Better Classes Start With Better Instruction
NAR’s new Verified Instructor Training program could improve the classroom experience for REALTORS® while giving current and future instructors a new way to strengthen their skills.
The best real estate classes do more than present information. They help REALTORS® understand why a topic matters, connect it to real situations and leave ready to apply what they learned.
Creating that kind of experience takes more than subject knowledge. Instructors also need to understand how adults learn, encourage participation and turn complex information into something useful.
NAR’s new Verified Instructor Training program focuses on those skills. The Center for REALTOR® Development piloted the program this week in Chicago ahead of its official launch at NAR NXT 2026.
A New Path to NAR Verified Status
NAR created the program for new and experienced real estate educators who want to strengthen their teaching skills and create more meaningful learning experiences.
Educators can earn NAR Verified status by completing three steps:
- Complete the Verified Instructor Training
- Pass an instructional competency assessment
- Receive official verification from NAR
Experienced trainers will also have an opportunity to skip the course and move directly to the assessment.
NAR is developing an instructor directory for course providers. The directory will identify approved Center for REALTOR® Development instructors and show which instructors have earned NAR Verified status.
Built Around the Way Adults Learn
The program focuses on what makes professional education useful to adult learners.
Strong instruction should:
- Explain why the topic matters
- Connect the material to real-world situations
- Encourage participation and discussion
- Give learners time to practice new skills
- Provide clear takeaways they can use immediately
The training also emphasizes preparation. Because every real estate market is different, instructors learn how to research their audience and adapt the course experience so the information remains relevant to the people in the room.
Putting the Training Into Practice
The Center for REALTOR® Development tested the program with 13 volunteer instructors who worked through the new course material and provided feedback.
On the second day, each participant completed a capstone presentation. Working individually or in pairs, they designed and delivered a 15-minute learning experience with a clear objective, an engaging opening, a learner-focused activity, questions to test understanding and a final takeaway.
Their peers provided feedback, and facilitators scored each presentation using a dedicated rubric. The exercise gave instructors an immediate opportunity to apply the same learner-centered strategies they will use in their own classrooms.
What This Could Mean for MetroTex
MetroTex members take classes to stay current, meet licensing requirements and build skills they can use in their businesses. Strong instruction can make the difference between simply completing a course and walking away with knowledge that sticks.
The Verified Instructor Training program could give course providers another way to identify educators who have demonstrated strong instructional skills. Members may also benefit from classes that feel more engaging, relevant and connected to the situations they face in real estate.
For current MetroTex instructors, the program offers a new opportunity to strengthen teaching techniques and demonstrate instructional competency. Members who have considered becoming instructors may also want to follow the program as NAR releases more information about registration and participation.
Interested in teaching at MetroTex? Contact MetroTex Professional Development to learn more about local instructor opportunities and requirements.
Launching at NAR NXT
NAR will launch the first official Verified Instructor Training session Nov. 3 and 4 at NAR NXT 2026 in New Orleans.
NAR plans to open registration in September through the NAR NXT portal. Current and aspiring instructors can also learn more about the new program from NAR.