Certificate of Advanced Study in Commercial Real Estate Development

The NAIOP Certificate of Advanced Study in Real Estate Development is awarded upon the completion of four courses related to development, including Essentials of the Development Process and Advanced Development Practices, in addition to elective courses.

NAIOP courses are based upon core competencies, which are specialized categories of applied skills and established industry practices, organized into the body of knowledge, that are essential to delivering financially successful projects.

Application/Fees

Application/Fees

Any person wanting to become a candidate for the Certificate of Advanced Study in Commercial Real Estate Development must submit the following:

  • Completed certificate application;
  • Current resume; and
  • One-time application fee.

The program is open to NAIOP member and nonmember applicants.

What are the certificate program fees?

  • Application fee: $75 member/$150 nonmember
  • Extension fee*: $50 member/$100 nonmember

*This fee is for candidates who do not complete all courses with the initial 2-year timeframe.

Complete the certificate program application.

Total Costs to Complete a Certificate

Prices subject to change. Prices listed here in USD. Please see each course tuition page for prices in CAD.

Members

  • Four required courses at the $299 member tuition = $1,196
  • Certificate application fee of $75 (Current holders of a NAIOP certificate: $50)
  • Grand Total: $1,271

Developing Leader Members

  • Four required courses at the $199 DL member tuition = $796
  • Certificate application fee of $75 (Current holders of a NAIOP Certificate: $50)
  • Grand Total: $871

Student Members

  • Four required courses at the $95 student member tuition = $380
  • Certificate application fee of $75 (Current holders of a NAIOP Certificate: $50)
  • Grand Total: $455

Nonmembers

  • Four required courses at the $499 nonmember tuition = $1,996
  • Certificate application fee of $150 (Current holders of a NAIOP certificate: $100)
  • Grand Total: $2,146

Student Nonmembers

(must be currently enrolled at an accredited school)

  • Four required courses at the $145 student member tuition = $580
  • Certificate application fee of $150 (Current holders of a NAIOP Certificate: $100)
  • Grand Total: $730

 

Course Offerings

Course Offerings

What courses are available and how many are required to earn a certificate?

The course selections and requirements are listed in the illustrations below. A total of four courses are required to complete a certificate for a total of sixty-four (64) hours:

  • Two required core courses: 32 hours
  • Two elective courses: 32 hours 
  • Total hours required: 64 hours

NAIOP Course Selections

There are 10 NAIOP courses available exclusively through The Center for Education. Each course is 16 hours long and is accessible as an on-demand course.

NAIOP Core Courses
Required Courses Introductory Level Intermediate Level Advanced Level Contact Hours
Essentials of the Development Process ✕

16
Advanced Development Practices
✕ ✕ 16
NAIOP Elective Courses
Elective Courses (Select any 2 courses) Introductory Level Intermediate Level Advanced Level Contact Hours
Basic Real Estate Finance ✕

16
Advanced Real Estate Finance
✕ ✕ 16
Financial Analysis of Development Projects ✕ ✕
16
Real Estate Investment and Capital Markets
✕ ✕ 16
Real Estate Law and Land Use Policy ✕ ✕
16
Site Feasibility for Owners & Developers ✕ ✕
16
Leasing, Marketing & Negotiation ✕ ✕
16
Construction Management for Developers & Owners ✕

16

Education Credits

Education Credits

The Center for Education assigns an educational credit value for all of its offerings.

  • Credit value is based on the number of elapsed hours for each offering. Values are measured in the form of both Professional Development Hours (PDH) and Continuing Education Units (CEU).
  • NAIOP is a registered provider of Learning Units (LU) through the American Institute of Architects' Continuing Education Service, which regulates the LU.
  • Earned educational credit is based on confirmed completion of an offering, which is recorded in a transcript by The Center for each registered student.
  • Transcripts are available to each student upon request as official documentation of their work when applying to licensing and accreditation authorities for approved educational credit.
center for education logo
AIA Logo

FAQs

FAQs

What are core competencies?

NAIOP core competencies are specialized categories of applied skills and established industry practices, organized into the body of knowledge, that are essential to delivering financially successful projects.

When should I submit my application for the Certificate Program?

We strongly recommend you submit your application as soon as you decide to participate in the Certificate Program. NAIOP will grandfather credit for any NAIOP Corporate course(s) that are completed during the twelve months prior to submitting an approved certificate application. One must complete the test for the course(s) with a passing score of 80% for credit.

How do I access the certificate curriculum?

A full array of courses are accessible either live online or on-demand. If you are taking the on-demand courses, Certificate candidates must register and complete the full course in order to receive credit. The on-demand short courses do not count towards the certificate.

How many courses are required to earn a certificate?

The completion of four courses is required to earn the finance certificate for a total of sixty-four (64) hours.

Are exams required?

Yes, exams are required. One of the fundamental elements of establishing certificate program credibility is the added rigor of summary course exams. Satisfactory completion of certificate work requires demonstrated knowledge of course content which is measured by written comprehensive exams. Exams are administered by NAIOP confidentially online to certificate candidates immediately following the conclusion of NAIOP courses and webinars, as well as eligible chapter courses. A minimum exam score of 80 percent (24 out of 30 correct) is required to pass a course. A post-course exam may be taken up to three times to satisfy requirements.

What records are kept of my coursework?

The Center for Education maintains records of all the offerings you complete, as well as exam scores, in a confidential transcript. You will be able to print your own course transcript after you complete the course.

Do I earn educational credit while working toward my certificate?

Yes. The Center for Education assigns an educational credit value for all its offerings. Credit value is based on the number of elapsed hours for each offering. Values are measured in the form of both Professional Development Hours (PDH) and Continuing Education Units (CEU). In addition, NAIOP is a registered provider of Learning Units (LU) through the American Institute of Architects' Continuing Education Service which regulates the LU. Educational credit is earned once completion of an offering is confirmed. Credit is recorded in a transcript by The Center for each student. Transcripts are available to you upon request for use as documentation of your work when applying to licensing authorities for approved educational credit.

How much time do I have to complete the certificate?

You have two (2) years (24 months from the start of the first course) to complete the 64 hours of coursework. One extension of one (1) additional year may be taken to complete coursework.

How often are courses offered and what are tuition rates?

All NAIOP courses are available on-demand. You have 90 days from the date you register to complete each course. See Certificate Programs for dates of all offerings and events.

What are application requirements?

You must submit a certificate application along with a resume and a one-time application fee. The program is open to member and nonmember applicants.

What do I receive in recognition once my coursework is completed?

You will receive a transcript of your coursework, and the NAIOP Certificate of Advanced Study in Commercial Real Estate Finance that states your name, accomplishment and date the coursework was completed. In addition, all new certificate recipients are publicized to the industry media by NAIOP.

May I waive or test out of a course?

Yes. If after reviewing the agenda for the Basic Real Estate Finance (BREF) course, you believe that you have already acquired the necessary knowledge from formal education and/or work experience, you may request a waiver and take the final course exam. In order for the BREF course requirement to be waived you must pass the exam in one attempt, with a score of 80 percent or better. If you pass the test and a waiver is approved, you must replace BREF with an elective course from the NAIOP curriculum to complete the required total of 64 hours to earn the certificate.

May I transfer credit for courses taken through another organization to NAIOP for credit toward my certificate coursework?

No. Credit from another training or educational organization is not accepted for transfer to the NAIOP certificate program.

What are the computer requirements?

The courses will be accessed via the NAIOP Center for Education. You will need to log in to the NAIOP website in order to access the on-demand courses. Please use either Chrome or Firefox. These browsers work best.