With the upcoming age wave you can be sure that any service-driven business is going to come up with a designation that signifies they "specialize" or they are "experts" in working with seniors. The problem is that these designations have different levels of requirements. Some are a one day class, some require greuling written tests, some require ongoing dedication to classroom work, and with others once you take the class you have the letters behind your name for life. Realtors are infamous for puting a trail of letters behind their names. The trouble is, as a consumer, you have no idea what those letters mean. Why would you?
You deserve to have professional senior advice. Here are a breakdown of the different designations you'll see behind a Minnesota Realtors name that pertain to dedication to education that will benefit senior clients.
First let's start with an oldie:
55+ Certified Senior Advisor : This is a certification program that used to be offered by the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. You may even see a logo with the number "55+" with a little roof over it like this one 
This course had 15 class hours plus a 6 hour bus tour of local twin cities senior housing communities. The only problem is this certification is no longer being offered, it hasn't been for over two years. So, while the Realtor who holds this designation had a dedication at one time to being current with aging issues, it's time for him/her to renew!
Realtor Senior Advisor (RSA): This is the new designation that replaced the previous 55+ Certified Senior Advisor. It's updated with fresh information and taught be industry experts. Topics include, the continuum of senior health and housing, resources to help seniors stay in their home longer, resources for financial and estate planning, moving, and ways to make a Realtor's business more senior friendly. It is now a 12 hour course and a 6 hour tour of Minneapolis area senior housing communities.
It is the only course that offers a certification and focuses on local housing trends, and offers a parade of local experts and local senior housing options. This is the best, most relevant, most local certification for Realtors to receive in preparing them to be effective with seniors.
Since this is an article on consumer awareness, I should disclose what might be construed as a bias. You should know that I might be a little biased about the most valuable certification for Realtors because I consulted with the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors to write and teach a few of the classes for the Realtor Senior Advisor Designation.
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES): This is a national designation available to Realtors through the California Association of Realtors. I had an opportunity to reveiw the materials during the time we were developing the materials for the Realtor Senior Advisor course. We had serious discussions about if we were just re-creating something that already existed, or if there was a need for something different. This is a full two day classroom course, (there's also a distance learning option of studying at home). The course is heavy on financial and estate planning, and light on psychosocial factors of aging-and resources to deal with those challenges. The information can be used by all Realtors nationally, so of course, it can't talk with Realtors about trends in aging in our Minneapolis St. Paul market. This designation does not meet the on going education requirements of a Minnesota Realtor. A Realtor with theSRES designation has shown commitment to both education and working with seniors.
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA): This is the most comprehensive material, the largest ongoing commitment and the most difficult test. At the time I was certified, I was the only Realtor in Minnesota with the certification, but I believe there are a few of us now (which is a WONDERFUL thing!). The scope of the class materials go way beyond what a Realtor needs to know to work with Seniors. They include social aspects of aging, caregiving, health, nutrition, fitness, alzheimer's, chronic illness, medicaid planning, long-term care, grief and loss, end-of-life planning, spritituality, funeral and planning. The designee is required to take ongoing ethics education as well as commit to ongoing volunteer hours with seniors. This designation is awarded by the Society of Senior Advisors.
These are the senior designations available to Realtors in Minnesota. If you see other creative titles they are likely a title bestowed upon the Realtor by him/herself.
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