18 invaluable real estate and property management courses 

Article by PropertyMe 18 May 2022

Property Management courses and certifications are crucial for anyone who wants to get their start in the industry, or experienced professionals looking to advance their careers. 

According to data from IBISWorld, the market size of the Residential Property Leasing and Management industry in 2022 is $6.2 billion and this figure is only expected to grow. So, whether you’re looking to change careers, or have been working in Property Management for decades, the continued growth of the property market means there is plenty of opportunity within the sector for a successful career.

While some states in Australia have different requirements when it comes to formal licenses and qualifications, Property Management and Real Estate courses and certifications are the best way to give yourself legitimacy and help you stand out from the competition.

From Property Management certifications to Real Estate and management courses, we’ve compiled 18 of the best courses and certifications to help you on your professional journey in 2022 and beyond.

1. Certificate III in Real Estate Practice (CPP31519)

This qualification allows you to work in administrative or support roles in the real estate and property services industry, with roles including real estate agent office assistant, real estate sales assistant, assistant property manager or marketing and administration.

During this course you’ll learn how to:

• Use and maintain property and client information databases
• Meet customer needs and expectations in the property industry
• Identify risks to agency operations
• Maintain workplace safety

This course is currently offered by 53 training providers, such as TAFE NSW, with an average course duration of one year. Note that this course supersedes CPP30211 Certificate III in Property Services (Agency) and additional units may be required to apply for a certificate of registration with your industry body. 

2. Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419)

Completion of this course allows you to apply with your industry body to become a real estate agent, salesperson, buyer’s agent, stock and station agent, property manager, business broker or auctioneer, just to name a few.

With a mix of theory and practical coursework, you’ll learn to:

• Appraise property for sale or lease
• Build relationships with vendors, buyers, tenants and landlords
• Manage and end tenancies
• Conduct auctions
• Present at tribunals

It is offered by 53 training providers, such as TAFE NSW and the Australian Real Estate Training Centre, with an average course fee of $2,900 and an average duration of 11 months. 

You can search for training providers based on location here.

3. CPP51119 Diploma of Property (Agency Management)

If you already have some professional experience in the industry and are looking to become a Real Estate Principal, Agency Manager, Agency Director or Strata Management Principal, this course is a great investment in your future.

Throughout the course you’ll learn:

• Compliance and ethics
• Strategic business planning
• Branding and communication
• People management and leadership

The Diploma of Property (Agency Management) is currently offered by 12 training providers on the My Skills website with an average duration of one year. The average course fee for the diploma is $5,000. 

You can search for training providers based on location here.

4. National Real Estate Learning

National Real Estate Learning (NREL) delivers online real estate training for people in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. NREL is a nationally recognised registered training organisation, which currently offers 11 online real estate and business courses.

NREL courses range from entry-level courses, such as their Assistant Agent Course from $249 to their Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419) for $599 to their full license courses. You can find the full list of courses at the REAA website.

5. Real Estate Academy Australia (Multiple Courses)

Real Estate Academy Australia (REAA) offers online real estate courses across all Australian states that are nationally accredited and recognised. Due to the pandemic, the REAA had to transition all of their courses online, rather than in-person in their classrooms.

REAA currently offers 14 courses across Australia, including:

• Full Real Estate License Course (QLD)
• CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (QLD)
• NSW Assistant Agent Course
• QLD Resident Letting Agent License
• Plus more

You can find the full list of the REAA’s real estate courses at their website.

6. TAFE Real Estate Courses

If you’re looking for a hands-on Real Estate and Property Management course, then TAFE is the answer you seek. Although their offering varies from state to state, TAFE provides a range of courses in-person across their various campuses, virtually, and even allows traineeships for those who wish to learn on the job.

