How to Become an SIOR Designee (Canada, Mexico, United States)
Membership Requirements
Select a requirement below to expand and see full details.
Has a minimum of five years of active engagement in commercial real estate and is a full time active practitioner.
Maintain a minimum production per year as measured by Gross Fee Income (GFI) and a minimum number of transactions within the standards set by the local Chapters.
GFI is the fee income directly attributable to the applicant that the applicant’s firm receives before splits. GFI requirements are set by the local Chapter and range from $200,000 to $400,000 per year in $50,000 increments. View GFI Requirements by market.
The applicant must fulfill the following:
- Meet set GFI amount for three out of the four most recent 12-month periods*.
- At least 70% of the GFI requirement must be comprised of industrial and/or office transactions. Of that 70%, at least 50% of those transactions must be in the applicant’s requested specialty type**.
*Applicants must submit the most recent 48 months of production, with respect to their application date. For example, an application submitted in June will have a 12-month period starting in June and ending in May.
** Applicants who have 50% in each transaction type may self-select the specialty.
Provide formal endorsements from two Active Individual Members in the applicant’s Chapter that are outside the applicant’s firm or firm’s network.
Exception: If 50 % or more of the applicant’s business is outside of the Chapter, one of the two endorsements can be from an SIOR Member outside of the Chapter.
Prove to be a knowledgeable professional in the industrial and/or office real estate market as evidenced by completing one of the following three options.
1. Core Components of Commercial Brokerage Coursework through SIOR Education.
Applicants complete three (3) mandatory courses:
- Ethics & Professional Standards
- Construction & Development
- Understanding the Lease Agreement
Applicants complete a minimum of three (3) of the following six (6) elective courses:
- Advanced Sales Skills
- Build-to-Suit Development
- Consolidating a Business Strategy
- Introduction to Real Estate Investment and Finance
- Negotiation Skills
- Tenant and Landlord Representation
Alternative ways to earn elective course credit:
- CCIM Designation – three (3) elective courses, fulfills elective requirement
- CCIM Courses: 101, 102, 103, or 104 – one (1) elective course each, for a maximum of two (2) elective courses
- Graduate Degree in Real Estate, Business or Law from an accredited college or university – two (2) elective courses
- CPM Designation – two (2) elective courses
- RPA Designation – two (2) elective courses
- FRI Designation – two (2) elective courses
Note: An applicant can submit an application without having completed the education requirement. If the application is approved subject to education, the applicant has 12 months from the approval date to complete the education requirement.
View course calendar.
2. Comprehensive Membership Entrance Exam: pass SIOR’s comprehensive membership entrance exam and online ethics course.
The paper-based exam is 200 multiple choice questions plus five short essays. The exam is a basic-knowledge exam primarily based on professional experience. For information on taking the exam and fee contact [email protected].
3. Education Exemptions
- Superstar: If an applicant meets 200% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 5 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module.
- Experienced Broker: If an applicant meets 100% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 15 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module. The applicant must attend two World Conferences within the first 18 months of Active Membership.
Select a requirement below to expand and see full details.
Has a minimum of five years of active engagement in commercial real estate and is a full time active practitioner.
Maintain a minimum production per year as measured by Gross Fee Income (GFI) and a minimum number of transactions within the standards set by the local Chapters.
GFI is the fee income directly attributable to the applicant that the applicant’s firm receives before splits. GFI requirements are set by the local Chapter and range from $200,000 to $400,000 per year in $50,000 increments. View GFI Requirements by market.
The applicant must fulfill the following:
- Meet set GFI amount for three out of the four most recent 12-month periods*.
- At least 70% of the GFI requirement must be comprised of industrial and/or office transactions. Of that 70%, at least 50% of those transactions must be in the applicant’s requested specialty type**.
*Applicants must submit the most recent 48 months of production, with respect to their application date. For example, an application submitted in June will have a 12-month period starting in June and ending in May.
** Applicants who have 50% in each transaction type may self-select the specialty.
Provide formal endorsements from two Active Individual Members in the applicant’s Chapter that are outside the applicant’s firm or firm’s network.
Exception: If 50 % or more of the applicant’s business is outside of the Chapter, one of the two endorsements can be from an SIOR Member outside of the Chapter.
Prove to be a knowledgeable professional in the industrial and/or office real estate market as evidenced by completing one of the following three options.
