This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Western Australian government will continue to support mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) for real estate and settlement professionals but will no longer administer the program.
After the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (Consumer Protection) undertook a comprehensive industry consultation on CPD earlier in the year, changes will be introduced to the program.
First introduced in 2011, the CPD program aims to increase the knowledge, skills and professionalism of real estate and settlement agents by delivering ongoing education on relevant and necessary topics.
Consumer Protection will still support CPD but will no longer directly administer the delivery of the program, with property industry licensees now required to self-fund their own CPD activities, in line with other industries.
“Consumer Protection will continue to support the industry by determining broad CPD subject areas, providing educational materials and the Commissioner to retain the power to specify mandatory topics or activities on an ad-hoc basis,” said Sue Ellery, commerce minister.
As it stands, real estate agents are required to accumulate 10 CPD points and settlement agents six CPD points from both mandatory and elective training activities each year.
While the proposed changes will see the number of points required reduced to five points annually for both real estate and settlement agents.
Under the proposal, a 24-month transition period will begin from January 2024, in order to allow industry participants to adjust to self-funding and make changes to their CPD activities.
“Buying a home is the biggest investment decision many Western Australians will ever make, so it is vital industry participants are as informed and well-educated as possible,” added Ellery.
“It is pleasing to see broad sector support for a program that protects consumers and promotes consumer confidence in the real estate and settlement industries.”
