I often get asked about becoming an estate agent and getting into the real estate industry here in Melbourne.
You want to know how to get your foot in the door and start working in the real estate industry in Victoria. It’s an exciting journey and one that can be highly rewarding. I’ll endeavour to clarify with experience, knowledge and provide some certainty around what you’re asking.
To work in real estate, we must first have the correct qualifications, which will allow us to apply to the government body regulator, Consumer Affairs. Consumer Affairs regulates the industry here in Melbourne and Victoria. They dictate the entry requirements. We then follow those requirements and design our training courses based on federal government standards and incorporate the legislative requirements of Melbourne and all of Victoria, so you obtain the knowledge and skills to start your career.
There are two pathways to take.
Agents Representative (Entry Level Course / Start Working In Real Estate)
I recommend pathway one to newcomers to the real estate industry start with the Agents Representative course, which is the entry-level course for Melbourne, and Victoria as a whole.
Becoming an agents’ representative allows you to be employed and act for a licensed estate agent (i.e. salesperson or property manager). It also allows you to perform any of the legal functions of that licensed estate agent, given you have written authority.
Consumer Affairs Victoria requires you to have completed the 18 unit CPP41419 – Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice.
These eighteen units make up our Agents’ Representative course. Once these units are completed, you will be given a certificate by Connect Skills Institute. You then take this certificate to your future employer and sit for an interview.
To be eligible to become an Agents’ Representative with Consumer Affairs Victoria, you must be over 18 years old.
The Agents’ Representative course can be completed online. For more information about our Agents’ Representative course, click here.
Estate Agent Licence (Fully Licensed / Work For Yourself / Operate Your Own Business)
Those who aspire to own and operate their own agency or work for themselves will complete the Diploma. You can start the CPP51119 Diploma of Property (Agency Management) at anytime. Keep in mind there are requirements to apply to Consumer Affairs.
To apply for the full estate agent license in Victoria, you must have:
18 units of competency for the award of the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419) (Agents Representative Course)
and
12 units of competency for the award of the Diploma of Property (Agency Management)
Alternatively you can also apply with 24 units of the Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) completed on or before 30 September 2021.
You must also have at least 12 months registered industry experience as an Agents Representative.
Connect Skills Institute is approved to deliver the CPP51119 Diploma of Property (Agency Management) course in Victoria.
This diploma can be completed online. For more information, click here.
We also offer recognition of prior learning (RPL) for those with relevant experience. This process can significantly reduce the workload. Maybe you have owned and operated a restaurant for ten years, or perhaps you are a builder, developer or a graduate and work in facilities management.
There are many areas in business life, blending those life skills into a real estate practice. You may be applicable. For information on RPL, click here.
Before you go…
Download your FREE Course Guide:
‘How to get started in real estate’
> How to apply to become a real estate agent
> Real Estate career pathways
> What is inside the course/educational requirements
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Real estate is represented by different people from all walks of life. The majority of people are school-age, young, mature or unemployed. They can be people wanting to start their own business. Although real estate is suitable for anyone at any age, the requirements to get into industry remain the same. The good news is that there are no prerequisites to undertake any real estate course in Melbourne or greater Victoria.
The team here at Connect Skills Institute are here to support you and your goals. All our courses include six months of support from myself after course completion as a bonus. I am personally available for all students to talk by phone, email, SMS and 30 min catch up for confidence when needed.
For further enquiries start a live chat with us here on our website or leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.
Until next time 🙂
The information contained in this blog post reflects the latest advice from Consumer Affairs at the date of publication.
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/licensing-and-registration/estate-agents/agents-representatives
Hi sir my name is Samim I like to study online real estate agent please call me
04——–
I’m new to the industry. May I please get some course information.
Thank you.
Michelle
Hi Michelle, thanks for your message. I will have one of our staff send you an email today 🙂
Hi,
I have done Agent Rep course and currently started working in Real Estate. Could you please advise what to do next in order to open my own company after 1 year of experience?
Thanks
A great question. Thanks for asking it.
So you are keen to open your own business. My advice is to take the time to learn and craft your skills in the industry first. But, if a person has a strong desire to be independent and you may have a unique idea to offer the marketplace, a new fresh service perspective, I think that is exciting and should be encouraged.
We don’t know who will eventually win or lose, pass or fail. What I do know it is important to dream and have a go in this life. To open a company, you can open that yourself via ASIC; there are minimum age limits to being a director and applying to be a licensed real estate agent. Please check out the regulator in your state or territory, e.g. Consumer Affairs Victoria.
By all means, speak to as many people as possible. Think of professionals such as reputable accountants and property lawyers. A lawyer focused on property law is the best bet. After obtaining your entry-level course, the next step is to work in real estate for at least one year full time – a minimum 34 hour week.
You will need to have completed both the CPP41419 Certificate IV and the CPP5119 Diploma in Property (Agency Management). Then you will apply for the estate agent licence with Consumer Affairs. Suppose a person in Victoria has worked using the statement of attainment with the three units of learning on it. In that case, they will also need to do the new agents representative requirement of CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice coming in on the 1st of October, 2021. Existing Agents Reps who have industry experience, prior qualifications are encouraged to apply for RPL which can shorten course length, especially for the CPP41419 Certificate IV.
Open up a company or operate as a sole trader with an ABN via the accountant, or you can save $ and apply via the ATO yourself. When starting a real estate office, it’s vital to be compliant from day 1. Essentially you will need to develop policy procedures and checklists to operate your real estate office. The first thing I recommend is the Agent rep course and start working in the industry, then imagine and think about your future real estate business in terms of the name and colours to use in your logo. Think of the logo and keep it simple. Tip: what you think is great may not resonate with the consumer. So do many versions, show your friends and family and get the response. Feedback is crucial. Be willing to make a change, but stay on track to what you want as well. It is a balancing act. Think of your codes or principles of conduct for your real estate office, management and staff. Why do this? If you put something in stone, in writing, there is a chance for you to see it and integrity to live up to it—guiding principles for a good business owner.
Hi John 🙂 It’s nearly one year for you. So 1 full year as an agent representative on the public register. https://registers.consumer.vic.gov.au/easearch
Check that out first John
Then enrol into the new Agent rep course CPP41419 and the new Diploma CPP51119
rod@connectskillsinstitute.edu.au
hi . ive worked in property industry for 30 years – as a developer/investor . I’d like to set up my own agency.
do i really have to do every single module of Certificate IV and also work as a agent rep for 12 months ?
Hi Guy,
Thanks for your enquiry.
You have two options here.
Complete the Agents Representative Certificate (18 units) and work for an agency for 12 months, complete the Diploma in that time frame as well and be eligible to become a fully licensed agent in Victoria.
Or, you go via the QLD Pathway which is a Full QLD real estate license and requires no experience to obtain it, plus you may be eligible for RPL Recognition of Prior Learning on most of the subjects as well based on your prior experience in the industry. Once you obtain the QLD Full license you could mutually recognise to Victoria.
Kind regards,