You can have the best course in the world, but the content alone won't make the lesson stick. A good teacher can mean the difference between a waste of time and an hour well spent.
That's why the National Association of REALTORS® is working to ensure the teachers behind its Center for REALTOR® Development courses are both qualified and engaging.
3 Elements of the Instructor Revamp: Course, Status, Directory
That process starts with a new course NAR is rolling out—the NAR Verified Instructor Training—and the window to apply just opened.
The association began emailing members about the session last week.
Designed for both current and prospective instructors, the first training will take place before NAR NXT in New Orleans Nov. 3–4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We’re improving our instructor quality to ensure that our members get the best possible learning experience,” says NAR’s Director of Member Learning Matt Geisreiter. “Participants will walk away from the course with techniques they can carry into the classroom on how to teach adults effectively.”
National Association of REALTORS® 2026 Instructor Application
Alongside the new instructor process, NAR is introducing two complementary features: an NAR Verified Instructor status and an instructor directory.
Once instructors complete the course, they will be evaluated on their teaching proficiency. Instructors must submit a video teaching demonstration, which will be assessed for instructional best practices, learner engagement, facilitation skills and effective delivery.
If they pass, they will earn the NAR Verified Instructor status and be included in the directory. The verification and directory are ways to communicate to course providers the high quality of an educator. Participants who don't pass the assessment will be offered coaching support to enhance their teaching abilities.
This fall, NAR will launch a new Verified Instructor training and endorsement, updated education courses and a new learning management system to power the platform. Find out what members can expect in the next few months. https://t.co/mnZyiVTM92
— National Association of REALTORS® (@nardotrealtor) August 31, 2026
Some educators with significant prior experience as a CRD instructor may qualify for an accelerated path to NAR Verified Instructor status. Educators will have to provide proof of completion of a comparable training program and submit a teaching demonstration video for evaluation.
Feedback From Pilot Training
Last month, 13 current CRD instructors got a taste of what the new course will look like and provided valuable feedback, through surveys and interviews, that is helping reshape the trainings in November and beyond.
All participants said the course made them more confident in facilitating adult learning.
"You could be a subject matter expert, and you may have ... 20 [or] 30 years in the business, but that doesn't mean that you know how to teach it," says broker-salesperson Marisa Kagan, CRS, C-RETS, who participated in the pilot. "The value in this course is really understanding how do adults learn? What do they need? How do you need to approach it?"
Participants highlighted areas to improve like expanding post-course resources, having a dedicated module on managing classroom dynamics and including guidance on managing virtual and hybrid learning.
“Our commitment to educational excellence begins with listening,” says Geisreiter. “The feedback we receive from members directly informs the direction of our learning strategy and helps ensure we are delivering education that meets the evolving needs of our members. As we expand and modernize our education offerings, member insights will continue to play a critical role in shaping innovative, high-quality learning experiences that serve educators, learners and the industry.”
