News

 MANDATORY  QUALIFICATIONS  FOR  PROPERTY  PRACTITIONERS:

From 1 July 2024, the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in South Africa implemented the new standards for education and training in the real estate sub-sector.

Some key changes:

New Qualification: Occupational Certification [OC]:  NQF level 4 Real Estate {SAQA ID 118714} … replaces the ‘Old’ Legacy:  Further Education & Training Certificate [FETC] NQF level 4 Real Estate qualification (SAQA 59097)

1. IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE COMPLETION DATE FOR REAL ESTATE QUALIFICATIONS
   On 11 June 2026, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Bhuti Manamela, announced transitional arrangements necessitating the full implementation of occupational qualifications and the phased discontinuation of various legacy (pre-2009) qualifications.The Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) welcomes this announcement, as it does not adversely affect the real estate sector. On the contrary, it provides both current and prospective property practitioners with an opportunity to enrol for, complete and submit proof of completion of the relevant qualifications, together with statements of results, to the PPRA.
   This will enable them to proceed with the Professional Designation Examination (PDE) within the prescribed regulatory timelines. It should be noted that the existing prescribed regulatory timelines for the completion of qualifications and the PDE remain unchanged.

    

   The announcement, however, has implications for certain real estate qualifications required for practice in the property sector, as outlined below:

   • Legacy National Certificate in Real Estate – NQF Level 5 (Qualification ID 20188): The cut-off date for enrolment in this qualification remains 30 June 2026. Property practitioners who intend to enrol for this legacy qualification are therefore urged to do so urgently with an accredited Skills Development Provider. Accreditation status may be verified on the Services SETA (www.serviceseta.org.za) or QCTO (www.qcto.org.za) websites. Failure to enrol by the stipulated deadline will require affected practitioners to transition to the new occupational qualification framework.
   • Legacy Further Education and Training Certificate: Real Estate – NQF Level 4 (Qualification ID 59097): The enrolment period for this legacy qualification has been extended by a further 24 months, from: 30 June 2026 to 30 June 2028. This extension is welcomed and is a positive development for the property sector. However, it does not amend the prescribed regulatory requirement for candidate and non-principal property practitioners to complete an NQF Level 4 qualification. Instead, it provides practitioners with the option to complete either this legacy qualifications or the Occupational Certificate: Real Estate Agent – NQF level 4 (Qualification ID 118714)

   The PPRA encourages all affected stakeholders to act promptly to ensure compliance with the stipulated requirements.

2. The New OC ID 118714 consists of:  3 modules that must be completed over a period of 12 months from date of first issue of a Candidate’s Fidelity Fund Certificate [FFC] and as from:  1 July 2024 … namely:

• Knowledge
• Practical
• Work Experience

3. Write and Pass an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) exam to earn accreditation for the qualification.  [This exam is written only twice each year:  March and October] – Bookings for these dates must be made 3 months prior to each exam
4. Professional Designated Examination [PDE] after completing the EISA exam , Candidates register with the PPRA to write the [PDE] to become a Non-Principal Property Practitioner.

These changes aim to enhance professionalism and consumer protection in the Real Estate Industry.

PPRA Official Notice issued:  18 June 2026 →  IMPORTANT-UPDATE-ON-THE-COMPLETION-DATE-FOR-REAL-ESTATE-QUALIFICATIONS (2)