Frequently Asked Questions CPD
These frequently asked questions addresses common queries about the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements set by the Property Agents Board (the Board) and has been written to assist property agents to understand the Board’s policy and CPD requirements for the 2020-2021 renewal period.
Due to COVID-19 impacting some property agents having the ability to access training, the Board has changed the CPD requirements for this current licence year.
Below are some frequently asked questions which may assist in understanding CPD requirements for licence renewal for the 2020-2021 licence year.
CPD conditions are printed on your licence and on the application for licence (renewal) form under the heading “Conditions”.
Due to COVID-19 impacting some property agents having the ability to access training, the Board has changed the CPD requirements for this current licence year.
Below are some frequently asked questions which may assist in understanding CPD requirements for licence renewal for the 2020-2021 licence year.
CPD conditions are printed on your licence and on the application for licence (renewal) form under the heading “Conditions”.
What is CPD?
CPD is the means by which members of the property agents industry maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, as well as developing the personal and professional qualities needed throughout their careers.
CPD is the means by which members of the property agents industry maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, as well as developing the personal and professional qualities needed throughout their careers.
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How do I find out if a CPD activity has been approved?
The Board publishes an updated List of CPD Activities on its website. Please refer to this list to check if an activity has been approved or make an enquiry with the Board. Tip – use Ctrl F to search for a name, date or training provider. Do any of the 6 points of approved CPD need to be industry specific?
A minimum 2 CPD points must be directly related to the property agents industry or a course whilst more general in nature has been created for property agents only. Therefore, if you are only declaring the minimum 6 CPD points, the other 4 CPD points can be of a more general nature, called non-industry specific but must still be approved as relevant to the property agents industry. You can find out whether an activity is characterised as industry specific or non industry specific by referring to the List of Approved CPD Activities that is available on the Board’s website. Do any of the 6 points of approved CPD need to be non-industry specific?
No. In fact the preference of the Board is that all CPD undertaken is industry specific but appreciates that this may not be possible for all property agents at this time. Do any of my minimum 6 CPD points need to have an external training component?
For this renewal period there is no requirement that any of the 6 CPD points be provided by an external training provider. I attended a CPD training activity which has been approved for 6 CPD points and is characterised as industry specific.
Have I satisfied my CPD requirements in order to have my licence renewed by doing just this one CPD activity? Yes, as you have undertaken at least 6 CPD points and as the CPD has been characterised as industry specific, you have undertaken at least 2 industry specific points. It does not matter if the training is provided by an external or internal training provider for this licence renewal period. Do I need to submit evidence of completion of my CPD when I lodge my renewal form?
No, you just need to list the CPD undertaken. It is not necessary to submit evidence of your CPD, but the Board recommends that you keep evidence of your participation in an approved CPD activity for a period of two years. This ensures that you have evidence to provide to the Board if you are selected for a random audit of CPD. What if I have not completed 6 points of CPD by the time that I need to lodge my renewal form?
If you have not completed 6 points of approved CPD, there is a section within the application for licence (renewal) form that gives you an extension until 30 November 2020 to complete the required CPD. What sort of evidence is required to be provided by the Board if I have a CPD extension?
Evidence can include a certificate of attendance or some other confirmation from the training provider or a statutory declaration from you or another person who is in a position to provide a statutory declaration confirming that you attended the CPD activity. A list of the CPD activities that you undertook or information relating to your registration of a CPD activity is not evidence of attendance. Do I still need to complete CPD if I am licensed but not working in the property agents industry?
Yes, if you are licensed and seek to have your licence renewed, you must meet the CPD requirements on your licence. Can I count a training activity that I have already undertaken but it is not on the List of Approved CPD Activities?
The Board can exercise its discretion to approve CPD activities retrospectively. This will only apply in special circumstances and only to those CPD activities which are industry specific. Will everyone be audited?
No, the Board selects a random number of property agents to be audited at any one time. If selected for a random audit, you will need to ensure that you are able to provide evidence of what you have undertaken and completed all your CPD. Can the Board staff help me choose a CPD activity?
The CPD activity you wish or need to do is a personal choice. It is not appropriate for the Board staff to recommend a specific course. The Board’s role is to approve CPD activities and to make sure that you have met your CPD requirements. It does not have a role in assisting you to meet your CPD requirements by organising your attendance or going through the List of Approved CPD Activities or making enquiries with a training provider on your behalf. Keep reviewing the List of Approved CPD activities which is updated regularly to see if something is of interest to you and would advance your professionalism in the industry. Do a CPD activity that benefits you. How do I apply for a CPD exemption?
You can apply to the Board in writing and may need to supply additional documentation to support your request such as:
How long do I need to keep a record of the evidence of my CPD compliance?
The Board recommends that you keep evidence of your participation in an approved CPD activity for a period of two years. This ensures that you have evidence to provide to the Board if you are selected for a random audit of CPD. |
Does the Board have a record of how much CPD that I have completed during the year?
No, the Board’s role is to approve CPD and to record what CPD that you have declared on your renewal form to ensure that you have satisfied your CPD requirements. You may be well served to keep a hardcopy and/or electronic file of what CPD that you have undertaken to assist you in completing the CPD section of your renewal form. How many points are required in order for my licence to be renewed for the 2020-2021 licence year?
For those property agents who have the standard 8 points of CPD condition then, they must complete a minimum of 6 points of approved CPD activity. If you have another CPD condition on your licence please contact the Board for clarification about meeting your CPD requirements. What is industry specific and non industry specific?
A CPD activity is characterised as industry specific if the CPD activity has been created or is organised for the property agents industry and generally covers property industry topics. Industry specific CPD is important as the property industry is ever changing and expanding. As such, the Board considers that undertaking a variety of contemporary CPD activities assists in keeping up to date on trends and will allow a property agent to undertake their role in a more efficient and meaningful way. Non -industry specific CPD activities will be approved by the Board for CPD points if the CPD activity has relevance to the property industry; has a significant intellectual or practical content and provides a professional developmental outcome to the activity. I have undertaken 12 points of approved CPD which are characterised as non industry specific.
Have I met the CPD requirements for this year in order to have my licence renewed? No. In order to have your licence renewed at least 2 CPD points must be industry specific. Therefore, you will need to undertake 2 more industry specific CPD points which can be provided by an external or internal training provider. When do I need to complete my minimum 6 points of CPD?
You should have completed all of your CPD as you declare it in your renewal form. The last date for lodging your renewal form is 31 July 2020. What happens when I elect for a CPD extension to 30 November 2020 and is there anything else that I am required to do?
If you elect for a CPD extension to 30 November 2020, a CPD extension condition will be put on your licence that you must provide the Board with evidence of completion of your CPD by 30 November 2020. If I have done more than 6 CPD points. Can I carry over CPD points into the next licence period?
No. The Board commends your commitment and dedication to ongoing learning, however if a licence holder participates in more CPD activities than required in any one licence period, these excess points cannot be carried over into the next licence period. However, it is important to provide details of all approved CPD undertaken on your application for licence (renewal) form. The Board will consider past CPD in future requests for reduction or exemption of CPD in extenuating circumstances. I want to do a CPD activity that has not occurred, and it is not approved. What do I do?
Either a participant in an upcoming training activity or the training provider can request that future training activity be approved by the Board by using a Request for CPD Activity Approval form available on the Board’s website. What CPD should I do if I have a CPD extension?
There are many different approved CPD activities. Some approved CPD activities are “in house” but there are many external training providers that provide learning activities for any person to participate. The options available to obtain CPD points are limitless, many are available online (e-learning or webinar) some have a cost associated with the training while others are free. The title of the training activities on the Board’s List of Approved CPD Activities may also assist you in selecting suitable CPD for you. It might be helpful for you to engage with your colleagues to see what sort of training that they have undertaken and found beneficial. You must ensure that you do at least 6 approved CPD points and that at least 2 of those approved points are characterised as industry specific. Due to personal circumstances I have not been able to meet my CPD points requirements. Can I still apply for my licence to be renewed?
At the time of renewal, you need to make a declaration about your CPD points that you have completed in that licence period. However, you can apply for an exemption for meeting your CPD requirements and a full or partial reduction may be granted, but before doing this remember that you can have until 30 November 2020 to undertake CPD. How do I apply for a CPD extension or exemption?
You can apply to the Board in writing and may need to supply additional documentation to support your request such as:
Each application will be considered on its merits. I still don’t understand how I can meet my CPD requirements, what should I do?
Please contact the Board, we are here to assist you in understanding how you can meet your CPD requirements. |