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REALTOR® Institute - GRI

The Graduate, Realtor® Institute is the most popular designation among successful Realtors®. While your licensing courses and most PL teaches you how to manage your risk and complete transactions, GRI teaches you the skills you need to really be successful in your field.

IN THIS SECTION:

GRI FAQs
Course calendar / register for a GRI course
Designation requirements
Course descriptions
NEW: Equivalency credits
Other GRI policies

What is the REALTOR® Institute?

The Realtor® Institute is an education program consisting of 90 hours of coursework that culminates in the awarding of the Graduate, Realtor®  Institute (GRI) designation.  This program focuses on developing and increasing participants’ professionalism and skill level in ways that positively affect their bottom line.

Where can I take GRI classes?

The GRI program is offered jointly by the Virginia Association of Realtors® and local Realtor® associations across the Commonwealth. Visit the GRI CALENDAR, which includes a comprehensive look at dates and includes a registration form and online registration links.

What is a GRI Module?

It’s just another word we use for class/course.

What does GRI cover?

The coursework required to earn the GRI designation covers four major areas to give you the tools and knowledge you need to provide your clients superior service.

The Sales Process

  • Business development
  • Sales & marketing strategy
  • Customer & client services, and
  • Dealing with cultural diversity

Laws & Regs: How to stay out of the courtroom

  • Fair housing
  • Brokerage relationships
  • Contracts
  • Green/environmental issues
  • Reputation Insurance: Real-world professional standards, and
  • Ethics & Standards, Arbitration, and Mediation

Connecting 2.0: Choosing and leveraging technology

  • Communications
  • General technology, and
  • Modern real estate software and mechanics

How much does GRI cost?

The GRI program is run on a pay-as-you-go plan. You have the ability to customize your modules and the order in which you complete them.

Single-Module Tuition

Early-Bird
Regular
VAR Members

$90

$105

Non-VAR Members

$140

$155


DESIGNATION REQUIREMENTS

To earn the GRI designation in Virginia, you must: 

  • complete the nine "required" modules and take three of the five "optional" modules or equivalent credits within five (5) years
  • receive a passing grade for each module examination and you may not miss more than 15 minutes of any one module session
  • hold membership in the National Association of REALTORS®
  • complete the GRI designation application and pay the one-time fee of $25 (application will be mailed to you upon completion of last module)

You may make use of the GRI designation on business cards, stationary, etc. only when you have completed all the steps listed above.

CONTINUING EDUCATION/POST LICENSE CREDITS

Most of the modules in the REALTOR® Institute program are approved for continuing and/or post license education credit.

CLICK HERE to see the full GRI curriculum and the corresponding CE/PL credits for each module.

16 hours of continuing education are required in each licensing period as follows:

8 hours in mandatory topics:

  • 2 hours Fair Housing
  • 3 hours ethics and standards of conduct
  • 1 hour in each of the following topics: Legal Updates, Real Estate Agency, Real Estate Contracts
The remaining 8 hours may be in either mandatory or real estate related topics.
Principal Brokers, Associate Brokers and Sole Proprietor Licensees:  You need 8 hours in approved Broker Management courses. This is in addition to the 16 hours noted above.

Post License Education: PL references are intended for those in their first year of licensure. New licensees need to take 30 hours of post license education in lieu of taking any continuing education courses in the first year after they receive their license. New Salespersons must wait until their first two-year licensure term ends and renew their license to begin taking Continuing Education courses.  Note: The nine “required” modules in the Realtor® Institute program will satisfy the 30-hour requirement.

Effective 7/1/12:  All active licensees renewing their license between 7/1/2012 and 6/30/2014 must complete three hours in Residential Standard Agency (and is not satisfied by taking the RI 401: Understanding Agency module).  This is in addition to the 16 hours of continuing education (24 for brokers) or the 30 hours of post license education the licensee is required to complete and is a one-time requirement.

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