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Originally published November 5, 2024
Quick answer: The best leasing agent certification is the Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) credential from the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI). CALP covers leasing, sales, Fair Housing, and resident retention. To earn it, you complete 7 course modules, pass an exam, and log 6 months of onsite leasing experience. Through Visto by Grace Hill, CALP Online costs $562.50 and takes about 6 hours.
Every lease starts with a leasing professional. The stronger your skills, the faster you fill units and the more residents renew. A certification is the most direct way to build those skills and prove them to employers.
Among the options available, the Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) certification stands out as the first certification you should consider. It’s built specifically for apartment leasing, it sharpens your sales skills, and it gives you a credential employers recognize.
Below, we cover what CALP includes, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to get certified online.
Jump to a Section
- What is the best leasing agent certification?
- What does the CALP certification cover?
- Why should an apartment leasing agent become CALP-certified?
- Is the CALP certification right for you?
- How much does CALP cost, and how long does it take?
- CALP vs. Other Apartment Industry Certifications
- How to Become a CALP-Certified Leasing Agent with Visto
- CALP Certification FAQs
What is the best leasing agent certification?
If you work as an apartment leasing agent in the multifamily property industry, the Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) certification is the first certification you should obtain. CALP is awarded by the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI), the education arm of the National Apartment Association (NAA). It’s one of the most recognized credentials in rental housing and the leasing credential in NAAEI’s program, which also includes CAM, CAMT, and CAPS.
CALP is built for people who handle apartment leasing day to day. It’s also a strong fit for leasing consultants, concierges, and career changers with hospitality, retail, or customer service experience.
What does the CALP certification cover?
CALP includes 7 modules that walk through the full leasing process, from first contact to renewal:
- Bringing in New Residents: Be Prepared
- Marketing and Maintaining Your Community
- Why Your Competition Matters
- Relevant Laws and How to Apply Them
- The Sales Process and Building Relationships
- Effectively Meeting the Needs of Current Residents
- Market Analysis for Leasing Professionals
Along the way, you’ll build skills in professionalism, teamwork, Fair Housing and other relevant laws, sales, virtual leasing, and market analysis. The course looks at leasing from both the prospect’s and the current resident’s point of view, so you learn how to win leases and keep residents.
Why should an apartment leasing agent become CALP-certified?
CALP gives you three things: a strong foundation in leasing, sharper sales skills, and a credential that moves your career forward. This leasing agent certification isn’t just a resume booster. It’s a way to build confidence, perform better on the job, and open doors to new career opportunities.
Want to see which skills matter most on the job? Start with the 8 leasing agent skills that close leases faster, then use CALP to prove you’ve got them.
Build a Foundation in Apartment Leasing
CALP teaches the full leasing process. From conducting a leasing interview to retaining residents, CALP gives you the tools you need to succeed.
You’ll build skills in:
- Prospective resident screening
- Apartment leasing policies and procedures
- Reputation management
- Relationship-building
- Fair Housing laws
- Virtual leasing
- Competitive market analysis
You’ll also learn to read market trends and resident preferences, so your decisions support your property’s occupancy goals. That foundation carries into every role you take on next.
Improve Your Sales Skills
In a competitive market, sales skills drive occupancy. CALP trains you to connect with prospects, show what makes your community different, and close more leases. Through the CALP program, you’ll learn to:
- Generate traffic: Improve your online listings and build tours that turn interest into visits.
- Manage objections: Handle concerns about price, amenities, or lease terms with confidence, and turn them into a chance to show your community’s value. Check out this blog on tips for leasing agents on overcoming objections.
- Secure more renewals: Build relationships with current residents so more of them stay.
The result: stronger lead-to-lease conversion, better resident retention, and a faster path to growing your career.
Advance Your Career
CALP certification shows employers you know the fundamentals of leasing and you’re committed to growing in this career.
Employers look for people who invest in their own development. CALP-certified agents are often seen as higher-value team members who drive leases and resident satisfaction, and that can lead to more earning potential.
CALP also prepares you for how your work gets measured. Many property management companies use mystery shopping to score calls, emails, and tours against leasing best practices. Those are the same skills CALP trains. See how multifamily mystery shopping evaluates the leasing experience.
Is the CALP certification right for you?