1. Core Components of Commercial Brokerage Coursework through SIOR Education.
Applicants complete three (3) mandatory courses:
- Ethics & Professional Standards
- Construction & Development
- Understanding the Lease Agreement
Applicants complete a minimum of three (3) of the following six (6) elective courses:
- Advanced Sales Skills
- Build-to-Suit Development
- Consolidating a Business Strategy
- Introduction to Real Estate Investment and Finance
- Negotiation Skills
- Tenant and Landlord Representation
Alternative ways to earn elective course credit:
- CCIM Designation – three (3) elective courses, fulfills elective requirement
- CCIM Courses: 101, 102, 103, or 104 – one (1) elective course each, for a maximum of two (2) elective courses
- Graduate Degree in Real Estate, Business or Law from an accredited college or
- university – two (2) elective courses
- CPM Designation – two (2) elective courses
- RPA Designation – two (2) elective courses
- FRI Designation – two (2) elective courses
Note: An applicant can submit an application without having completed the education requirement. If the application is approved subject to education, the applicant has 12 months from the approval date to complete the education requirement.
View course calendar.
2. Comprehensive Membership Entrance Exam: pass SIOR’s comprehensive membership entrance exam and online ethics course.
The paper-based exam is 200 multiple choice questions plus five short essays. The exam is a basic-knowledge exam primarily based on professional experience. For information on taking the exam and fee contact Ying-Ying Chow, Manager of Admissions, at (+1) 202.449.8234 or [email protected].
3. Education Exemptions
- Superstar: If an applicant meets 200% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 5 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module.
- Experienced Broker: If an applicant meets 100% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 15 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module. The applicant must attend two World Conferences within the first 18 months of Active Membership.
Select a requirement below to expand and see full details.
Has a minimum of five years of active engagement in commercial real estate and is a full time active practitioner.
Maintain a minimum production per year as measured by Gross Fee Income (GFI) and a minimum number of transactions within the standards set by the local Chapters.
GFI is the fee income directly attributable to the applicant that the applicant’s firm receives before splits. GFI requirements are set by the local Chapter and range from $200,000 to $400,000 per year in $50,000 increments. View GFI Requirements by Market.
The applicant must fulfill the following:
- Dual Specialists must meet 2x the GFI requirement for three out of the four most recent 12-month periods*.
- One half measures Industrial GFI. At least 70% of this amount must be comprised of industrial transactions.
- One half measures Office GFI. At least 70% of this amount must be comprised of office transactions.
* Applicants must submit the most recent 48 months of production, with respect to their application date. For example, an application submitted in June will have a 12-month period starting in June and ending in May.
Provide formal endorsements from two Active Individual Members in the applicant’s Chapter that are outside the applicant’s firm or firm’s network.
Exception: If 50 % or more of the applicant’s business is outside of the Chapter, one of the two endorsements can be from an SIOR Member outside of the Chapter.
Prove to be a knowledgeable professional in the industrial and/or office real estate market as evidenced by completing one of the following three options.
1. Core Components of Commercial Brokerage Coursework through SIOR Education.
Applicants complete three (3) mandatory courses:
- Ethics & Professional Standards
- Construction & Development
- Understanding the Lease Agreement
Applicants complete a minimum of three (3) of the following six (6) elective courses:
- Advanced Sales Skills
- Build-to-Suit Development
- Consolidating a Business Strategy
- Introduction to Real Estate Investment and Finance
- Negotiation Skills
- Tenant and Landlord Representation
Alternative ways to earn elective course credit:
- CCIM Designation – three (3) elective courses, fulfills elective requirement
- CCIM Courses: 101, 102, 103, or 104 – one (1) elective course each, for a maximum of two (2) elective courses
- Graduate Degree in Real Estate, Business or Law from an accredited college or
- university – two (2) elective courses
- CPM Designation – two (2) elective courses
- RPA Designation – two (2) elective courses
- FRI Designation – two (2) elective courses
Note: An applicant can submit an application without having completed the education requirement. If the application is approved subject to education, the applicant has 12 months from the approval date to complete the education requirement.
View course calendar.
2. Comprehensive Membership Entrance Exam: pass SIOR’s comprehensive membership entrance exam and online ethics course.
The paper-based exam is 200 multiple choice questions plus five short essays. The exam is a basic-knowledge exam primarily based on professional experience. For information on taking the exam and fee contact Ying-Ying Chow, Manager of Admissions, at (+1) 202.449.8234 or [email protected].
3. Education Exemptions
- Superstar: If an applicant meets 200% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 5 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module.
- Experienced Broker: If an applicant meets 100% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 15 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module. The applicant must attend two World Conferences within the first 18 months of Active Membership.
Uphold high ethical standards of practice and pledge to uphold SIOR’s Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice by completing one of the following two options.
- SIOR Ethics & Professional Standards course held at a CCA course offering , or
- SIOR’s online ethics course.
Select a requirement below to expand and see full details.
Has a minimum of five years active engagement in managing 10 or more brokers or salespersons.
Maintain a minimum production per year as measured by Gross Fee Income (GFI) and a minimum number of transactions within the standards set by the local Chapters.
GFI is the fee income directly attributable to the applicant that the applicant’s firm receives before splits. GFI requirements are set by the local Chapter and range from $200,000 to $400,000 per year in $50,000 increments. View GFI Requirements by Market.
