There are several special licenses and certifications used within the real estate community to indicate advanced training, skills, and expertise on one or more of the disciplines that constitute high quality real estate service.

In my case, some you may see mentioned are:

• Associate Broker signifies a special status under Maryland brokerage law, for agents who have worked as a licensed professional in the real estate business for at least several years; and who additionally have voluntarily completed a comprehensive advanced broker education program and state licensing examination covering virtually all aspects of the real estate business and Maryland brokerage law.
   
• Realtor represents membership in the National Association of Realtors, and commitment to the very detailed, strict ethical and professional practice code to which all Realtors must adhere.
   
• ABR indicates the Accredited Buyer Representative designation. The ABR credential is earned only after demonstrating the ability to serve first-time and move-up/trade-down homebuyers through repeated service as a buyer agent, as well as by completion of a special training program and examination for buyer representation services.
   
• GRI stands for Graduate, Realtor Institute, and represents completion of a 15-part series of advanced real estate training, surveying a wide range of real estate-related topics including marketing and technology; ethics and fair housing law; property pricing; listing service for sellers in preparing, pricing, and presenting a home for sale; negotiation and transaction processing for a residential property contract of sale; buyer representation law and service; legal, tax and environmental issues related to the sales and ownership of real property; and more.
   
• SRES indicates Seniors Real Estate Specialist, and completion of special training to serve the needs of the over-50 homeowner / homebuyer.