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Steps up from a sales license

• Broker license

  More coursework plus a few years of experience. It lets you work without a sponsor and open your own brokerage.

• Commercial real estate

  Offices, retail and industrial. Longer deals, bigger checks, steeper learning curve.

• Property management

  Ongoing monthly income instead of waiting for closings. In many states it needs a real estate license too.

• Designations

  The National Association of Realtors and other bodies run courses in areas like buyer representation, seniors and commercial investment.