State-by-state breakdown of TAFE courses:

• NSW: Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419)
• VIC: Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419)

7. Deakin University Bachelor of Property and Real Estate

If you’re looking to advance your career in Property Management, then you might want to consider a bachelor degree from Deakin University. This Bachelor of Property and Real Estate is accredited by the Australian Property Institute (API) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The course can be taken online or at their campus in Burwood, Melbourne and will cost approximately $32,200. However, once you’ve completed the course you’ll be able to specialise in all facets of the property market, with roles including Property Valuer, Property Developer, Asset Manager, Property Advisor and Land Economist.

8. CIPS courses and designation

Offered by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) to members of the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) courses and designation are designed for experienced real estate professionals who are considering an international specialisation.

The CIPS course comprises two core courses, as well as three elective options. Once you have earned a CIPS designation, you will join the CIPS network of 2,800 real estate professionals from 45 countries. 

Required Core Courses:

• Global Real Estate: Local Markets
• The Business of US Real Estate (required course for non-US real estate professionals only)

Elective Options (3 from below):

• Europe & International Real Estate
• Asia/Pacific & International Real Estate
• The Americas & International Real Estate
• One Real Estate Advanced Practices (REAP) module from the Council of Residential Specialists

However, you can learn more about the CIPS courses and designation at their website.

9. Kaplan Professional online real estate courses

Kaplan Professional has a comprehensive range of state-based online real estate training for people in New South Wales and Victoria. These include online registration programs for those looking to kickstart their career in sales or Property Management, with subjects starting from $525. 

Courses include: 

• CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (NSW & VIC)
• Real Estate CPD Program (NSW)

10. PropertyMe training and quizzes

With more than 5,000 agencies in Australia and New Zealand on the PropertyMe cloud, it’s a good idea to brush up on your PropertyMe knowledge to add to your repertoire of real estate skills.

If you’re a current user, be sure to check out our Knowledge Base for hundreds of how-to articles and new releases, complete all the training and quizzes and trial new features using your demo portfolio.

If you’re looking to get into the industry and don’t have access to PropertyMe yet, there are many publicly-available blogs that can help you familiarise yourself with our features and workflows.

State-by-State Real Estate Registration, Licenses and Training

Each Australian state requires different registrations and licenses to operate, so we have compiled a state-by-state breakdown of the best training providers to kickstart your journey to obtaining your certificate of registration and professional licenses. 

NSW: Real Estate Institute of New South Wales

New South Wales real estate and property industry reforms came into effect on 23 March 2020. As part of the reforms, the licensing system was restructured into three levels:

• Certificate of registration as an assistant agent
• Class 2 licence as a licensed agent
• Class 1 licence as a licensed agent or licensee in charge of a business

A certification of registration is the starting point to becoming a real estate agent or property manager in New South Wales. After receiving a Statement of Attainment from the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW), you can apply for a certificate of registration as an assistant agent, which allows you to perform entry-level roles before transitioning to class 2 and class 1 licences. Learn more about changes to the Real Estate Training Package here.

Queensland: Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ)

The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) is the peak body representing real estate and property professionals across Queensland. They offer online and in-person training for a number of different real estate and property services courses ranging from entry-level to management.

Western Australia: Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA)

The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) offers in-person or online sales and property management courses for Western Australian residents who want to get started in the real estate industry. While the in-person course spans four consecutive days, you have four months from the enrolment date to complete your assessments.

Once you complete the course and receive your Statement of Attainment, you can then apply for your certificate of registration with DMIRS. Be sure to apply for registration within 12 months of course completion.

Tasmania: Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT)

The Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT) offers a range of real estate training including Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma of Property (Agency Management) and flexible individual qualification clusters for those who want to purchase smaller parts of a qualification separately.

