OREA LEADERSHIP DESIGNATION PROGRAM

The OREA Leadership Designation Program – or OLDP – formally recognizes real estate leaders who have participated in OREA’s leadership programming over the past 15 years.

It’s designed to give these leaders the credentials they deserve, reflecting their ongoing commitment to self-improvement.

There are two designations – the Certified Non-Profit Leadership Associate (CNLA) and Certified Non-Profit Leadership Executive (CNLE).

Whether you’re a REALTOR®, a Board leader, or Board staff, you can qualify for one – or both – designations, depending on where you are in your career.

This program is intentionally built around the Leadership courses many leaders have already taken as part of their organized real estate journey.

The first designation, the CNLA, is a fantastic entry point for those just getting involved in organized real estate.

Once you’ve received your CNLA designation, you’ll be eligible to start the process for the second designation, the CNLE, which is geared towards those interested in senior leadership roles within non-profit associations.

Member Board staff are also eligible for this designation; however, the path is slightly different.

Your designation signals to others that you are a trained, credible leader equipped with the tools and abilities to lead with clarity.

You can also add your designation to your REALTOR.ca or LinkedIn profiles, showcasing your proven leadership and governance expertise.

And as an added bonus, OREA will be waiving the renewal fees for the first two years of the program, meaning that you won’t need to pay to renew your designation until 2030!

The OREA Centre for Leadership Development has been helping improve the leadership skills of those involved in organized real estate since 2008. Over the years, we have built and refined a suite of award-winning leadership courses that consistently receive high reviews from members. Every course goes through a stringent quality assurance process, is developed with the best subject matter experts in the field and is reviewed annually using learner feedback to stay current and relevant.

For more than 15 years, our focus has been on preparing REALTORS® to lead at the board table, in their businesses, and in their communities.

Now, we are in the position to take this work one step further by offering a recognizable credential, the CNLA or CNLE designation, to those who want to formally demonstrate their commitment to leadership excellence.

Earning the OREA Leadership Designation offers recognition at events and in professional contexts. Moreso, it gives you the confidence to step into leadership roles knowing you have the skills to serve with impact.

As a designation holder, you’ll be able to approach board packages with a strategic lens, ask the right questions, and balance fiduciary responsibility with member value. You’ll be highly attuned to the importance of the member dollar, your association’s value proposition, and the member experience, and you’ll be prepared to make industry-shaping decisions that withstand difficult moments.

The designation signals to others that you are a trained, credible leader, but more importantly, it provides you with the tools, grounding, and perspective to lead with clarity when your board and your members need it most.

The skills learned in leadership development are transferrable. Many REALTORS® serve on condo boards, charitable organizations, or community associations. The CNLA and the CNLE both signal that you understand governance, fiduciary duty, and leadership, which makes you a stronger candidate for leadership roles beyond the real estate profession.

Graduates will be formally recognized each year at OREA’s Peak Leadership Summit, and there will be opportunities to be featured in OREA’s virtual events and Member communications.

While earning the designation strengthens your candidacy and demonstrates your readiness to serve, committee appointments also consider several other factors, including professional experience, geographic location, previous volunteer experience, and expertise in specific areas (e.g., Standard Forms, Finance, Government Relations).

Yes, CREA recognizes the designations, and you can add them to your profile.

To earn the CNLA (Associate) or CNLE (Executive) designation, you must complete the following:

CNLA Requirements:

Members:

• Courses: Complete 5 out of 7 courses from the Leadership 100 – 303 series:
  • Mandatory: Leadership 100 and Leadership 200
  • Electives: Choose any three from Leadership 201, 300, 301, 302, and 303
• Exam: Pass the CNLA competency exam (fee: $250)

Non-Members:

• Courses: Complete "Effective Leadership in Associations" plus any two electives below:
  • Electives: Leadership 300, 301, 302, and 303
• Exam: Pass the CNLA competency exam (fee: $250)

CNLE Requirements:

Members:

• Courses: Complete all CNLA requirements, plus:
  • Leadership 400, 401, 402, and 403
• Exam: Pass the CNLE competency exam (fee: $250)

Association Staff:

• Courses: Complete Leadership 401 and 402, plus:
  • Any two Executive Officer Professional Development (EOPD) courses
• Exam: Pass the CNLE competency exam (fee: $250)

Competency exams are online and comprised of 50 randomized multiple-choice questions which assess the learner’s knowledge based on the course materials.

A comprehensive study guide is available for each exam at an additional cost of $35 through MyAcademy.

OREA knows that you have a busy life and career. You may complete the courses for your designation at your own pace.

You can register in as many sessions as you can fully participate in during the year.

