What is the difference between a REALTOR® and a real estate agent?
A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), while "real estate agent" is a generic term for anyone licensed to help clients buy and sell property. NAR's membership stands at 1,438,569 as of the 2026 Member Profile. The distinction is membership in the trade association, not a separate license or credential.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), while a real estate agent is anyone licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property. REALTORS® must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years. The term "REALTOR®" is a trademark that only NAR members may use.
Sources: AREC — AL License Law Rule 790-X-1-.18 (Reciprocal License Requirements); AREC — Become a Licensed Real Estate Professional.
All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who follows NAR's Code of Ethics and completes ethics training every three years. A real estate agent is any licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues; NAR represents more than 1.5 million members.
Sources: Alaska Real Estate Commission — Education; Alaska REC — Salesperson Licensing Requirements.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and adheres to NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. Joining NAR is voluntary and requires paying membership dues through a local REALTOR® association, which also provides membership in the state and national associations.
Sources: ADRE — How to Obtain a License; ADRE — Salesperson License.
A real estate agent is anyone licensed by a state to help clients buy, sell, or rent properties. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. Only NAR members may use the title "REALTOR®." Joining NAR begins at the local association level, and membership requires paying annual dues at the national, state, and local levels.
Sources: AREC — Reciprocal States; AREC — New Applicant Licensing.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics. A real estate agent is any licensed individual who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under the supervision of a licensed broker. Membership in NAR is voluntary, and not all licensed agents are REALTORS®.
Sources: CA DRE — Salesperson Requirements; CA DRE — Salesperson Exam & License.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and adheres to NAR's Code of Ethics, while a real estate agent is any licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. In Colorado, all real estate professionals are licensed as brokers rather than salespersons, so the term "agent" is commonly used even though the license held is a broker license.
Sources: CO DRE — Broker Applications, Documents and Fees; Colorado DRE — Broker License Application Requirements.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join a local REALTOR® board or association and pay membership dues.
Sources: CT DCP — RE Salesperson Initial Exam; CT DCP — RE Salesperson Licensing.
A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The main difference is that REALTORS® agree to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics, while real estate agents who are not NAR members are not bound by those same standards. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, which also provides membership in the state and national associations.
Sources: Delaware DPR — Salesperson Licensure; Delaware DPR — Broker and Associate Broker Licensure.
A REALTOR® is a real estate agent who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), a trade association, and pays annual membership dues. Every REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent, but not every licensed agent is a REALTOR®. In NAR's 2025 Member Profile, the organization had approximately 1.4 million members, 64% of whom were licensed sales agents, 22% brokers, and 16% broker associates.
Sources: DC DLCP — Real Estate Commission; DCREC — Approved Pre-License Courses (2023–2025).
A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who holds active membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), while a real estate agent is any licensed individual who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. REALTORS® must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics, complete ethics training every three years, and pay annual national dues of $156 for 2027 plus a $45 consumer advertising assessment, along with state and local association dues.
Sources: NAR — Membership Dues Information.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics. NAR members pay annual dues at the national, state, and local levels and must complete Code of Ethics training every three years. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, but all REALTORS® who practice real estate are licensed agents or brokers.
Sources: GA Admin Code — GREC Rules 520-1 (Licensure and Brokerage); GREC — License Renewal Guide.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), pays annual membership dues, and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.
Sources: Hawaii REB — Examination & Licensing; Hawaii REB — Application & Registration Fees.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. A real estate agent is licensed to act on behalf of a broker and may not practice independently, while a REALTOR® has additionally joined a local REALTOR® association and pays membership dues at the national, state, and local levels.
Sources: Idaho DOPL — REC FAQs & Consumer Info; Idaho DOPL — Real Estate Commission.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who also holds membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). All REALTORS® are licensed, but not all licensed real estate professionals are REALTORS®. In Illinois, the entry-level license is called a "broker" rather than "salesperson" or "agent." To become a REALTOR®, a licensee must join their local REALTOR® Association and pay membership dues. REALTORS® must uphold the NAR Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years.
Sources: IDFPR – Real Estate Broker 75-Hour Pre-License Curriculum (Official Document); Illinois Administrative Code – IDFPR Broker License Requirements (ilga.gov).
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics. A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, and rent property but has not necessarily joined NAR. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. NAR had approximately 1.5 million members as of 2025 across nearly 1,400 local associations.
Sources: Indiana PLA — Real Estate Licensing Information; Pearson VUE — Indiana Real Estate Candidate Handbook (March 2025).
A real estate agent helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must follow its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed agents or brokers, but not all agents or brokers join NAR. NAR had approximately 1.4 million members as of its 2025 Member Profile.
Sources: Iowa DIAL — Real Estate Salesperson and Brokers License by Exam; Iowa DIAL — PSI Licensing Information Bulletin (Iowa Real Estate Commission).
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions and must work under a broker. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must follow the NAR Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. The Kansas Real Estate Commission does not require licensees to join a board or Association of REALTORS®; membership is voluntary and separate from state licensure.
