Off ???

So there you have it. There is a body of opinion within the industry that shares some of the concerns that I brought up in my post.  The issues have been  out there and are under continuous debate.  So please don’t shoot the messenger.

© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks http://theWestchesterView.com. All rights reserved.

Personally, I have a problem with designations simply because the testing required doesn’t have any teeth to show that the agent actually learned something.    Much of the testing is open book – and sustaining the designation involves paying your way and has nothing to do with learning new skills.

Agents have always wanted to look upon themselves as “professionals.”  Often likening themselves to doctors and lawyers and other high-paying professions.  A truly skilled agent is indeed worth a great deal.  However, how can our “value” be disseminated by the public when “qualifications” are shrouded in a blizzard of inexplicable letters?

Those other professionals that we often choose to intone in the same breath with our own  actually utilize degree granting institutions to confer professional or academic degrees upon their candidates.   Wow!  What a concept!  They actually expect the candidate to earn a degree that requires a some amount of academic rigor.   Maintaining the degree does not involve a fee. Another unique concept!  It may seem strange but my alma mater has not threatened to take away my doctorate just because I didn’t contribute the the alumni association. Once conferred, most  degrees actually stay with the candidate. Again – a unique concept.

Its also interesting that most professionals that go through extensive  courses of study don’t put every single degree they ever earned at the end of their name.  Had I splattered my degrees after my name the way some agents display their designations, it would have turned signing my name a massive ordeal.  It would also have looked absurd.   Somehow, I can’t imagine calling myself Dr. Ruthmarie G. Hicks, B.A., M.A., M.S., Ph.D. At least not while keep a straight face.   In all seriousness, who would do this?  Had I put all that gobbledegook  on my professional card, I would have been a laughing stock.

So why do agents persist in this?  Perhaps we are trying too hard to show that we are serious professionals.  But in so doing we actually trivialize  our position and make ourselves look foolish. Wouldn’t actually BEING a serious professional be more effective then leaving a blizzard of initials in our wake?

We need to ask ourselves, does any other profession really do this?  Perhaps if we want to be taken more seriously, we need to rethink what message it sends when throw designations all over the place like they were confetti.  If we don’t, someone will come up with a series of designations that read

Th ISIS ToTaL CraP.

Don’t think it can’t happen.

© Ruthmarie G. Hicks, http://thewestchesterview.com.  All rights reserved.