CCIM Designation

CCIM Designation requirements may be completed through the General Candidacy Program, Fast Track Program or the University Fast Track Program.

CCIM General Candidacy Program

  • A student must enroll in CI Intro or CI 101.
  • Submit an Application for Candidacy.
  • Successfully complete CI 101 - CI 101 is the prerequisite to the Core program

To earn the CCIM Designation through the general candidacy program, you must complete the following requirements:

  • Become a Candidate of the Institute (The only requirement for Candidacy is to enroll in a course).
  • Successfully complete all four Core Courses (CI101, CI102, CI103, and CI104).
  • Successfully complete online CCIM Ethics Course
  • Earn three elective credits. Elective credits can be earned through multiple sources including completing the Introduction course, attending the Course Concepts Review program, attending a CCIM Networking Event, attending a CCIM Conference or Symposium, Candidacy (one credit for every year of continuous candidacy up to three credits), completing a CCIM Online Education course, or Transfer Elective Credits.
  • Submit the Portfolio of Qualifying Experience before taking the final exam. The Portfolio may be submitted any time after the completion of CI101. Volume requirements may be met in one of three ways:
    1. One or more qualifying activities totaling a minimum of $40 million.  A 3 to 5 page narrative will be required along with examples of the use of CCIM skill sets (i.e. APOD, IRR, Cash Flow Analysis, Lease vs Own, etc)
    2. Exactly 10 qualifying activities that must total $10 million or more; with examples of CCIM skill sets (i.e. APOD, IRR, Cash Flow Analysis, Lease vs Own, etc)
    3. In the event you're not able to provide 10 qualifying activities that total $10 million or more, you must submit 30 qualifying activities without regard to total volume; with examples of CCIM skill sets (i.e. APOD, IRR, Cash Flow Analysis, Lease vs Own, etc)
  • Successfully pass the Comprehensive Exam presented twice a year. Registration for the Comprehensive Examination will only be accepted if the core class requirements are met, elective credit requirement fulfilled and the Portfolio of Qualifying Experience has been approved by the Designation Committee.

More about the Portfolio of Qualifying Experience

The Portfolio of Qualifying Experience is a standardized means for candidates to verify the quality of their work as commercial-investment professionals and to document having achieved at least the minimum level of experience required to qualify for the CCIM designation. Students must be a Candidate in order to submit their portfolio and sit for the final exam. If you have questions about whether your activities qualify, please contact the Membership Department at 800-621-7027, extension 4478 or by email at designation@ccim.com. View general information on portfolios.

Fast Track Program

If you have already earned one of the industry’s other preeminent designations, then get on the Fast Track to earning your CCIM Designation. The Fast Track Program is available to professionals who have earned the following designations: CPM, CMB, CRE, MAI/SRPA, RPA or SIOR. The Canadian designations, AACI, CLO, CRF and the FRI are also eligible.

  • Become a Fast Track Candidate
  • Successfully complete the online CCIM Ethics Course
  • Successfully complete all four Core Courses (CI101, CI102, CI103, and CI104)
  • Successfully pass the Comprehensive Exam presented twice a year. Registration for the Comprehensive Examination will only be accepted if the core class requirements are met.
  • The Fast Track Program must be completed within a twenty-four month time period
  • Fast Track Candidates are exempt from the elective credit requirement and from the Portfolio of Qualifying Experience

University Fast Track Program

Under this agreement a person completing the Master of Real Estate Development Degree program from a participating university and wishing to become a CCIM designee will need to complete the following:

  • Submit the appropriate University Fast Track Application and apply for Candidacy
  • Successfully complete the online CCIM Ethics Course
  • Upon approval of the University Fast Track Application, the following three courses will be waived from your core class requirements: CI 101 Financial Analysis, CI 102 Market Analysis, and CI 104 Investment Analysis
  • Successfully complete CI 103: User Decision Analysis Course
  • Prepare and submit the Portfolio of Qualifying Experience before taking the final exam. Volume requirements may be met in one of three ways:
    1. One or more qualifying activities totaling a minimum of $40 million.   A 3 to 5 page narrative will be required along with examples of the use of CCIM skill sets (i.e. APOD, IRR, Cash Flow Analysis, Lease vs Own, etc)
    2. Exactly 10 qualifying activities that must total $10 million or more; with examples of CCIM skill sets (i.e. APOD, IRR, Cash Flow Analysis, Lease vs Own, etc)
    3. In the event you're not able to provide 10 qualifying activities that total $10 million or more, you must submit 30 qualifying activities without regard to total volume; with examples of CCIM skill sets (i.e. APOD, IRR, Cash Flow Analysis, Lease vs Own, etc)
  • Successfully pass the Comprehensive Exam presented twice a year. Registration for the Comprehensive Examination will only be accepted if the core class requirement is met and the Portfolio of Qualifying Experience has been approved by the Designation Committee.