South Australia: Real Estate Institute of South Australia

For South Australian residents, there are a number of sales and property management professional development courses available through the Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA). These include:

• How to comply with sales legislation
• The PMAP Principle
• Breaking the lease
• How to comply with property management legislation
• Everything you need to know about the management agreement
• Contract to settlement

Australian Capital Territory: Real Estate Institute of the Australian Capital Territory

The Real Estate Institute of the Australian Capital Territory (REIACT) has partnered with Real Mastery Consulting for real estate and professional development training. They have a number of different courses available including:

• ACT Certificate of Registration
• ACT Real Estate Licence Qualification
• ACT CPD Training

They also offer courses for those located in New South Wales and half or full-day niche skills courses on:

• Real estate management and leadership
• Sales strategies for closing the deal
• Retail leasing for residential and commercial agents
• Reception and administration management

Northern Territory: REINT real estate training

The Real Estate Institute of Northern Territory offers the following courses:

• Agents Representative Introductory Course
• CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice
• CPP51119 Diploma of Property (Agency Management)

Upon completion of the relevant course, you can apply for interim registration, a restricted licence or a full licence with the Agents Licensing Board (ALB). You can download the course information brochure and enrolment form here.

Alternatively, learn more about how to become a real estate, business or conveyancing agent in the Northern Territory here.

Victoria: Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV)

Similarly, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) provides online Zoom training for those who want to become an agent’s representative, licensed agent or licensee in charge. You can also undertake a range of different Compulsory Professional Development (CPD) courses.

Real Estate Agent and Property Manager FAQ

If you’re looking to become a Property Manager or Real Estate Agent but are not sure where to start, then you’ve come to the right place because we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions.

Property Managers

How much do property managers make?

According to PayScale, the average salary for an Australian Property Manager is $52,392, plus up to $11,000 in bonuses, commissions and profit-sharing arrangements.

What do property managers do?

Property Managers oversee the daily business operations of residential, commercial, industry and retail properties on behalf of owners and landlords. Duties include advertising properties, collecting rent, screening and vetting tenants, and organising maintenance and repairs.

Find out more about what property managers do here.

Real Estate Agents

How do I become a real estate agent in Australia?

Eligibility and requirements vary depending on your location, so be sure to check with your local government or industry body to see whether you’re eligible and what experience or units of competency are required.

Thereafter, complete your CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice or CPP40307 Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate) with a local Registered Training Organisation (RTO). This can be one of the Real Estate Institutes or you can search for a training provider on the MySkills website.

Your local RTO will be able to guide you and explain what units of competency and qualifications are required in your state or territory. Note that both courses are nationally recognised but CPP41419 will officially supersede CPP40307 on the 30th of September 2021.

After receiving your Statement of Attainment or qualification, you may be able to apply with your local industry body to become a real estate agent. Some states and territories will require you to have 1-2 years of experience in the industry before applying for a licence.

How much do real estate agents make?

On average, Australian real estate agents earn a salary of $48,000, plus bonuses and commissions worth $28,000.

What do real estate agents do?

According to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), “real estate agents offer a range of services depending upon the type of property they have been appointed to sell, lease or manage on behalf of an owner.”

Duties can include marketing the property, conducting open houses, seeking out prospective buyers and sellers, negotiating terms, facilitating settlements, preparing contracts and documents, networking, home staging and more.

Find out more about what real estate agents do here.

How many real estate agents and property managers are there in Australia?

There were approximately 120,000 people employed in the Australian real estate industry in 2011, 65,000 of which were business brokers, property managers, principals, real estate agents and representatives.

More recent data from IBISworld shows that there are now approximately 133,360 people employed in the real estate and property services industry in Australia. Meanwhile, another report shows that 41,000 people work in residential property leasing and management in Australia.

If you’re a current user, be sure to check out our Knowledge Base for hundreds of how-to articles and new releases, complete all the training and quizzes and trial new features using your demo portfolio.

If you’re looking to get into the industry and don’t yet have access to PropertyMe, then you might be interested in some further reading:

• Property management leads: 5 tips to attract owners
• Everything you need to know about the future of holiday rentals
• 50 real estate statistics every agent should know

Let us know your thoughts on 18 real estate and property management courses by emailing [email protected].