YPG Curriculum and Requirements

Application are now beiing accepted, deadline is March 15, 2026.
For those that applied for 2026-27, you will be notified via email late May.

NAIOP SoCal, in conjunction with the national organization based out of Washington D.C., first established its SoCal Young Professionals Group (YPG) program in 2005 as a result of the recognized need to provide advanced education in the real estate disciplines to our younger members. The industry, overall, was not believed to be doing an adequate job in preparing its newer members to succeed in the commercial real estate industry. YPG offers a program that is designed to educate, develop, connect and elevate the next generation of commercial real estate leaders.

Curriculum

Educate
Led by industry experts, each YPG educational session provides in-depth instruction on critical components of the commercial real estate industry. Sessions are designed to immerse participants in the full spectrum of the business, delivering essential foundational knowledge aligned with their core career objectives. Topics include land planning, development, construction, capital markets, architecture, engineering, asset management, brokerage, and more.

Develop
The YPG class receives structured personal development guidance from an experienced course facilitator and guest instructors. Participants assess their individual strengths and opportunities for growth, learning how to leverage self-awareness to achieve success in both their professional and personal lives.

Connect
YPG fosters a strong peer network of emerging leaders across diverse real estate disciplines. This community creates lasting professional relationships and provides access to critical resources and collaboration that extend well beyond the program.

Elevate
YPG participants gain direct access to and training from key decision-makers in the real estate industry. These career coaches serve as mentors and role models, offering invaluable firsthand insight into leadership and career advancement. In addition, students receive leadership training that strengthens the business skills necessary to rise into influential positions within their firms and the industry as a whole.

Requirements

YPG candidates are expected, in addition to the monthly scheduled class sessions, to devote several hours each month in preparation for case studies and participation in the program; the vast majority of that time is spent outside normal business hours. An initial retreat, which includes an orientation session and a team-building workshop, is held at the beginning stages of the program and attendance is mandatory.

Each YPG Candidate:

Must be a professional in the commercial real estate industry
Must be an active member in good standing of NAIOP SoCal Chapter to apply.
Must be 35 years of age or younger by December 2026. (Year of birth 1991 or later)
Must be willing to commit the time, resources and skills required for active involvement in the program including, but not limited to, attendance at all program events. Applicants must obtain explicit support of their employer for this commitment to YPG.
Must practice high standards of professional and personal integrity.
Must demonstrate leadership qualities and capabilities as well as positive attitudes.

Requirements for admission include:

Submission of YPG application
Execution of YPG agreement & Commitment
Execution of Employer Endorsement
Submission of 2 Recommendation letters
Active membership in NAIOP SoCal
The program fee is $5,250. The suggested payment amount from the company and the student is listed below.
- Company’s commitment of $4,000 corporate fee for each candidate accepted to the program.
- Student's commitment of $1,250 for the tuition.
Attendance at the YPG Learning Center Retreat, a two-and-a-half-day retreat scheduled for August 21st-23rd.
Attendance at monthly training sessions and networking events that will be separate from other NAIOP activities
Three (3) Meetings with members of NAIOP SoCal’s YPG Selection Committee