The Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) Designation is one of the most prestigious and difficult to earn designations in the land industry, so it makes sense that those pursuing it have a lot of questions both leading up to and while going through the process. Every week, we get calls concerning how to earn the ALC, so we thought we’d dedicate a post to some of the most frequently asked questions.

What exactly is the ALC?

The Accredited Land Consultant Designation is given by REALTORS® Land Institute to those land experts who have completed RLI’s rigorous and strict education, experience, and ethical requirements.

Having that gold ALC pin shows clients that you have an unparalleled level of expertise and experience in the land industry.  In addition to their impressive resumes, ALCs are also highly respected for adhering to the ALC Code of Conduct and the NAR Code of Ethics.

Becoming an ALC doesn’t just mean bragging rights for your clients. It opens the doors for additional networking opportunities and discounts on everything from the National Land Conference to classes.

Your wallet will thank you in the long-term, too. Did you know that according to a recent RLI survey, the average ALC earned $373,925, which is approximately $100,000 more per year than the average earned by non-designee respondents? Knowledge is power, and in this case it’s the power to better serve your clients which in turn means more business and more clients.

What are the requirements to get the ALC?

• Education. Complete 104 LANDU contact hours of courses (see upcoming courses)

Required Courses (56 hours — Must take all three):

• Land 101: Fundamentals of Land Brokerage (16 hours)
• Land Investment Analysis (24 hours)
• Transitional Land Real Estate Transactions (16 hours)

Specialty Courses (32 Hours – Pick two courses):

• Land Real Estate Development (16 hours)
• Land Real Estate Site Selection (16 hours)
• Agricultural Land Brokerage & Marketing (16 hours)
• Recreational Land Real Estate (16 hours) – coming soon!
• Tax Implications of Real Estate (16 hours)

Elective Courses (16 Hours – Pick one or pick another from Specialty Courses)

• Real Estate Mapping Technologies & Techniques (16 hours)
• Tax Deferred 1031 Exchanges (16 hours)
• Timberland Real Estate (16 hours)
• any other LANDU course offering (16 hours)

Other requirements include:

• Experience. A minimum of 2 years of experience in land sales or brokerage or a minimum of three years of comparable real estate experience.
• Volume. A minimum of 5 closed land transactions totaling $10,000,000 OR 25 separate land transactions of which no more than 20% involve residential parcel sales (more specific details on the different types of land sales here)
• Knowledge. Pass the cumulative ALC Exam.
• Application. Submit a comprehensive portfolio
• Recommendation. Submit recommendation letters and approval by the RLI Board of Directors.

Who is the main contact for me during this process?
If you have any specific questions about the above requirements or your qualifications, please reach out to Aubrie Kobernus at akobernus@realtors.org or 1-312-329-8837.

There’s a final exam? Do I have to remember everything from every single class?

The final exam only covers the three required courses that you completed and will be using to apply towards the education requirement. These include the Land Investment Analysis, Land 101: Fundamentals of Land Brokerage and either the Tax Deferred 1031 or Transitional Land Course depending under which requirements you began your coursework.

If you took the 1031 Class before the education requirements changed, no need to panic. You can still take the cumulative exam that features the 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges course instead of the Transitional Land Real Estate course.

Do I have to be a member of RLI to become an ALC?

You don’t need to be a member of RLI while you are working towards the education and transaction requirements (although you do get a discount on classes if you are!), but you do need to be an RLI Member when you submit your final portfolio and for as long as you hold the elite ALC Designation.

If you have more questions about RLI membership, we’ll be posting an article called ‘Answering Common Questions About RLI Membership’ in October. Keep an eye out for it! For now, make sure to check out our RLI Member Benefits.

I have another designation and/or prior education in the field, is there any way I can skip some classes?

There is! RLI has a Fast Track program where people with the following designations or education will qualify them to opt out of taking all courses under the education requirement other than the three required courses.

• CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)
• SIOR (Industrial & Office REALTOR®)
• CRE (Counselor of Real Estate)
• AFM (Accredited Farm Manager of ASFMRA)
• ARA (Accredited Rural Appraiser of ASFMRA)
• RPRA (Real Property Review Appraiser of ASFMRA)
• AAC (Accredited Agricultural Consultant of ASFMRA)
• MAI (Member, Appraisal Institute)
• CAI (Certified Auctioneer Institute)
• CPL (Certified Professional Landman of AAPL)
• SR/WA (Senior Right of Way Professional of IWRA)
• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)
• Those who hold either a bachelor’s or master’s degree, with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with a major in real estate, development, forestry, or a program related to a land business specialization, may also apply for consideration for Fast Track to the ALC Designation Committee. Fast Track will only be granted to the applicant upon approval by the ALC Designation Committee.

You will need to provide proof of your designation before being approved for Fast Track option.

Achieving the ALC Designation isn’t easy, but nothing worth getting ever is. The ALC Designation is highly respected and sought after all across America. Our numbers are growing every day. Will you be the next one?

If you have more questions about the ALC, contact us at 1-800-441-5263 or rli@realtors.org.

About the Author: Laura Barker is the Membership and Communications Specialist for the REALTORS® Land Institute. She graduated from Clark University in May 2017 and has been with RLI since October 2017.