Jobs and career pathways
Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) jobs, salary benchmarks, and career pathways
CDPE is a specialization for real estate professionals rather than a stand-alone occupation, so the rows below use BLS role data for agents, brokers, and adjacent valuation work. Read them as the market the designation sits in, not as a return the course produces.
Updated October 6, 2026
Where this exam tends to lead
These roles centre on related jobs and career pathways. The role targets below are the main search patterns this jobs page is built around.
This page is built around related job searches now, with room for richer direct-ingestion job feeds later.
Real estate salary benchmarks
CDPE is a specialization for real estate professionals rather than a stand-alone occupation, so the rows below use BLS role data for agents, brokers, and adjacent valuation work. Read them as the market the designation sits in, not as a return the course produces.
| Role / benchmark | Pay | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate sales agents | $52,830 median annual wage | May 2025 figure. Worth noting this is lower than the previous published median — agent pay did not rise with the market. Employment across brokers and agents is projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035 BLS Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents |
| Real estate brokers | $73,220 median annual wage | May 2025 figure. Broker-level benchmark for more experienced real estate professionals BLS Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents |
| Property appraisers and assessors | $67,960 median annual wage | May 2025 figure. Adjacent benchmark for work around distressed valuation and property analysis BLS Property Appraisers and Assessors |
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Official CDPE facts
| Fact | Current detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What CDPE is | A distressed-property and foreclosure-avoidance designation for real estate professionals, focused on short sales | CDPE home page |
| Who owns it now | The Real Estate Advancement Institute acquired the CDPE. The program and its course pages moved platforms, which is why older CDPE course URLs return 404 | CDPE online course page |
| Course price | $499 for the online on-demand course | CDPE on-demand course enrolment page |
| Course structure | 23 modules, delivered online and on demand at your own pace | CDPE online course page |
| Completion window | One year from enrolment to complete the course | CDPE online course page |
| Module quizzes | A 4-question quiz after each module, requiring 75% or better to advance to the next module | CDPE online course page |
| Final exam | A 30-question final exam requiring 75% or better. Passing it is what completes the course and earns the CDPE designation | CDPE online course page |
| Program history | CDPE describes itself as pre-foreclosure and short-sale training operating since 2008 | CDPE home page |
Fetched job listings
These listings come from the latest automated jobs update run. If a board blocks or limits retrieval, use the live search links above.
6 listings captured
The Muse
Store Associate
CVS Health
Litchfield, CT
The Muse
(USA) Tire and Battery Service Advisor
Walmart
Eau Claire, WI
The Muse
Café Associate
Walmart
Clive, IA
The Muse
Maintenance Custodian Associate
Walmart
Ellicott City, MD
The Muse
Retail Customer Service Associate
Walmart
El Paso, TX
The Muse
PRODUCE/CLERK
Kroger
Bowling Green, OH
Official resources
Official overview of the designation and its distressed-property focus.
The current course page: 23 modules, the one-year completion window, module quizzes, and the final exam.
Where the $499 price is stated. Check it before budgeting — this is the figure that changes most often.
External resources and benchmarks
Neutral benchmark for agent and broker compensation.
Adjacent benchmark for real-estate analysis and valuation work.
Questions people ask before choosing this path
Is there an exam to earn the CDPE designation?
Yes. Each of the 23 modules ends in a 4-question quiz that you must pass at 75% or better to advance, and the course ends with a 30-question final exam, also at a 75% threshold. Passing the final exam is what earns the designation.
How much does the CDPE course cost?
The online on-demand course is $499 on the current enrolment page. Confirm the figure there before budgeting, since course pricing changes more often than course structure.
How long do I have to finish the CDPE course?
One year from enrolment. The course is online and on demand across 23 modules, so the pace is yours within that window.
Why do the CDPE links I find online return 404?
The program changed hands — the Real Estate Advancement Institute acquired CDPE — and the course moved to a different platform. Older cdpe.com course and pricing URLs no longer resolve, though the main cdpe.com site is still up.
Is CDPE a specialization rather than a real estate license?
Yes. CDPE is specialized distressed-property and foreclosure-avoidance training layered on top of existing real estate practice. It does not replace state licensing.