WA agents, have your say on changes to real estate CPD

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15 February 2023

The Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has announced it will be undertaking a review of the current real estate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.

A consultation paper based on an internal review by Consumer Protection has been published for public consideration.

WA DMIRS reports that the review found:

  1. The current model for the mandatory CPD program as administered and funded by Consumer Protection is no longer financially sustainable.

  2. There are significant costs associated with enforcing compliance with the current CPD requirements.

  3. There may be other more cost-effective options for achieving the objectives of the CPD program.

  4. Consultation should occur on two potential alternative options for CPD:

    1. Continue to make CPD a mandatory requirement under the legislation but consider amending the current requirements to remove Consumer Protection’s role in the administration and funding of the delivery of the CPD program.

    2. Cease to mandate CPD under the legislation and allow industry to continue the program on a voluntary basis.

The consultation paper discusses the alternative options to the current CPD Program for providing for professional currency in the property industries in Western Australia (WA), which include:

  • Option A – Retain the current mandatory CPD program, as approved by Consumer Protection and funded by cost recovery from industry through an increase in licence fees.

  • Option B – Retain CPD as a mandatory requirement with some prescribed topics and potentially fewer overall units. Consumer Protection will no longer approve detailed course content and fund the CPD program.   

  • Option C – Remove mandatory CPD as a legislative requirement. 

The survey will only be open until Wednesday 15 March 2023

WA DMIRS reports on the issue as follows:

Continuing Professional Development review

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD program) seeks to increase the knowledge, skills and professionalism of real estate and settlement agents by delivering ongoing education on relevant and necessary topics. The aim of CPD is to make licensees aware of their licence obligations to protect consumers and promote consumer confidence in the real estate and settlement industries. 

Since 2011, Consumer Protection (CP) has funded the mandatory units for real estate agents and the mandatory and prescribed elective units for settlement agents from the industry Education and General Purpose (E&GP) accounts created under the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 (REBA Act) and the Settlement Agents Act 1981 (SA Act).  

There has been a significant drop in the amount of interest generated by the industry E&GP accounts since the 2019–2020 financial year, resulting in a subsequent drop in total revenue. This has put significant pressure on the funding of CPD. Consequently, an internal review of the CPD program was undertaken as a priority in 2022.

The purpose of the consultation paper is to consult on proposals arising from an internal review conducted by CP of the CPD Program. 

Have your say:

Provide your feedback by:

  • online survey

  • email the consultations team 

  • post submissions to: 
    Review of Property Industries Continuing Professional Development Program
    Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
    Consumer Protection Division
    Locked Bag 100
    EAST PERTH  WA  6892