How to get titles like FM, IM, NM, GM


Andy. when I was rated 2188 and then won 8 games in a row-it was USCF over the board--not correspondence.
My correspondence rating was much higher...

I don't think International GM is an official title, but it's similar to what we would call Super GMs, more or less 2700+
No, it's just the same as GM. It's sometimes been called IGM though to differentiate it from national GM titles, like Soviet GM or US GM (=2600 rating).

Andy. when I was rated 2188 and then won 8 games in a row-it was USCF over the board--not correspondence.
My correspondence rating was much higher...
I know. I'm tugging your chain a little bit (sheesh).

Assuming you have one, you have to go to http://www.chess.com/members/submit_title_proof and submit proof of identidy, if that's what you meant. IM, FM etc. aren't site titles, they're international titles.
I did, and they still don't believe it.

Where does someone like me go to find out how to earn a title like CM, FM, IM, or GM on this site?
Try Scarborough Fair.
Try these links instead, don't mind the obligatory snide answer above
http://www.fide.com/component/handbook/?id=58&view=article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIDE_titles

Indeed chess titles is a virtual alphabet soup. Stick around long enough and you are sure to get one. Norms and titles are available for the right "Price". If you are woman player and understand how the pieces move, FIDE will give you a title :) Encourages greater participation and gives us all a warm fuzzy feeling inside :).

I always felt it a bit annoying that the USCF didn't have an Expert title. It would be NE (national expert) as an abbreviation I guess.

FWIW, the CM title has at least two different meanings - FIDE awards it for a rating above 2200, and the USCF awards it for a rating above 2100 plus five CM "norm" results in USCF rated tournaments. What is a CM norm? Good question - there's a fair bit of math involved, but from what I can tell it's basically a performance rating of at least 2200, possibly more.