CCIM Institute experiences an uptrend in membership numbers

Despite the continuing challenges of the commercial real estate market, the CCIM Institute reports that 852 commercial real estate and allied professionals will earn the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation this year, a 31% increase over 2009. The total number of practitioners holding the CCIM designation will reach 9,514 by the end of the year, an increase of 14% since 2005. "The fact our designee numbers are increasing dramatically in this market is testament that commercial real estate professionals see the CCIM designation as an important marketplace advantage and recognize the value of the designation and program in good times and bad," said Richard Juge, CCIM, the 2010 president of the CCIM Institute and president of RE/MAX Commercial Brokers in Metairie, La. "The CCIM pin and its inherent benefits and privileges can be used as a barometer for those truly committed to the commercial real estate industry." While the CCIM Institute has seen a decrease in course registrations during the economic downturn, its cumulative course enrollments total more than 76,000 students since 2005. "Like all commercial real estate organizations, the CCIM Institute has undoubtedly felt the effect of the last 18 months," said Juge. "We had to change our mentality and realize that while there still may be challenges ahead, there is a lot to be encouraged by in the next year. The CCIM Institute has reinvested in its core values of education and technology, and these initiatives among others are now paying dividends with better course enrollments and overall membership numbers trending upward." The CCIM designation is awarded to commercial real estate professionals upon successful completion of a graduate-level education curriculum and presentation of a portfolio of qualifying experience. New this year is a redesigned and evolved curriculum, as well as a new real estate data exchange, CCIMREDEX, which complements the CCIM Institute's Site To Do Business, an online suite of custom demographic and mapping reports, financial analysis tools, and other resources important to the commercial real estate transaction process. The institute has also retooled the delivery of its courses with in-class, online, blended, and improved licensed delivery methods. The core CCIM curriculum addresses financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis—the cornerstones of commercial investment real estate. Webinars and workshops complement the core curriculum. "The CCIM Institute has the best dues-to-benefit proposition in the industry," said Juge. "Our 15,000 members are the most valuable component of the organization, and we strive to provide new and enhanced benefits to add value for their dues dollars." Since 1969, the CCIM Institute has conferred the CCIM designation to commercial real estate and allied professionals through an extensive curriculum of 200 classroom hours and professional experiential requirements. Currently, there are more than 9,000 CCIMs in 1,000 markets in the U.S. and 31 additional countries. Another 6,000 practitioners are pursuing the designation, making the institute the governing body of one of the largest commercial real estate networks in the world. An affiliate of the NAR, the CCIM Institute's recognized curriculum, powerful technology tools, and networking programs impact and influence the way CCIM members do business. Visit www.ccim.com for more information.