Under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 (the Act), individual holders of a licence (class 1 or 2 agents) and certificate of registration (assistant agents) are subject to a condition that the holder must comply with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. CPD is aimed at ensuring licence and certificate holders continually update their skills and are aware of their legislative requirements and responsibilities.

ACOP has been conducting CPD for the property industry since September 2003, when CPD became mandatory for professionals working in the property industry. ACOP provides CPD training in all property licence categories in NSW.

As per NSW Fair Trading’s CPD Guidelines, all licence and certificate of registration holders within NSW are required to complete CPD each year as one of the requirements of holding their authority to practice. The CPD year starts on the 23 March each year and ends on the 22 March the following year. CPD will no longer be linked to your renewal date and MUST be completed in the CPD year.

You can confirm your class of licence through the NSW Fair Trading public register, which dictates what level of CPD you are required to undertake.

ACOP’s courses are developed by and delivered by current industry professionals and solicitors. This means that students are able to benefit from the analysis of real cases and scenarios and receive the most up to date knowledge of legislation and industry best practices.

All courses offered by ACOP provide an opportunity to network with other agents and agencies and to share ideas within our best practice framework.

CPD requirements per Licence Class

Class 1 (Licensee-in-Charge) – for Real Estate and Strata Management (must complete 9 hours of CPD training each year)

• • 3 hours of Compulsory CPD with topics as set by NSW Fair Trading; and
  • 3 hours of Elective CPD with topics from a broad range of best practice issues; and
  • 3 hours of Business Skills CPD topics

Class 1 (Licensee-in-Charge) – for Stock & Station (only) (must complete 6 hours of CPD training each year)

• • 3 hours of Compulsory CPD with topics as set by NSW Fair Trading; and
  • 3 hours of Business Skills CPD topics

Class 2 Licence Holders – for Real Estate and Strata Management (must complete 6 hours of CPD training each year)

• • 3 hours of Compulsory CPD with topics as set by NSW Fair Trading; and
  • 3 hours of Elective CPD with topics from a broad range of best practice issues

Class 2 Licence Holders – for Stock & Station (only) (must complete 3 hours of CPD training each year)

• • 3 hours of Compulsory CPD with topics as set by NSW Fair Trading

Class 3  Certificate of Registration (Assistant Agents)

• • Complete 3 Units of Competency from the relevant Certificate IV licensing qualification:
    • For Real Estate and Stock & Station Licence requirements:   CPP41419 – Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice
    • For Strata Management Licence requirements:  CPP40516 – Certificate IV in Strata Community Management

2021 CPD Topics

Compulsory

NSW Fair Trading has set specific topics for the compulsory 3 hours of CPD training.  For the 2021/22 CPD year, the three topics are:

Real Estate Agents and Stock & Station Agents

• • COVID-Safe Business
  • Disclosure of Material Facts (Real Estate and Stock & Station)
  • Short-term Rental Accommodation Code of Conduct

Strata Managers and On-Site Residential Property Managers

• • COVID-Safe Business
  • Building Defects & the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020
  • Short-term Rental Accommodation Code of Conduct

Livestock Agents

• • COVID-Safe Business
  • Disclosure of Material Facts
  • Private Sale Contracts and ALPA Auction Terms and Conditions

To enable you to have the best experience for your CPD, ACOP has developed three options for the Compulsory CPD based on the functions you undertake on a daily basis.  The three (3)  Compulsory CPD options are:

• • Compulsory CPD for Real Estate (for Property Sales, Property Management and Stock & Station)
  • Compulsory CPD for Strata Management (for Strata Managers and On-Site Managers)
  • Compulsory CPD for Livestock Agents (Livestock sales)

Elective 

For the Elective topics, NSW Fair Trading has set some broad content areas focused on the best practices with a property agency.  ACOP will be conducting Elective CPD topics for the following licence / functional categories:

• • Property Sales
  • Residential Property Management
  • Strata Management
  • Business Broking
  • Buyers Agents 
  • Commercial Sales & Leasing
  • Stock & Station

Business Skills

For the Business Skills topics, NSW Fair Trading has set some broad content areas focused on the best practices with a property agency.  Each Business Skills topic is 1 hour duration, which means that you are required to complete 3 of the topics below. ACOP will be conducting Business Skills CPD topics for the following licence / functional categories:

• • Business Planning
  • Recruitment
  • Supervision Guidelines
  • Real Estate Industry Award
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Dealing with Difficult Staff
  • Payroll Tax Implications for your Business
  • Recruitment Process, Policies and Procedures
  • Social Media Marketing

Customised and In-House CPD Training

Customised and in-house courses are also available for groups of 6 or more. Please contact us if you have specific topic needs and our trainers can come to your office to conduct your CPD course at a time that suits you and your staff.  Naturally, these courses are also available via interactive webinar, which is terrific for remote locations and also smaller agencies.