A quality real estate education will provide you with a wide choice of interesting career roles in an industry which is constantly growing and developing. Some of the important roles in your future may include home sales, home buying as a buyers agent, commercial and rural property sales, property management, auctioneering and specialist property consulting.

Let's take a look at some of the educational requirements for a professional real estate career in New South Wales.

Certificate of Registration

The very first step of your real estate career is to complete the NSW course in property practice which is required by the New South Wales Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The successful completetion of this course leads to a Certificate of Registration and this qualification will allow you to find employment in the areas of sales or property management for a real estate agency in NSW.

The course includes the following modules:

Work in the real estate sector

Prepare for work in the property industry

Communicate effectively and accurately with clients

The NSW course in property practice must be delivered by an approved registered training organisation (RTO) and students may be able to choose their own mode of study. For example some course providers can offer students a consecutive 3 day seminar course or you may choose to complete the course subjects by distance education at your own pace within a 3 month period.

NSW Real Estate Agents Licence

The next step in your real state career path involves obtaining your NSW Real Estate Agents Licence. This qualification will allow you to qualify for more responsible career roles and even allow you to manage your own real estate agency.

The real estate licence course consists of 17 units which are recognised nationally. These include the 3 units from the NSW Course in Property Practice which you would already have completed if you hold a current NSW Certificate of Registration. Some registered course providers will allow you choose to complete this course as an intensive program, an after hour workshop program, or instead by flexible distance education.

Continuing Professional Development

Both certificate and licence holders are also required to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) course subjects before qualifications are renewed each year in order to keep their professional qualifications up to date.

Continuing Professional Development subjects must be also delivered by a registered training organisation and students may be able to select different modes of study such as 1 day workshops, half day workshops or distance education. These flexible study options make it very easy for the busy property professional to complete their CPD units of study at a time or place that suits.

Continuing Professional Development subjects are assessed based on demonstrated competency in the subject. After being assessed as competent the CPD student will receive a Certificate of Completion for that subject. Note that records of training must be kept by the student for a minimum of 3 years.