The following four courses are free and can be taken online:

• Leadership 100: On the Path to Volunteering
• Leadership 200: Becoming a Leader
• Leadership 201: Nimble Decision-Making
• Leadership 303: Building an Inclusive Board, or Building an Inclusive Community (2 versions)

Leadership 303: Building an Inclusive Board is also offered in person, for the standard rate of $150 per learner, per session.

The OREA Centre for Leadership Development has been helping improve the leadership skills of those involved in organized real estate since 2008. Over the years, we have built and refined a suite of award-winning leadership courses that consistently receive high reviews from Members. Every course goes through a stringent quality assurance process, is developed with the best subject matter experts in the field and is reviewed annually using learner feedback to stay current and relevant.

For more than 15 years, our focus has been on preparing REALTORS® to lead at the board table, in their businesses, and in their communities.

Now, we are in the position to take this work one step further by offering a recognizable credential, the CNLA or CNLE designation, to those who want to formally demonstrate their commitment to leadership excellence.

Absolutely! Contact [email protected] and we'll review your completed courses to determine which ones are eligible for credit toward your designation.

Like all designation applicants, you must pass the competency exam before achieving the designation.

Once you're eligible to register for the exam, you'll have the option to purchase a comprehensive study guide to help you review key concepts and prepare effectively.

The study guide is available at an additional cost of $35 through MyAcademy.

Yes, they do. You will need to produce the course certificates to prove completion. Like all designation applicants, you must pass the competency exam before achieving the designations.

Courses within the designation are offered online via eLearning, as well as several times throughout the year through in-person and virtual instructor-led formats. If you are starting from the beginning, and embarking on your first course, it could take as little as 1 year to reach the Associate level, and a second year to reach the Executive level designation.

Each course is $150, with the exception of The Hot Seat, or any Leadership Courses for your audience.

In-person courses are offered at OREA’s Peak Leadership Summit, other provincial events, and in partnership with local boards, when possible.

eLearning and virtual instructor-led sessions are scheduled throughout the year.

The exam is $250. There is no additional cost for the designation itself.

You may start taking the designation exams as of February 2, 2026.

Students can schedule exams for the next available business day.

When scheduling an exam, students can access dates up to four weeks in advance.

The initial examination fee includes one attempt to successfully complete the exam. A $50 exam retake fee is required for each additional attempt.

A minimum score of 75 percent is required to successfully pass the exam.

Upon completing your exam, you will receive a pop-up message letting you know your score and if you passed or failed. All exam marks will be posted in the “My Course History” tab.

You will have up to two hours to complete the exam once it has started.

The exam timer begins immediately once you start the exam. Pausing or exiting does not stop the timer.

The exam may be started at any time between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Toronto).

No. Exam questions are randomized for each participant to support exam integrity.

Yes. Once started, the exam must be completed within the two-hour time limit.

OREA technical support for system-related and access issues is only available on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To maintain active status, designation holders must achieve and verify a minimum of twelve (12) Continuing Education (CE) credits within the two-year period leading up to their designation expiry or reinstatement date.

Many qualifying events are ones you may already attend. Your board’s governance and education sessions, OREA courses and webinars, the Peak Leadership Summit, as well as any virtual or in-person education-related event in Canadian real estate can count as CE in maintaining your designation.

Events are reviewed individually, but credits are typically awarded according to the following guidelines:

• 4 credits for a full-day event or conference
• 3 credits for a course or workshop
• 2 credits for a webinar or presentation

Please ensure you have proof of participation or completion to submit for your designation renewal.

OREA is waiving designation renewal fees for 2028 and 2029, meaning you will not be required to pay a renewal fee until 2030.

Designations must be renewed every two years.

An email reminder will be sent to designation holders at least 90 days before their expiry date.

They will have until 30 days after the expiry date to submit proof of CE credits earned during the valid period. Failure to submit the required documentation within this grace period will result in the revocation of designation status.

Renewal fees will be nominal and similar to the typical cost of maintaining other professional designations.

Renewal fees help ensure the program runs as intended – covering on-going administrative costs, curriculum updates, and more.

The program creates a consistent learning path across the province, ensuring that everyone involved in Board leadership has access to the same high-quality, provincially standardized leadership development rooted in OREA’s curriculum.

Member Boards will receive 20% of all exam fees in which participants list them as their primary Board when completing their exam.

Distributions are calculated annually and paid directly to Member Boards, with reporting provided by OREA, so that each Board can track program engagement and completion.

Members from that Member Board may still pursue their designation, however, the Board will not receive any share of the exam revenue.

Members from that board may still pursue the designation; however, the board will not receive any share of the exam revenue.

The OREA Centre for Leadership Development manages the standards and quality assurance for the designation. Exams and courses are reviewed annually with input from subject matter experts (SMEs).