About CCIM Designation

Conferred by the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute, the CCIM designation was established in 1969 and conferred to Eugene “Gene” Stuard by Designation Certificate # 1936 on November 13, 1983. Mr. Stuard is the President of The Forrestal Group, Inc.

What is a CCIM?

According to the CCIM Institute of Commercial Real Estate, a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) is a recognized expert in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate. A CCIM is an invaluable resource to the commercial real estate owner, investor, and user, and is among an elite corps of more than 9,000 professionals who hold the CCIM designation across North America and more than 30 countries. Nearly 10,000 additional professionals are pursing the CCIM designation.

Recognized for its preeminence within the industry, the CCIM curriculum represents the core knowledge expected of commercial investment practitioners, regardless of the diversity of specializations within the industry. The CCIM curriculum consists of four core courses that incorporate the essential investment analysis for commercial investment real estate. Additional curriculum requirements may be completed through CCIM elective courses, transfer credit for graduate education or professional recognition, and qualifying non–CCIM education. Following the course work, candidates must submit a portfolio of closed transactions and/or consultations showing a depth of experience in the commercial investment field. After fulfilling these requirements, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive examination to earn the CCIM designation. This designation process ensures that CCIMs are proficient not only in theory, but also in practice.

With such a wide range of subjects to be mastered and in a dynamic business such as real estate, the educational process doesn’t end once the designation is earned; there is a strong commitment among CCIMs to continuing education.

Only six (6%) percent of the estimated 150,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide hold the CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but also why it is one of the most coveted and respected designations in the industry. The CCIM membership network mirrors the increasingly changing nature of the industry and includes brokers, leasing professionals, executives, property managers, developers, institutional investors, commercial lenders, attorneys, bankers and other allied professionals. Through this business network, CCIM members successfully complete thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value.