Who issues real estate licences in the ACT?
Access Canberra registers assistant agents and licenses agents under the Agents Act 2003. The Commissioner for Fair Trading decides whether to refuse an application. Real estate agents act for others to sell, buy, lease or manage property. A full agent licence that has no conditions also lets you hold trust money and employ salespeople. Agent licences come in two classes, class 1 and class 2. Every licensee in charge of a real estate business must hold class 1.
There are also two conditional real estate licences. One covers land auctioneers only, and those agents cannot employ assistant agents. The other covers managing an owners corporation. Once your licence or registration is granted, your name goes on a public register.
Starting out: assistant agent registration
An assistant agent works for a licensed agent and provides real estate services. Every assistant agent must be registered and employed by a licensed agent before working in the ACT. Registration covers selling or letting property, running inspections with buyers or tenants, passing on offers, negotiating sales, taking deposits or expressions of interest, and doing pre-listing and rental inspections.
The qualification is the 5 core units of CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice. Your training must be based on ACT law. If you train interstate, your statement of attainment or a letter from the provider has to show it covers ACT law. Only individuals can register. Registration as an unqualified assistant has been phased out.
Getting a full agent licence
To hold an agent licence you must be 18 or older, hold the qualification set for that licence type, and not be disqualified. The qualifications for each type are set in the Agents (Qualifications and Experience for Licences) Declaration 2022 (No 1). You can apply as an individual, a partnership or a corporation. Each partner must meet the criteria. For a corporation, no director can be disqualified, and at least one director must already hold the same kind of licence.
Licensed agents must either keep a trust account at an authorised deposit-taking institution in the ACT or hold a written exemption. If you held trust money during a financial year, a qualified auditor must audit your trust records by 30 September.
Applying, renewing and moving from interstate
You apply online, upload proof of your qualification and identity (one primary and two secondary documents), add a police certificate issued in the last 2 months, and pay the fee. Assistant agents also need a passport-quality photo. Access Canberra publishes your application, and if nobody objects within 10 business days, it grants the licence or registration.
At renewal you choose a 1-year or 3-year term, and you must complete continuing professional development as a condition of renewing. Every renewal needs a name-only police certificate from the Australian Federal Police or the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. Interstate agents and assistant agents can work in the ACT under Automatic Mutual Recognition, except those licensed in Queensland.
Pay
AUD a year, before tax. Award rows are the official Real Estate Industry Award 2020 (MA000106) minimums from 1 July 2026, based on a 38-hour week. The typical figures are estimates from ABS Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), moved forward with a wage index, and the ACT figure is modelled. Commission, the type of role and your agency all change what you actually earn. Refer to the Real Estate Sales salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- AgeYou must be at least 18 for both assistant agent registration and an agent licence.
- Assistant agent qualificationThe 5 core units of CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice, based on ACT law.
- Agent licence qualificationEach licence type has its own qualification, set in the Agents (Qualifications and Experience for Licences) Declaration 2022 (No 1).
- Police certificateIssued within 2 months of applying. Renewals need a name-only certificate from the AFP or ACIC.
- Proof of identityAt least one primary and two secondary documents. Assistant agents also supply a passport-quality photo.
- Not disqualifiedGrounds for disqualification include dishonesty offences, bankruptcy in the past three years and mental incapacity.
- Employment (assistants)An assistant agent must be employed by a licensed agent to work in the ACT.
How to get there
- First stepComplete the 5 core unitsStudy the 5 core units of CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice with a provider that teaches ACT law.
- Month 2-3Register as an assistant agentApply to Access Canberra with your statement of attainment, ID, photo, a recent police certificate and the fee. After the 10-business-day public notice, the registration is granted.
- Year 1 onwardsWork under a licensed agentDo sales, leasing or property management work for a licensed agent, and complete CPD before each renewal.
- When qualifiedQualify for an agent licenceFinish the qualification the Declaration sets for the licence class you want, then apply for a class 2 or class 1 licence.
- Later careerRun an agencyHold a class 1 licence if you will be the licensee in charge, and set up a trust account or get an exemption.
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Questions people ask
How much does an ACT real estate licence cost?
For 2026-27, ABLIS lists the agent licence application or renewal fee at $1,120 for 1 year or $3,376 for 3 years. Access Canberra lists the 2026-27 assistant agent registration fee at $332 for 1 year or $1,003 for 3 years. If you choose 3 years, you can pay it all at once or in yearly instalments.
What is the difference between a class 1 and class 2 licence in the ACT?
ACT agent licences come in class 1 and class 2. Anyone who is the licensee in charge of a real estate business must hold class 1. The Agents (Qualifications and Experience for Licences) Declaration 2022 (No 1) sets the qualification for each class.
Can I do property management as an assistant agent?
Yes. Registration covers letting property and rental inspections, as well as sales work. You must be employed by a licensed agent while you do it.
Can I use my interstate licence in the ACT?
Real estate agents and assistant agents licensed elsewhere can usually work in the ACT under Automatic Mutual Recognition, but you must notify Access Canberra first. This does not apply if you are licensed in Queensland. If you apply for mutual recognition instead, only individuals are eligible, and Access Canberra checks with your home regulator for any restrictions on your licence.
Do ACT agents have to do CPD?
Yes. Completing continuing professional development is a condition of renewing both agent licences and assistant agent registrations. The requirements are set out in the Agents (Continuing Professional Development) Guideline 2022 (No 2).
How long does approval take?
Access Canberra publishes every application before deciding it. If nobody objects to the Commissioner for Fair Trading within 10 business days, the licence or registration is granted.
Sources
- Access Canberra: licensing for business, real estate and stock and station agents
- Access Canberra: assistant agent registrations
- Access Canberra: business, real estate and stock and station agent licence fees
- ABLIS: real estate, stock and station or business agent licence (ACT)
- ABLIS: assistant agent registration (ACT)
- Access Canberra: interstate occupational licences and registrations
- Fair Work Commission: Real Estate Industry Award 2020