Sources: KREC — Broker Requirements; KREC — Kansas Real Estate Commission FAQ.
A real estate agent is anyone licensed by a state real estate commission to help clients buy, sell, or rent property. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to its Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®; membership requires joining a local and state Association of REALTORS®, which entitles automatic NAR membership. Approximately 2.4 million licensed real estate professionals practice in the United States, and more than 1 million have joined NAR.
Sources: KREC — Continuing Education; KREC — License Renewals (Maintain a License).
A real estate agent is any licensed professional who facilitates property transactions and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join their local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues.
Sources: LREC — CE Requirements; LREC — License Renewal Season.
A real estate agent is anyone licensed to help people buy and sell real estate. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must follow NAR's Code of Ethics. NAR's 2025 Member Profile counted approximately 1.4 million members, of whom 64% were licensed sales agents, 22% were brokers, and 16% held broker associate licenses. Only NAR members can use the term "REALTOR®."
Sources: Maine RE Commission — Individual Licenses (Reciprocal Licensing Section); Pearson VUE — Maine Real Estate Candidate Handbook (December 2025).
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are real estate professionals, but not all agents or brokers are REALTORS®.
Sources: MD MREC — Taking the Exam (Real Estate Exam Info); MREC — Licensing FAQs.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions but is not necessarily a member of any professional association. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. Membership in NAR requires joining a local REALTOR® association and paying annual dues.
Sources: MA DPL — Real Estate License Fees; Mass.gov — RE License Exam Guide.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent real estate and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and can be an agent, broker, or other industry professional. REALTORS® agree to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics and pay annual membership dues; only NAR members may use the REALTOR® trademark.
Sources: MI LARA BPL — Real Estate Individual Broker Licensing Guide; MI LARA BPL — Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Guide.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, because REALTOR® membership is voluntary and requires joining a local REALTOR® association and paying membership dues at the local, state, and national levels.
Sources: MN Commerce — Licensing Education; MN Commerce — RE License Guide PDF.
A real estate agent is anyone licensed by a state real estate commission to help clients buy, sell, or lease property. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who holds a license and also belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). NAR members pay annual national dues plus a special assessment for consumer advertising, and they must complete Code of Ethics and Fair Housing training every three years. All REALTORS® are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, since NAR membership is voluntary.
Sources: MREC PSI Candidate Information Bulletin; MREC Rules and Regulations (Rev 02-21-2025).
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who holds membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and abides by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join their local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues.
Sources: MO Prof. Registration — RE How-To; MO RE Commission — Application PDF.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join a local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues.
Sources: Montana DLI — RE Broker Licensing; MT DLI BSD — Broker Checklist.
A real estate agent is any individual licensed to practice real estate in a given state. A REALTOR® is a real estate licensee who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and its affiliated local and state associations. Only NAR members may use the title "REALTOR®," and they must subscribe to NAR's code of ethics. NAR national membership dues are $156 per member for 2027, plus a $45 special assessment for the consumer advertising campaign.
Sources: NAR — How to Become a REALTOR.
A real estate agent is anyone who holds a state-issued license to facilitate real estate transactions. "REALTOR®" is a trademarked term that only members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) may use. A licensed agent becomes a REALTOR® by joining a local REALTOR® association and paying membership dues, and must abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. Agents who are not NAR members cannot call themselves REALTORS® and are not bound by the NAR Code of Ethics.
Sources: Nevada RED — Salesperson License Requirements; Nevada RED — Form 501 (Licensing Requirements).
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), while a real estate agent is anyone licensed to facilitate property transactions. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join their local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, and members must complete Code of Ethics training and Fair Housing training every three years.
Sources: NH OPLC — Real Estate Examination Information; NH OPLC — RE Commission Testing Provider, PSI, Inc..
A real estate agent is any licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association and agreed to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.
Sources: NJ DOBI — Requirements for Licensure as a NJ Real Estate Salesperson or Broker; NJ DOBI — Real Estate Licensing and Education Hub.
A real estate agent is a generic term for a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and may be either an agent or a broker; REALTORS® must adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics and pay annual membership dues at the national, state, and local levels. In New Mexico, entry-level licensees are called associate brokers and the supervisory level is qualifying broker, so the state uses "broker" for all license types.
Sources: NM RLD — RE Commission Licensing (Apply for License); NM RLD — Real Estate Commission FAQs.
A real estate agent is any individual licensed by the state to help clients buy, sell, or rent property. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and subscribes to its Code of Ethics. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark of NAR, and not all licensed agents choose to become REALTORS®.
Sources: NY DOS — Real Estate Salesperson Syllabus (2022); NY DOS — Become a Real Estate Salesperson.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. In North Carolina, the term "real estate agent" is used interchangeably with "broker" because the state is a broker-only licensing state, meaning every licensee holds a broker license.
Sources: NCREC — General Brochure (Real Estate Licensing in North Carolina, March 2024); NCREC — Licensing FAQ.
All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who must follow NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics and Fair Housing training every three years. A real estate agent who is not an NAR member does not carry the REALTOR® designation or the associated ethical obligations.