CALP is right for you if you work in apartment leasing or want to. It fits new leasing consultants, experienced agents who want a recognized credential, and career changers from hospitality, retail, or customer service. No college degree is required.
CALP certification isn’t just for those new to apartment leasing. Whether you’re just starting your journey or have years of experience under your belt, CALP makes you more valuable to your team and your company.
If you enjoy working with people, have strong communication abilities, and are eager to learn about market trends and property management practices, CALP is a strong fit.
One thing to check first: some states require leasing agents to hold a real estate license. CALP doesn’t replace a license, so confirm your state’s rules before you start.
How much does CALP cost, and how long does it take?
CALP Online through Visto costs $562.50 and takes about 6 hours to complete. The course is self-paced, so you can work through the 7 modules on your schedule.
- Cost: $562.50 for the full CALP Online credential on Visto. Modules can also be purchased individually. Pricing through local apartment associations varies.
- Course time: About 6 hours of online coursework.
- Exam window: Pass the CALP exam within 6 months of your course purchase date.
- Experience: 6 months of onsite leasing experience for the full credential. You can earn it while you take the course.
- Textbook: Not included with the online course. Contact NAA at education@naahq.org to buy a print or eBook copy.
CALP vs. Other Apartment Industry Certifications
CALP is the entry point on NAAEI’s credential path. Here’s how it compares to the other core credentials:
How to Become a CALP-Certified Leasing Agent with Visto
Grace Hill, in partnership with the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI), designed Visto to be a convenient way to earn and maintain an industry credential. NAAEI credentials are the most widely recognized in rental housing, and Visto puts them online so you can learn on your schedule. Grace Hill has built training for the rental housing industry for 35+ years.
Visto makes it easy and affordable to grow your skills in property management. It’s the training you need for the job you want.
Earn Your CALP in 3 Steps
- Take the course: Enroll in CALP Online on Visto ($562.50) and complete all 7 modules, about 6 hours of self-paced coursework. You’ll cover leasing laws, marketing, sales, and resident communication, all built for apartment leasing.
- Pass the exam: After the coursework, pass the CALP exam within 6 months of your purchase date. NAA provides study materials, including a practice test.
- Complete your onsite experience: Log at least 6 months of onsite leasing experience. You can earn it during or after the course. Until then, you’ll hold a Provisional CALP, and you have 2 years to meet the requirement and upgrade to the full credential.
To keep your credential, earn 5 continuing education credits (CECs) each year. Visto offers CEC courses you can complete online, so staying current on industry trends and regulations fits into your schedule.
By becoming a CALP-certified leasing agent, you advance your career and help raise the standards of the property management industry, for your company and the residents you serve.
Training a whole leasing team? Grace Hill Training gives your onsite teams 600+ multifamily courses, from Fair Housing to leasing and resident experience, so every new hire ramps up faster and stays compliant.
CALP Certification FAQs
How long does it take to get CALP certified?
The CALP Online course on Visto takes about 6 hours. You then have 6 months from purchase to pass the exam. The full credential also requires 6 months of onsite leasing experience, which you can earn while you take the course.
How much does CALP certification cost?
CALP Online costs $562.50 through Visto by Grace Hill. Prices through local apartment associations vary. The textbook is sold separately by NAA.
Can you get CALP certified online?
Yes. CALP Online on Visto is fully online and self-paced, developed in partnership with NAAEI.
Do you need leasing experience to get CALP certified?
Not to start. You can take the course and exam first and hold a Provisional CALP. You then have 2 years to log 6 months of onsite leasing experience and upgrade to the full credential.
What’s the difference between CALP and CAM?
CALP is for leasing professionals and focuses on sales, marketing, and resident retention. CAM is for community managers and covers property operations and finances. Most people earn CALP first.
Is CALP the same as NALP?
Yes. CALP was formerly known as NALP (National Apartment Leasing Professional).
How do you renew a CALP certification?
Earn 5 continuing education credits (CECs) each year. Visto offers online CEC courses that count toward renewal.
Is CALP certification worth it?
For leasing professionals, yes. CALP is a widely recognized leasing credential in rental housing. It shows employers you’re committed to the career, and it builds the sales and Fair Housing skills that drive leases and renewals.
Ready to grow your leasing career? Earn your CALP online with Visto by Grace Hill.
