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Mandatory CPD will be removed and replaced with ‘skills maintenance’, which would be prescribed on an 'as needs' basis, according to the newest Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) into national licensing.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Licensing Steering Committee Decision RIS, which was released on Friday afternoon, details in its 264 pages that CPD would be scrapped and replaced with a skills maintenance policy.
A spokesperson from the National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA) told Real Estate Business this was a move in the right direction, with the main aim being to remove irrelevant and forced training for more productive skills maintenance.
“The Decision RIS outlines a process whereby continuing professional development (CPD) is undertaken on an ‘as needs’ basis rather than requiring licence holders to undertake a mandatory number of CPD hours or points each year,” they said.
“There is provision for NOLA to set professional development requirements via a flexible and targeted approach that will relieve the burden of undertaking courses purely to build up required CPD hours rather than to gain essential knowledge.
“It is anticipated that the Property Occupational Licensing Advisory Committee (OLAC) will provide advice to NOLA on what professional development may be required in any given year.”
What are your thoughts on the removal of CPD in place for 'skills maintenance'? Tell us below.
However, the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) is not impressed with the change.
“There’s no mandated CPD as is the case in four states and territories and no certainty over how the licensing of commercial agents will operate,” REIA president Mr Bushby said.
“If COAG continues on this path, the biggest risk is to the consumer. I simply do not understand why the needs of the Australian public have not been taken into account in this process. The Decision RIS mentions consumers but then comments this is difficult to quantify and that they have been excluded from the analysis.”
According to NOLA, the Decision RIS is the final document to be released. However, industry professionals can contact their relevant state bodies for queries and further suggestions. A move the REIA is encouraging.
“I urge the state and territory treasurers to listen to industry and include consumers in their deliberations,” Mr Bushby said.
“The REIA board will meet to thoroughly analyse the contents of the Decision RIS but we are aghast that there is very little change between the Decision and the initial Consultation RIS.”
Your local contact point is below:
• New South Wales – NSW Fair Trading (click on 'Have your say')
• Victoria – Department of Treasury and Finance
• Queensland – Office of Best Practice Regulation or email:
• South Australia – Consumer and Business Services
• Western Australia – Register your interest at
• Tasmania – Property occupations: Consumer Affairs and Trading, 1300 65 44 99 or
• ACT – Limited consultation only
• Northern Territory – Department of Business
Once the state-based investigations are finished, the Decision RIS and state-based reports will be handed to the Standing Council on Federal Financial Relations, for a final decision.
To read the full Decision RIS, CLICK HERE.
