CEBA

Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA), a nonprofit organization made up of real estate brokerages who only represent buyers, offers a Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent (CEBA) credentialing program. This credential is one of the most difficult to obtain in the real estate industry.

In order to qualify, applicants must work within a brokerage that does not take listings and never represents sellers, complete three education modules on topics such as ethics and financing, have been licensed for at least two years, have completed a minimum of 12 transactions as an Exclusive Buyer Agent, and pass a rigorous exam. Applicants must also agree to uphold NAEBA's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which require agents to uphold all fiduciary duties to their clients including putting their clients' interests above their own. Unlike many other real estate certifications, the Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent credential is not earned for life. It must be renewed every three years by completing continuing education courses.

Marketing the Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent (CEBA) program is a timely decision for NAEBA. According to NAEBA President Dawn Rae, “With agents calling themselves Exclusive Buyer Agents when they don't work with buyers exclusively, we wanted one more way for home buyers to ensure their agent is not only highly qualified to serve them, but also will truly represent them throughout the entire transaction.”

In addition to the Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent credential, agents can go on to earn the Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent - Master (CEBA-M) credential by completing additional requirements. For more information, visit https://naeba.org/why-buyers-agency/.