ShareThe REALTOR® Pledge (also known as the REALTOR® Oath) was originally written for a contest held by the National Association of REALTORS® in 1954. The contest was intended to come up with a brief pledge for new members, emphasizing what it meant to be a REALTOR®, based on the Preamble to the Code of Ethics. The winning entry was written by Frank Cortright, a REALTOR® member from Berkeley, California (and, as it happened, the first Executive Vice President of the National Association of Home Builders).
The Pledge has been revised only once since 1954. In the mid-1990s, the Pledge's language was modernized somewhat and its structure altered to put emphasis on different points. A version for REALTOR®-Associates was also created at this time.
The revised Pledge features the same six points that were included in the original 1954 version. AEs may choose either version to use in their member induction ceremonies.