Andrea Gail Heekin with Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty in Washington recently earned the professional designation Graduate, Realtor Institute, signifying mastery of an intense training program of classroom instruction.

The Realtor Institute is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Real Estate Educational Foundation and the North Carolina Association of Realtors and has been offered several times annually since 1948. It was the first of its kind in the United States and has served as a model for numerous other states.

Realtor Ronnie Thompson CRS, GRI, of Valdese and president of the foundation, said,“The Realtor Institute is the first level of formalized advanced education beyond licensing and provides Realtors and others associated with the real estate industry an opportunity to study the latest methods and proven practices for success in their business.”

Graduation from the program requires completion of more than 90 hours of course work and 12 examinations on various aspects of the courses taken.