A. Time after time, studies show that the more knowledgeable real estate agents are the ones who earn the most money. According to a recent survey by the Minnesota Association of REALTORS®, 80% of the REALTORS® with the designation survive the critical first three years in real estate and earn an average of 40% more income than their competitors. The GRI designation also gives you added recognition by helping you "stand out" from the crowd. It signifies a dedicated and knowledgeable agent.

A. The coursework in the Graduate REALTORS® Institute is designed primarily for REALTORS® who have been licensed for less than 3 years, although real estate professionals of any experience level can benefit from the GRI courses. Only REALTORS® can obtain the GRI designation and they must maintain their REALTOR® membership to continue using it.

A. There are a number of scholarship programs available to help you attend the GRI courses. Most require that you are a member of the REALTORS® Association, and that you are pre-registered for the GRI program. Most of the scholarships cover full tuition fees for the program. For more information about scholarship opportunities, or for application materials, contact your local Board or Association of REALTORS® or see the GRI Scholarship web page.

Q. What do you mean when you say work on two designations at the same time?

A. Wisconsin's GRI program has the added benefit of including the Residential Sales Council's CRS courses as part of the content of GRI Courses 1, 2 and 3. This means that while you are successfully completing your GRI Courses, you are also completing the education requirement for the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation. You then need only some additional qualifications to earn your CRS designation. 

A. While the WRA offers an annual Graduate GRI Course in conjunction with the annual Institute, you are not required to complete additional coursework to maintain your designation. Once the GRI is earned, you simply must maintain your REALTOR® membership to continue using it.

A. To participate in the GRI 1 Equivalency Exam you will first need to register for the exam. Once you are registered you will receive instructions on how to access the exam. The exam is a timed test comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions. You have 2.5 hours to complete the exam.

After completing the exam, your score will appear on the screen. To pass the exam, you must receive a score of 70% or better. If you pass, you will be able to print your certificate. Should you fail, you will need to attend the GRI 1 Course.

Q. I earned my GRI in one state, but am now preparing to be licensed in another. Is my GRI still valid?

Q. I noticed that my GRI designation does not appear in NRDS. How do I get this to appear?

A. The WRA is your point of entry for GRI data for NRDS. Please email us at educate@wra.org and we will submit the information to NRDS.

Q. I have earned the GRI designation, but am planning to disaffiliate from the REALTORS® organization. May I still use the designation on my business card and marketing materials?

A. No. In order to use the GRI designation mark, you must be a member in good standing with the National Association of REALTORS®.

Q. I want to use the GRI logo on my business card. Where can I get an image to use for print.

A. The WRA provides a web page with downloadable images. You can access this page by clicking here.