Have to do your CPD course? Here’s what you need to know
Continued professional development, or CPD as it’s usually called, is a requirement if you work in the NSW real estate industry. From March 2021, all people who hold a Class 1 Licence, Class 2 Licence or an Assistant Agent Certificate (Certificate of Registration) must complete the CPD requirements for their licence or certificate category each year.
The CPD year is different to the calendar year. It runs from 23 March each year and ends on 22 March the following year. Only approved providers can deliver compulsory CPD topics.
The CPD activities vary, depending on the type of licence or certificate you hold. There are compulsory topics for the Class 1 and 2 (four hours in a webinar or face-to-face class, or 10 hours self-paced). On the other hand, for the Assistant Agent CPD is three hours of compulsory topics. CPD is not about accumulating points, but the hours you spend learning.
Is CPD important and why am I doing it?
You might be wondering why you’re completing a CPD real estate course, and if there’s any benefit for you either personally or professionally.
CPD is a requirement of NSW Fair Trading. They consult with the real estate industry and then set compulsory learning topics annually. So there are a new set of compulsory topics every CPD year, which are delivered by approved providers that must comply with a comprehensive set of conditions.
Is CPD worth it? The answer is yes! Your CPD course is a golden opportunity for you to stay up to date with skills and knowledge. We’re talking about active and practical learning that will contribute to your success in the real estate industry. Without CPD, you’re absorbing knowledge at the coalface, on the run or hearing about current practice secondhand.
Most professionals complete a CPD course. Its value is recognised across professions and industries from doctors and accountants to lawyers and teachers. It’s a great way to stay current and keep on top of changes in your profession.
Completing a CPD real estate course enables us to take time out of our busy work schedules to focus on learning new technical, legal and industry knowledge that impacts our everyday work. It also provides you with a competitive advantage!
Your CPD is tailored to your real estate qualifications. This ensures you’re learning the most useful skills for the level of work you do.
CPD real estate course for Class 1 and Class 2 agent – Real Estate or Strata Management
You must complete at least four hours of CPD a year if you are a Class 1 Agent in Real Estate or Strata Management. These four hours are broken down into the three options based on the agents role:
Sales Agents:
- Legislative Changes
- Supervision Requirements
- Cyber Security and Fraud Prevention
- Marketing – Price Representations and Underquoting
- Contracts for Sale
Property Managers:
- Legislative Changes
- Supervision Requirements
- Cyber Security and Fraud Prevention
- Managing Unforeseen Rental Terminations
- Rental Bonds Management
Commercial Agents:
- Legislative Changes
- Supervision Requirements
- Cyber Security and Fraud Prevention
- Contract for Sale
- Price Disclosures, Representations and Underquoting
Assistant Agent Certificate (Certificate of Registration)
If you’re an assistant agent, you need to complete at least three CPD topics each year. These topics, or units of study, must be selected from a valid Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419) qualification that is required for a Class 2 Licence in Real Estate. They can be any units from the Certificate IV course.
If you’re an assistant strata managing agent, you need to complete at least three CPD units a year. These topics, or units of study, need to be selected from a valid Certificate IV qualification that is required for a Class 2 Licence in Strata Management. You can select any preferred units from your Certificate IV qualification.
If you complete three units of the Certificate IV course every CPD year, then after four years you’ll only have one unit left to meet the requirements for a Class 2 Licence in Real Estate.
Can you carry over CPD to the following year?
You can no longer carry over CPD from one year to the next. A provision to carry over any CPD was provided in the first year of the new CPD arrangements in 2020, but this is no longer available.
There is one exception, however, for assistant agents who are completing units from their Certificate IV qualification. Any units completed since their last certificate renewal can be carried over.
How to get the most out of your CPD course
An opportunity to learn can be a rare thing among the demands of a busy real estate career. But planning your time to get the most out of your CPD course is important to your learning and your career.
Take the compulsory out of CPD and make it enjoyable. Do it with a colleague, network while you’re there, ask questions and, most important of all, apply your learning to your workplace decisions when you go back to work.
At Entry Education we love teaching and making new friends. We’re one of the best real estate academies in Australia. Why? Because our focus is 100% on our students’ success.
We offer unparalleled student support that’s available in- and out-of-office hours. We get straight down to work and we help you accomplish that goal – your licence, certificate or CPD.
At Entry Education we offer high-quality CPD real estate courses fully online for NSW agents. We know how busy you are, and we’ve designed our CPD so you can jump straight in and complete your requirements with no fluff and no time-wasting paperwork.
Find out more about how to become a real estate agent in Australia here.
Let’s chat about your CPD requirements . Invest in yourself today!
