Agencies - Accreditation Requirements & Forms for download

Accreditation Requirements

The accreditation criteria have been kept broad and sufficiently general to permit continued experimentation and development. Accreditation is granted to both estate agents and estate agencies (which employ accredited agents) that meet prescribed minimum criteria. Both the accredited agents and key decision-making staff of accredited agencies (ie. directors or CEO of agencies) will be responsible for maintaining professional standards and conduct as required under the accreditation scheme. The criteria for accreditation are given below:

Accredited Agencies

During the initial years of the implementation of the accreditation scheme, all accredited agencies must have at least 40% of their agent employees and associates admitted as accredited agents from 1 January 2006. The percentage was raised to 60% from 1 January 2007, 80% from 1 Jan 2008 and 100% by 1 January 2009, by which all accredited agencies would have been required to have all their agents accredited.

The Scheme’s requirement has since been revised from 11 April 2008 incorporating the Salespersons Scheme. By 31 December 2009, agencies must ensure that their active agents pass CEHA or the Common Examination for Salespersons (CES). From 1 January 2010, duly qualified agents must apply for individual accreditation either as Accredited Agents or Accredited Salesperson. With effect from 1 January 2011, accreditation can only be accorded to licensed agencies with agents who are either granted registration or interim registration (1 Jan - 31 Dec 2011).

Re-accreditation

Accredited agents or salespersons applying for re-accreditation are required to be active in continuing estate agency education and training and maintain a high level of involvement in estate agency activities. Accredited agents or salespersons must meet the requirements for accreditation for the renewal of accreditation.

From 1 May 10, the cost of re-accreditation is: