To own and operate a residential real estate agency, a real estate agent licence is required.   In Queensland, the Office of Fair Trading is the government agency responsible for real estate licensing under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 (PAMD 2000).  

There are a variety of licences which can be applied for under PAMD 2000.  For information about other licences, click here.   The National Real Estate Licensing Scheme, which will mean the real estate licences will be transferable, starts 1 July 2012.

QUEENSLAND REAL ESTATE AGENT LICENCE

The Queensland real estate agent licence allows you to:  

• own or manage a real estate agency buy, sell, exchange or rent houses, businesses, land or any interest in these
• negotiate for the buying, selling, exchanging or renting of houses, businesses or land
• show property to potential buyers
• inspect and assess property for sale or rent
• advertise a property for rent or sale (includes setting up signs)
• open up a property for inspection for sale or rent
• manage an apartment complex and sell any units independently, without having to work through an established agency
• operate a trust account on behalf of sellers and buyers
• buy, sell or exchange livestock or an interest in livestock.

You cannot:

• auction property.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a real estate agent licence, you must:

• be 18 years or over
• be a suitable person
• have at least one place of business in Queensland
• have completed the required training units through a registered training organisation.

An individual is considered suitable if they:

• are not bankrupt
• have not been convicted in the previous five years of a serious offence which is punishable by 3 or more years imprisonment, such as:
  • fraud and dishonesty
  • drug trafficking
  • extortion
  • arson
  • unlawful stalking
  • violence or the threat of using violence
  • any offence of a sexual nature
• are not disqualified from holding a licence or registration certificate
• are not recorded in the register of disqualified company directors under the Corporations Act 2001.

If you are not an Australian citizen, you need to provide an international passport to complete the check on your working visa. Your visa must state that you can work in Australia. You must also provide written advice from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to explain any conditions on your visa.

Training requirements

Note: If you have held a comparable real estate agent licence within two years of applying for the licence, you do not need to complete the training requirements.
To qualify for this licence you must complete these subjects from the industry-recognised Property Development and Management Training Package:

• PRDRE09A Implement and monitor financial systems
• PRDRE10A Manage agency risk
• PRDRE11A Provide property appraisal
• PRDRE12A Establish and expand client base
• PRDRE13A Obtain property listings
• PRDRE14A Market property
• PRDRE15A Undertake property sale by private treaty
• PRDRE16A Monitor sales process
• PRDRE18A Lease property
• PRDRE19A Provide property management services
• PRDRE22A Present and explain property reports
• PRDRE26A Conduct property sale by auction
• PRDRE28A Maintain trust account
• PRDRE30A Implement personal marketing plan
• PRDRE37A Perform and record property management activities and transactions
• PRDRE39A Prepare and execute documentation
• PRDPOD62A Clarify and confirm property information requirements.

Alternatively, you can complete these units from the Property Services Training Package endorsed by the National Quality Council:

• BSBSBM406A Manage finances or BSBSMB406A Manage small business finances
• CPPDSM4003A Appraise property
• CPPDSM4005A Establish and build client-agency relationships
• CPPDSM4006A Establish and manage agency trust accounts
• CPPDSM4007A Identify legal and ethical requirements of property management to complete agency work
• CPPDSM4008A Identify legal and ethical requirements of property sales to complete agency work
• CPPDSM4009A Interpret legislation to complete agency work
• CPPDSM4010A Lease property
• CPPDSM4011A List property for lease
• CPPDSM4012A List property for sale
• CPPDSM4013A Market property for lease
• CPPDSM4014A Market property for sale
• CPPDSM4015A Minimise agency and consumer risk
• CPPDSM4016A Monitor and manage lease or tenancy agreement
• CPPDSM4018A Prepare and present property reports
• CPPDSM4019A Prepare for auction and complete sale
• CPPDSM4022A Sell and finalise the sale of property by private treaty
• CPPDSM4046A Manage tenancy disputes
• CPPDSM4080A Work in the real estate industry.

Registered training organisations

Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ)
Professional Real Estate Training (PRET)
Property Training Solutions  (PTS)

To apply for a real estate agent licence:

• meet the eligibility criteria
• complete the training requirements and attach proof of qualifications
• complete PAMD Form 1-1 and notes – Application for individual licence (PDF, 624 KB)
• provide originals or certified copies of your birth certificate, birth extract, passport, Australian citizenship certificate or drivers licence (see below for advice on getting certified copies)
• pay the licence fee of $1091.80 for one year or $2044.55 for three years
• pay the criminal history check fee of $35.50 lodge the application (see the application form for lodgement details).

CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS
Applicants must undergo a criminal history check to confirm their suitability.
The criminal history check costs $35.50 (which includes $1.13 GST) for each person who appears on the application form. The fee applies to all applications and renewal notices.

Processing time

Processing time is 4-6 weeks. However, it can take longer if we need to contact you for missing information or fees.
The processing time may be up to six weeks because the criminal history check process, handled by Queensland Police, is thorough and time consuming.

Making the process quicker

• Send certified documents:  Take the original document and a copy to a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, solicitor, barrister or a Notary Public. They will stamp and/or sign the copy and write ´This is a true copy of the original document´.  The Department of Justice and Attorney-General has a list of JPs in your area. Otherwise, contact your local post office, courthouse, bank, shopping centre manager or pharmacy.  Please note that a photocopy is not a certified document.

• Pay all criminal history check fees:  Remember to pay a separate fee for yourself and each person on the application form.

REFUNDS FOR UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS
Your application fee is non-refundable, but any unused criminal history check fees will be refunded.

For more information about a career or business in real estate, keep an eye on www.cobire.com for all your questions answered.  Or contact Robbie Clarke at Ray White on rclarke@raywhite.com or 0412 385 106.