Designated Broker is the person in charge of the firm (and sometimes owner). Associate Brokers and Agents work for the Designated Broker.  If agents want to become an Associate Broker they must be in the business at least 3 years and take and pass the Brokers Course.

In Oregon every new licensee is a Broker and Independent Contractor who must work within a brokerage managed by a Principal Broker for 3 years. There is no position as "designated broker" and there can be multiple Principal Brokers within a brokerage, but only one noted by the real estate agency who technically acts as a "designated Principal Broker." 

Since I'm in Florida...

"Real estate agents work for or are independent contractors of the real estate broker".

Maryland has , Sales person, Associate Broker, & Broker. The Designated Broker is in charge of the office.

Agent "works for" a broker. Less liability.

A Broker can hire agents and employees. More liability.

We are an all-broker state with Brokers-in-Charge overseeing the brokers and any Provisional Brokers (new agents who have yet to complete their broker licensing work) who are hanging their licenses with the Firm. 

In California, the Broker test has more questions than the Agent test, but they come from the same bank of questions. When I took my Broker's text, I actually recognized some questions verbatim. You need to hold a Broker's license to be the "Broker of Record" for a real estate firm. But someone with only an Agent's license can still own a firm as long as they hire a Broker to be their Broker of Record. The general public may think a Broker is "better" than an Agent but that's not necessarily true. In practice, most Brokers DO have more experience and training than Agents. However, that's more a function of being around longer and potentially supervising other agents. However, I'm sure there are many Agents who have more experience and training than some Brokers. I think it depends greatly on whether the person in question has actually managed and supervised other agents as a Broker of Record. But if an Agent just goes to get their Broker's license and remains as a salesperson under other Broker's license, I really don't think there is any educational benefit to that. 

California says agent must have Broker supervision thus licensed under them. I believed that a Broker not only carries more responsibility but prestige as well. One should always climb to the top of their endeavors

In MA, I hold a Broke's license but I am not a managing/owner Broker. Others hold a Sales Agent license and must take coursework and have a couple of years' experience prior to taking the Broker's exam

What Debe Maxwell, CRS said. You start with a provisional license once you pass the exam. Within 18 months you have to complete 90 hours of courses to become a full Broker. You hang your license under a BIC (Broker In Charge) who manages you. You can also be BIC eligible by taking more course work and having the minimum experience. I'm BIC eligible but still hang my license under KW.

In Connecticut, an agent cannot work independently, they have to be affiliated with a licensed broker. In order to become a broker, an agent must work as one for at least two years and then undergo additional training by attending pre-determined courses, including appraisal and then pass a state test. 

Here in MT we have salespersons/agents, brokers and managing brokers. So for example, I have my broker license, but I have chosen not to have my own separate company so I am part of a larger one. Because of that, I have a "managing" broker - in my company, that's at a state level. So if there's something that must have a managing broker signature, he takes care of that.

In NY, they had salespersons, associate brokers (those who have a broker license but don't choose to have their own company) and brokers.

In Maryland, every broker is an agent. An agent needs to work under a broker.

And as Buzz Mackintosh says: Maryland has, Salesperson, Associate Broker, & Broker. The Designated Broker is in charge of the office.

In IL, everyone is now a broker. Designated broker (manager) above the brokers. 

A broker here in Utah is the go-to for agents within a brokerage. You can be both, however.

North Carolina has no "real estate agents." When you get your license you are a Provisional Broker and have two years to become a full Broker to keep your license. PB's must work under the supervision of a broker in charge. Regardless of whether we are Provisional Brokers or full Brokers, we are independent contractors and sign a contract to that effect with our brokerages. You can also be (as I am) BIC (Broker-in-Charge) eligible. I choose not to be a BIC hence that designation, but I am licensed to be a BIC and that point would become an employee of my brokerage. We don't have a "designated" broker term.

In Colorado, you don't have to be a REALTOR, you don't have to belong to a Board.   These are agents or licensees.    The designated broker would be the employing broker.

I am with Lyn Sims for Illinois and Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate for Florida!

That is a loaded question Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate.

 In California, one must have two years of experience before one can take the broker exam.  

One can be a Broker Associate (affiliated with a brokerage) but essentially act as a real estate licensee without any broker responsibility. 

One can be an independent broker (like me) acting as the sole agent and broker for self. LOVE IT by the way.

One can be a managing broker for an office with a Broker license. 

An agent can act as the managing officer for an office of a broker/age with just a real estate license.

Georgia....

we have sales people, associate brokers and qualifying brokers (qualifying being the broker responsible for the company and agents and associate brokers)

1 75 hour course passed and state test passed  and sponsoring broker gets you  you actively licensed as a salesperson

an additional 50 hour course passed, state test passed and 3 years active experience under a broker gets you a broker's license.... if you still work under another broker you are classified an associate broker, but COULD if you wanted open your own brokerage.

qualifying broker is responsible for agents, reviewing ALL contracts, trust accounts etc.... 

In NH you first become an agent. After a year of full time service, meeting min. hours , another class and test then being bonded, you can become a broker in NH. You can be a principal broker being on your own. or an associate broker working under another principal broker. 

In California, licensed agents must associate with a licensed broker in able to perform the duties for which they are licensed and to get paid for their efforts. Brokers can also associated with a "broker in charge" or "designatied broker".

In Arizona, only a designated broker can legally receive a commission. The agents that work underneath the broker are an extension of the broker. But only the broker is recognized. You have to have your license under a designated broker. The designated broker does not necessarily own the company, and indeed the company may be owned by someone who does not hold a license at all. But there must be a designated broker who has all the liability and is 'where the buck stops.' They alone can pay a commission to licensees who work under them.

California:

Agents hold a "Salesperson" license and must be employed (yes, employed is the correct term) by a Broker.  Agents may only work for one Broker at a time and are not allowed to do a solo deal (unless it's their own home and they FSBO it).

Brokers can run their own company, they can hire agents underneath them, they can work for multiple other Brokers at the same time and they can do solo deals as themselves.  I can work as "Ryan Huggins, Broker with Huggins Homes" or as "Ryan Huggins, Real Estate Broker"

Hi Fred - 

Similar in PA. If you're a licensed Real Estate Salesperson, you are an independent contract of the Real Estate Broker. You must be supervised by a RE Broker. If you have a Broker's License and are an independent contractor for a Real Estate Broker, you are an Associate Broker. Continued success to you!

A Broker needs to pass the Broker's Test.  All Agents are Brokers but not all Agents are Brokers.

A broker is one test above an agent, and all agents work for a brokerage, which may be as simple as one broker, or more often is much larger with one broker in charge who is responsible for all the agents and brokers that are working for the brokerage.