Although the term Realtor is sometimes used interchangebly with real estate agent, its use is reserved for active members of NAR. Some individuals who are licensed to act as real estate agents are not NAR members.

The terms realtor and real estate broker are sometimes used to mean a real estate agent. However, a Realtor refers to a member of the National Association of Realtors, which claims a trademark on the term and states that realtor should not be used to refer to real estate agents who are not members. As for real estate broker, in some states the term is restricted to more experienced real estate agents who have a special license that allows them to operate a brokerage. In this type of licensing structure, individual real estate agents typically work for a broker.