Sources: NDREC — How to Apply; ND Real Estate Commission — Exam Info.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates real estate transactions. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) by becoming a member of a local REALTOR® association and paying annual dues at the national, state, and local levels. REALTORS® must adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.
Sources: Ohio REPL — Broker License Requirements; Ohio DOC — Real Estate FAQ.
A real estate agent is anyone licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent real estate and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local board and agrees to follow NAR's Code of Ethics. In Oklahoma, 17 local boards of REALTORS® provide access to state and national membership.
Sources: OREC — Licensing & Exam FAQs; OREC — Obtain a License.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by its Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all licensed agents are REALTORS®. In Oregon, holding a broker license does not make someone a REALTOR®; membership requires joining a local REALTOR® association and paying dues at the local, state, and national levels.
Sources: Oregon REA — Get Broker License; Oregon REA — Approved Pre-License Schools.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and follows NAR's Code of Ethics. A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but is not necessarily a NAR member. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.
Sources: PA DOS — Real Estate Commission Licensure Guide; PA Real Estate Commission — Salesperson Licensure Snapshot.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps people buy, sell, and rent real estate and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and pays annual membership dues. NAR members must follow the NAR Code of Ethics and complete periodic ethics and Fair Housing training. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered trademark of NAR and does not apply generically to all licensed agents.
Sources: RI DBR — Real Estate Licensing; RI DBR — Reciprocal Broker Application.
A real estate agent is a generic term for anyone licensed to facilitate real estate transactions. A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. Becoming a REALTOR® requires first obtaining a real estate license, then joining a local REALTOR® association and paying membership dues, which automatically provides membership in the state and national associations. NAR national dues for 2027 are $156 plus a $45 special assessment, totaling $201 per member, with additional state and local association dues varying by location.
Sources: NAR — Membership Dues Information; SC LLR — RE Renewal FAQ.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who also holds membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. In South Dakota, a licensed agent can become a REALTOR® by joining a local board of REALTORS®, which automatically extends membership to the state association (SD REALTORS®) and NAR.
Sources: SD DLR — RE License Types & Requirements; SD DLR — Approved Pre-Licensing Education.
All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) who has joined a local REALTOR® association, paid membership dues, and agreed to abide by the NAR Code of Ethics. A real estate agent is anyone licensed to facilitate real estate transactions, regardless of NAR membership.
Sources: TN Commerce Support — Pre-Licensing Requirements & Exam FAQs; TN TREC — PSI & Exam Information.
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agreed to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. A real estate agent is licensed by the state regulatory authority, in Texas the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), but has not necessarily joined NAR. Membership in NAR is voluntary and separate from state licensure, so not all licensed agents are REALTORS®.
Sources: TREC Fee Schedule Effective December 15, 2025; TREC — Become a Sales Agent.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), agrees to abide by its Code of Ethics, and pays annual membership dues. Only NAR members can use the REALTOR® trademark. NAR members must complete Code of Ethics training and Fair Housing training every 3 years, requirements that apply to association membership rather than state license renewal.
Sources: Utah Division of Real Estate — Broker Licensing.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who helps clients buy, sell, or rent property and must work under a licensed broker. A REALTOR® is a real estate agent or broker who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics. In Vermont, obtaining REALTOR® membership requires holding a real estate license, affiliating with a brokerage, joining a local board or Association of REALTORS®, and completing Code of Ethics training within 90 days of the local board application date.
Sources: Vermont OPR — RE Broker & Salesperson Administrative Rules (PDF).
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions, while a REALTOR® is a licensed real estate agent who has also joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), a private professional organization. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. Virginia state law requires a license to practice real estate but does not require any licensee to be a REALTOR®.
Sources: VA DPOR — Real Estate Board; VA DPOR — Real Estate Process PDF.
All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent or broker who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and agrees to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. Washington has two levels of real estate licensure: broker and managing broker. The term "REALTOR®" applies only to NAR members.
Sources: WA DOL — Managing Broker License; WA DOL — Managing Broker Exam.
A real estate agent is anyone who earns a real estate license from the state licensing authority. A REALTOR® is a licensed agent who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association and must uphold NAR's Code of Ethics. Only NAR members may use the REALTOR® designation. Joining a local association automatically provides membership in the state and national associations.
Sources: WV REC — Salesperson Licensing; WV REC — Schedule of Fees.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions between buyers and sellers. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and adheres to NAR's Code of Ethics. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. To become a REALTOR®, a licensed agent must join a local REALTOR® Association and pay membership dues, and REALTORS® must complete ethics training every three years.
Sources: WI DSPS — Real Estate Salesperson; WI DSPS — Real Estate Broker.
A real estate agent is any individual licensed by a state to facilitate property transactions. A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who has joined the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) through a local association and pays membership dues. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. REALTORS® must follow NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics and fair housing training every three years. A state license gives the legal right to sell real estate, but the "REALTOR®" designation requires NAR membership.
Sources: Wyoming REC — Obtain a License; Wyoming REC — Education Providers: Pre-Licensing.