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New Core Standards requirements for 2025 focus on policy certifications, training and a new cybersecurity policy. As always, the National Association of REALTORS® has staff experts and resources to help. Here are some of the top questions we’ve received on the requirements for the training of elected officers and how to create a strong cybersecurity policy.
Q: One of the new Core Standards requirements for 2025 is to identify certain association leadership policies and provide training to elected officers on those policies. Does NAR have any models or guidance on how to best train our volunteer leaders and how to create these policies, if needed?
A: Last year, the Executive Committee approved changes to the Core Standards as recommended by the Reimagine Core Standards Work Group. Those changes include the following new Core Standards:
Associations must identify their leadership policies concerning antitrust, harassment, conflict of interest, confidentiality, Code of Conduct, whistleblower, etc., and upload them to the Core Standards Certification Form.
Associations will offer annual training of no less than 1 hour on the above-mentioned policies for elected officers and the Board of Directors.
The purpose of the annual training for elected officers is to ensure that volunteer members who hold elected office in an association are fully aware and have a firm understanding of the policies and expectations of their roles. With a minimum requirement of one hour total to cover all association leadership policies, associations have wide latitude to structure the training in whichever way works best for them.
As an example, an association executive could give an overview of relevant policies using a slide presentation at a scheduled board of directors meeting. Associations with numerous policies affecting their leadership could dive deeper by providing a recorded webinar or scheduling a series of training sessions.
Associations looking to create or update these policies can lean on our Governance Guide for Association Executives, which has sample policies provided by Texas REALTORS® as a courtesy for association staff to reference. This page also includes a link to the REALTOR® Association Resource Exchange (RARE) Database, a repository for associations to upload and share their resources for other associations to utilize as needed. Lastly, we also maintain the Good Sense Governance series, which contains extensive resources addressing harassment and writing Codes of Conduct.
With that said, it is important that associations craft their own policies with the help of their legal counsel. In many cases, state law may dictate what these policies can contain and whom they cover.
Q: Another new Core Standards requirement is for each association to have a cybersecurity policy. Does NAR also have resources that will help our association create one?
A: NAR offers the Data Security and Privacy Toolkit. This comprehensive resource contains sample policies and best practices that associations can use to develop a strong cybersecurity policy.
In addition, NAR maintains a Data Privacy and Security webpage, where there are various articles, security tips and legal information for both associations and members. As always, employing the assistance of local legal counsel will ensure that the policy is sound and compliant with applicable law.