Sales managers must fulfill the following:
- Multiply the GFI requirement by 10 and take 75% of the resulting figure. This is the annual GFI requirement;
- In three out of the four most recent 12-month periods, the sum of the top 10 industrial and/or office brokers supervised by the applicant must meet the annual GFI requirement*.
* Applicants must submit the most recent 48 months of production, with respect to their application date. For example, an application submitted in June will have a 12-month period starting in June and ending in May.
Provide formal endorsements from two Active Individual Members in the applicant’s Chapter there are outside the applicant’s firm or firm’s network.
Exception: If 50 % or more of the applicant’s business is outside of the Chapter, one of the two endorsements can be from an SIOR Member outside of the Chapter.
Prove to be a knowledgeable professional in the industrial and/or office real estate market as evidenced by completing one of the following three options.
1. Core Components of Commercial Brokerage Coursework through SIOR Education.
Applicants complete three (3) mandatory courses:
- Ethics & Professional Standards
- Construction & Development
- Understanding the Lease Agreement
Applicants complete a minimum of three (3) of the following six (6) elective courses:
- Advanced Sales Skills
- Build-to-Suit Development
- Consolidating a Business Strategy
- Introduction to Real Estate Investment and Finance
- Negotiation Skills
- Tenant and Landlord Representation
Alternative ways to earn elective course credit:
- CCIM Designation – three (3) elective courses, fulfills elective requirement
- CCIM Courses: 101, 102, 103, or 104 – one (1) elective course each, for a maximum of two (2) elective courses
- Graduate Degree in Real Estate, Business or Law from an accredited college or
- university – two (2) elective courses
- CPM Designation – two (2) elective courses
- RPA Designation – two (2) elective courses
- FRI Designation – two (2) elective courses
Note: An applicant can submit an application without having completed the education requirement. If the application is approved subject to education, the applicant has 12 months from the approval date to complete the education requirement.
View course calendar.
2. Comprehensive Membership Entrance Exam: pass SIOR’s comprehensive membership entrance exam and online ethics course.
The paper-based exam is 200 multiple choice questions plus five short essays. The exam is a basic-knowledge exam primarily based on professional experience. For information on taking the exam and fee contact Ying-Ying Chow, Manager of Admissions, at (+1) 202.449.8234 or [email protected].
3. Education Exemptions
- Superstar: If an applicant meets 200% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 5 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module.
- Experienced Broker: If an applicant meets 100% of the Gross Fee Income requirement and can document 15 or more years in the commercial real estate field, the applicant is exempt from the education requirement with the exception of SIOR’s Ethics and Professional Standards module. The applicant must attend two World Conferences within the first 18 months of Active Membership.
Uphold high ethical standards of practice and pledge to uphold SIOR’s Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice by completing one of the following two options.
- SIOR Ethics & Professional Standards course held at a CCA course offering , or
- SIOR’s online ethics course.
Select a requirement below to expand and see full details.
Has a minimum of five years of active engagement in managing commercial real estate services and manage 100+ brokers in three or more locations or has oversight responsibility of commercial real estate network.
Provide formal endorsements from two Active Individual Members in the applicant’s Chapter and outside the applicant’s firm or network.
Exception: If 50 % or more of the applicant’s business is outside of the Chapter, one of the two endorsements can be from an SIOR Member outside of the Chapter.
Uphold high ethical standards of practice and pledge to uphold SIOR’s Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice by completing SIOR’s online ethics course.
Admission Process
- Review and confirm eligibility of the five requirements.
- Confirm GFI requirement and obtain signed GFI Affidavit from a managing broker, CFO, or CPA.
- Apply for Membership and upload supporting GFI affidavits. Note: incomplete applications are void after 60 days.
- Manager of Admissions sends application to Chapter for Interview. The Chapter has 30 days to review the application and conduct an interview with the applicant.
- Manager of Admissions will notify the Chapter members for comment.
- Manager of Admissions provides the Qualification Report & Endorsement Form to the applicant 10 business days from the date of the Chapter Announcement.
- Applicant obtains and submits two Qualification Report & Endorsement Forms to the Manager of Admissions.
- The Chapter has five business days to review and sign off on the application.
- SIOR’s Chapter Leadership Council votes monthly to approve applications.
Membership Fees
- Application Fee: $175 (non-refundable)
- Initiation Fee: $725 (one-time)
- Annual Dues: $1,345 (first year prorated) U.S. and Canada / $675 Mexico (first year prorated)
Apply for Membership
- Apply for Membership
- Download GFI Affidavit
Important Notes
Chapter Membership is required and contingent upon approval of membership in SIOR. Active Individual, Member Associates, and Associate Members within a Chapter’s jurisdiction must fulfill applicable Chapter dues. Please contact the local Chapter for dues requirements.
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