Are you thinking about getting your real estate license?
Whether you’ve been in the industry for a long time or are looking for a fresh start, a real estate agent license can help you take your career to the next level. It’s the difference between selling real estate on behalf of a broker or opening your own agency and being in control of your destiny.
So where do you start? Right here.
Find out what’s required in your area
To save you time, we’ve pulled together the requirements for every territory in Australia, including links to online applications. Click on your territory to go directly to that section.
If you’ve been dreaming of a career in real estate, make a start now.
How to get your real estate agent license in Australia
The requirements to get your real estate license in Australia vary across states and territories. Mostly, you’ll need to have specific qualifications, experience and be a suitable person of good character to hold a license.
Requirements for the real estate agent license vary between states and territories.
Let’s explore each state and territory in more depth.
New South Wales
In NSW, you’ll need to meet specific eligibility criteria, including being fit and proper to hold a license. You must have:
- Paid the relevant contribution to the Property Services Compensation Fund
- Completed the real estate agent license course, CPP40307 Certificate IV in Property Services
- Your principal place of work in NSW or within 50km of the NSW border
The good news is, you can complete the course online or on-campus and choose either full-time or part-time. Check out these institutions for more information:
To apply for your license online, visit Service NSW.
You’ll need a few documents to complete your application, including your identity document/s (such as a driver’s license) and evidence of your professional indemnity insurance and qualifications.
Queensland
Like NSW, there are eligibility criteria and training requirements to apply for your real estate license in Queensland.
The Property Services Training Package (CPP07) is nationally endorsed and includes units like these:
- Manage small business finances
- Appraise property
- Identify legal and ethical requirements of property management to complete agency work
- Interpret legislation to complete work in the property industry
- Market property for sale
To qualify for a license, you’ll need to be assessed as competent in 19 specific units. The course can be completed at institutions like REIQ or Property Training Australia.
When you’re ready to apply, download the application for an individual’s real estate agent license from the Queensland Government website (available via Costs link, below). (Here you’ll also find a more detailed list of the suitability requirements.) The form must be lodged either by mail to the Office of Fair Trading (the address is on the application form) or in person at a Queensland Government Service Office.
Don’t forget, you’ll need formal identification and proof of your qualifications.
South Australia
In South Australia, real estate agents who want to run an agency are also referred to as Land Agents.
The minimum qualification for getting a real estate license in South Australia is the completion of CPP50307 Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management). You’ll need a total of 24 units, with the extra units focused on managing your real estate business. For example:
- Developing a strategic business plan
- Managing people performance
- Marketing your agency
- Managing budgets and financial plans
As in most other states, you’ll need a national police certificate and must meet financial probity requirements.
Applying for your real estate agent license in South Australia is as easy as filling out an online application (available via Costs link, below) and attaching the required documents.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian eligibility requirements for a real estate agent license state that you must:
- Hold a CPP50307 Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management)
- Have had two years full-time experience as a property manager or property representative during the previous five years before your application
- Be considered to be a fit and proper person
- Pay the relevant application fees
- Be prepared to undergo continuing education
You can complete the course through the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania.
The real estate license applications are managed by the Property Agents Board of Tasmania. When you lodge your application, you’ll supply evidence of your qualifications, details of your professional indemnity insurance, a National Police Record Check from Tasmania Police and details of your knowledge/experience/employment.
Victoria
Real estate licenses in Victoria are handled by Consumer Affairs Victoria. In terms of eligibility requirements, you must have:
- At least 12 months full-time experience as an agent’s representative in Victoria at any time during the last three years immediately before applying for a license
- Completed CPP40307 Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate)
You can complete the course through the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) or other providers like Box Hill Institute.
To apply for your real estate agent license online (available via Costs link, below), you’ll need to consent to a national criminal history and other records check, supply certified copies of your identification documents and a copy of your Victorian academic qualifications.
Western Australia
If you’re in Western Australia and you’re looking to operate as a real estate agent, you’ll need a real estate license and a current triennial certificate.
The triennial certificate is given at the time your license is granted and renewed every three years.
To be eligible to apply for a real estate license in Western Australia, you’ll need to show that you have sufficient financial resources to carry on the business as an agent. This means undergoing a credit history check and completing a confidential statement of assets and liabilities.
Also, you must have:
- Completed the CPP50307 Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management)
- At least two years of continuous full-time experience in the real estate industry immediately before applying for the real estate agent license
The application for a real estate license is available from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Once you complete the form and provide all your supporting documents (including an Australian police check, two references, a statement of experience and evidence of your educational qualifications), it can be lodged by post or in person at the Department’s Cannington office (or regional offices).
Northern Territory
Before you apply for a real estate license in the Northern Territory, you must advertise your intention to apply in the Northern Territory News. Members of the public have 14 days from the date of the notice to lodge an objection against your application.
To be qualified as a real estate agent in the Northern Territory, you must complete CPP50307 Diploma of Property (Agency Management) and undergo a police and probity check.
You can apply at Licensing NT Online. If you’re not a fan of online applications, you can also apply by:
- Fax
- In person
Download the application form from nt.gov.au or grab a form at your nearest Territory Business Centre.
Australian Capital Territory
Last but not least, we’ve arrived at the ACT. Here you’ll also need to notify the public of your application for a real estate agents’ license.
To be eligible for a license, you must have the required qualifications, experience (24 months) and not be disqualified. You’ll also need a police certificate issued by the Australian Federal Police.
What are the qualifications? Well you won’t be surprised to find that you’ll need to hold CPP50307 Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management). This diploma is offered through the Real Estate Institute of the Australian Capital Territory.
You can apply online at link below.
Go get your real estate agent license
A real estate license will let you open your own agency and be in control of your career. Be sure to thoroughly investigate the eligibility, qualification and experience requirements that you’ll need to be granted a real estate license in your state or territory.
If you have questions, contact the Real Estate Institute in your state or territory to get the right advice.
This post does not represent an endorsement of any of these courses or providers. Information was accurate as of publication date.
Leeha Debnam
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