Doctors. Teachers. Attorneys. Professionals in a wide variety of fields regularly participate in continuing education to improve their skills and better serve their clients. REALTORS® are certainly no exception. And in today’s competitive climate, continuing education is one crucial way to elevate your profile and increase the value you offer your clients.

Read on for seven benefits of REALTOR® education.

1. Reduce risk. As any REALTOR® knows, a home is likely the biggest purchase their clients will ever make. As their trusted advisor, make sure you’re offering them the soundest advice possible. Taking a Risk Management class may be exactly what you need in order to ensure you’re doing everything you can to mitigate risks for your clients and yourself during the transaction.

2. Learn best practices. Curious how other agents deal with challenging clients or unrealistic expectations? Want to know more about ethics or environmental issues? REALTOR® education helps you learn the latest, as well as hear how your counterparts deal with certain issues or situations. Check to be sure the instructor is an industry professional so you can benefit from their hands-on experience.

3. Develop a specialty. Want to tap into the rapidly growing demographic of 55+? Becoming a Senior Specialist highlights your ability to relate to the specialized needs of this increasingly important market. Interested in property management? Take a class to help you learn about adding this potentially lucrative service to your business.

4. Network. Every REALTOR® knows the importance of strong industry connections. Whether you want to offer a referral to an agent in another town — a professional courtesy sure to be reciprocated — or just want to meet like-minded professionals, the more industry insiders you know, the better. Being involved in continuing education is a great way to meet agents who value expertise as much as you do.

5. Uncover new options. In today’s market, both clients and employers regularly seek out specialists. Earning a designation as a Financing Specialist helps underscore your expertise in the complicated world of home and property financing. Becoming a Technology Specialist highlights your ability to leverage the latest and greatest tech tools to get the job done. Short sales and foreclosures continue to offer market opportunities, so a course in this topic will ensure that you are up to date on the latest regulations.

6. Learn on your own time. REALTORS® work crazy schedules, no doubt about it. We never know when our clients will need us, which often happens at odd hours or at the last minute. This can make traditional education and workshops challenging to schedule. But with online courses, you can access continuing education anytime with just an internet connection — no apps required. Perfect for your busy schedule.

7. Make more money. The potential to make more money is directly related to our ability to attract quality clients, generate referrals, and consistently exceed expectations. Establishing your commitment to the industry through ongoing education is an ideal way to confirm to your clients that they can count on you to ensure a smooth, lucrative, and successful transaction.

Today’s real estate industry demands that professionals continually hone their expertise by keeping up with fast-changing regulations and our competitive marketplace. Show your clients and prospects you’re at the top of your game by enhancing your industry credentials through an ongoing commitment to education.