How do you get a real estate licence in NSW?

Who issues the licence and what are the levels?

NSW Fair Trading issues every real estate licence and certificate in the state, and applications go through Service NSW. There are three levels. The assistant agent certificate of registration is the entry point. The Class 2 licence makes you a licensed agent. The Class 1 licence is the top level. Each one comes with its own qualification, work experience and CPD rules, and you have to move through them in order, unless you already hold a licence or are applying for a Class 1 licence restricted to on-site residential property management.

An assistant agent works for a licence holder and is supervised by a Class 1 licensee in charge. You can do most of the work, but you cannot sign a contract for the sale of land, sign an agency agreement or authorise a trust account withdrawal. A Class 2 agent can sell, buy and lease property for clients, negotiate, and collect rent, deposits and bonds. A Class 1 agent can also act as licensee in charge, trade as a sole trader and run the trust account.

What do you need at each step?

For the certificate, you must be at least 16, pass the fit and proper checks (police and financial), and have finished the five core units of CPP41419 with a registered training organisation. The certificate runs for four years and cannot be renewed. If you have not moved up to Class 2 by the end of it, you must stop working as an assistant agent. You then cannot apply for a new certificate for 12 months.

For Class 2, you must be 18 or older and have held the certificate for at least 12 months. You also need 18 units of CPP41419: the five core units, five from Group A (residential sales), five from Group B (residential property management) and three electives. Your licensee in charge must sign off at least nine Part 1 tasks and five Part 2 tasks in the logbook over 12 months. For Class 1, you need two years on an unrestricted Class 2 licence, a Diploma of Property (Agency Management) such as CPP51122, and every Part 1 logbook task plus eight from Part 2.

What does it cost and how long does a licence last?

These are the 2026-27 fees, and they include the processing fee. A new certificate of registration costs $351, or $340 if you apply online, and covers four years. A new Class 2 licence costs $589 online for one year, $1,279 for three years or $1,969 for five. A new Class 1 licence costs $879 online for one year, $1,661 for three years or $2,442 for five. Applying online cuts the non-refundable processing fee by 10 per cent (for example, $27 off a new one-year Class 2 licence). Fees can rise with CPI each July.

You can take a licence for one, three or five years. Fair Trading sends a renewal email 60 days before expiry and a reminder 14 days out. To renew, you need your CPD details and evidence of professional indemnity insurance in your name or your employer's. Renewing a one-year Class 2 licence online costs $426. If your licence lapses, you have three months to restore it. After that, you have to apply again.

CPD and working interstate

The CPD year runs from 1 July to 30 June. In 2026-27, residential salespeople need at least 7 hours of interactive training from an approved provider. It covers four topics: auction laws, contracts, a rules of conduct refresher, and supervision with AML/CTF. Residential property managers also need 7 hours, including at least 4 hours on domestic and family violence. Class 1 holders need an extra 5-hour accredited forum. Assistant agents complete three Certificate IV units a year. If you miss your CPD, you risk suspension and a court penalty of up to $11,000.

Under automatic mutual recognition, an agent with an equivalent licence from another state can work in NSW after notifying NSW Fair Trading. They only need a NSW licence if they move their main home to NSW. Queensland does not take part in this scheme. Agents with a current equivalent licence from any other Australian state or territory, or New Zealand, can instead apply for a NSW licence under mutual recognition if their principal place of business is in NSW or within 50 km of the NSW border. Other overseas qualifications are not recognised this way.

Pay

AUD a year, before tax. The award rows are the official minimums in the Real Estate Industry Award 2020 (MA000106) from 1 July 2026, for 38 ordinary hours. The typical pay figures come from ABS Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), indexed to 2026. The NSW figure is modelled. Commission, area and level of licence move actual earnings a long way. Refer to the Real Estate Sales salary guide for figures from live adverts.

What you need

• AgeYou must be at least 16 for an assistant agent certificate and at least 18 for a Class 2 or Class 1 licence.
• Fit and proper personNSW Fair Trading runs police and financial checks. You are ruled out by a fraud or dishonesty offence in the last 10 years, a conviction under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002, or links to a declared criminal organisation.
• Entry qualificationTo get the certificate, you need the five core units of the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419) from a registered training organisation.
• Class 2 qualificationYou need 18 units of CPP41419 (5 core, 5 sales, 5 property management and 3 electives) and at least 12 months holding the certificate.
• Supervised work experienceYour licensee in charge signs off tasks in the evidence of work experience logbook. Class 2 needs at least 9 Part 1 tasks and 5 Part 2 tasks.
• Class 1 qualificationYou need two years on an unrestricted Class 2 licence, a Diploma of Property (Agency Management) and every Part 1 logbook task plus 8 from Part 2.
• Auctioneer accreditationA Class 1 or Class 2 licence does not let you run auctions. You need separate auctioneer accreditation for that.

How to get there

1. Before startingComplete the five core unitsEnrol in the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419) with a registered training organisation and finish the five core units.
2. Year 1Apply for an assistant agent certificateApply online through Service NSW ($340 online). You must then work for a licence holder under a Class 1 licensee in charge. The certificate lasts four years and cannot be renewed.
3. Year 1-2Finish the Class 2 units and logbookComplete 18 units of CPP41419 and get at least 9 Part 1 and 5 Part 2 logbook tasks signed off over 12 months. Each CPD year, you complete three units.
4. Year 2-4Apply for a Class 2 licenceOnce you have held the certificate for at least 12 months and are 18 or older, apply for a 1, 3 or 5 year Class 2 licence. You must do this before the certificate expires.
5. Year 2-4 onwardBuild toward Class 1Hold the Class 2 licence for two years, complete a Diploma of Property (Agency Management), and finish all Part 1 tasks plus 8 Part 2 tasks.
6. Year 4 onwardApply for a Class 1 licenceWith Class 1, you can act as licensee in charge, trade as a sole trader and run a trust account. You also have to attend a 5-hour accredited forum each CPD year.

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Sources

1. NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading): Real estate agent licence
2. NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading): Assistant agent certificate of registration
3. NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading): Property and stock agents fees
4. NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading): CPD requirements for property professionals
5. NSW Government: Automatic mutual recognition, property and real estate
6. Service NSW: Apply for a property licence under mutual recognition
7. Fair Work Commission: Real Estate Industry Award 2020 (MA000106)