To earn your CIPS Designation, you will need to complete the following steps. As a practitioner outside the U.S., you may join the CIPS Network at any time.

Step 1: Education

You must successfully complete two of the three core courses and 3 of the elective options (outlined below), and pass the multiple-choice examination given at the end of each course. To pass an exam, you must earn a 70% or better. Important Note: All educational requirements must be completed within two years of passing the the first course taken.

Core Courses:

• Global Real Estate: Local Markets (1 day)—required prerequisite
• The Business of U.S. Real Estate (1 day)—available November 2011
• Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools (1 day)

Elective Options:

• Europe & International Real Estate (1 day)
• Asia/Pacific & International Real Estate (1 day)
• The Americas & International Real Estate (1 day)
• At Home With Diversity (1 day)
• One Real Estate Advanced Practices (REAP) module from the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS)

Read the overview of CIPS classes, or to find a course taking place in your area, check out our course schedule.

Step 2: Designation Application

In addition to completing five CIPS courses, you must submit a Non-U.S. CIPS Designation Application demonstrating your experience in international real estate. This application requires that you earn 100 points in elective credits. Elective credits can be earned by speaking other languages, possessing additional NAR designations, attending international conferences and education sessions, and international transactions in which you will be asked to answer specific questions regarding the sales of each transaction. Transactions must involve other cultures or countries, and can include sales in your local market.

Applications can be submitted throughout the year; however, they are due by Oct. 1 to be recognized (and pinned) at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in November. A one-time only processing fee of US$75 is required when you submit your designation application. Once approved, you must maintain your designation dues annually in order to use the CIPS Designation. Annual dues are US$220 for non-U.S. designees.

If you are having trouble signing the .pdf, go to Advanced > Security Settings. Click on Digital IDs in the left menu. Examine the Intended Usage and select the certificate that includes Sign transaction, Sign document, and Client Authorization. Go to Usage Options and select Use for Signing. Then go back to the document and click Sign, but select Certify with Visible Signature. This should sign the document.

Miscellaneous

• If you reside in a country where NAR has a Cooperating Association, you must be a member of that Association in order to join the C-IPS Network/NAR and earn the designation. If you reside in a country where NAR does not have a Cooperating Association, you must agree to abide by NAR's code of ethics and join the Cooperating Association if developed in the future.
• Non-U.S. members can join the CIPS Network/NAR as general international members in addition to pursuing the designation (provided they meet the criteria listed above).
• Association Executives and staff can also earn the CIPS Designation. Annual Dues are US$95 plus the one time application fee of US$225.