Your CPD Rules and Requirements

New South Wales

Architects should undertake a minimum of 20 hours of CPD each year, of which at least 10 hours must be
Formal CPD activity. In NSW, a one-hour activity is equivalent to one CPD point.

What is informal CPD?

Informal CPD activities include self-directed study and professional activities that relate to practice as an architect. They are in addition to activities already undertaken in the normal course of practice or employment. 


A maximum of two hours may be claimed for any one Informal CPD event.

Informal CPD activities are not 
required to include assessment or significant interaction between the presenter and the participant.

What is formal CPD?

At least 10 hours of CPD claimed annually must be Formal CPD.

Formal CPD activities are structured and relate to practice as an architect. They are in addition to activities already undertaken in the normal course of practice 
or employment.

What happens if an architect has not met the minimum CPD requirements?

Where an architect is not able to satisfy the Board that they have met their CPD obligations and where it is the Board’s view that no extenuating circumstances apply, this may be grounds for characterising the architect’s behaviour as unsatisfactory professional conduct, as defined by the Architects Act 2003.

More information see NSW Architects Registration Board

Different rules apply in different states.

New South Wales

As of 25 June 2019, The Commissioner’s Guidelines for Further Education under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003 (NSW) states all licensed conveyancers must complete five (5) points of professional development in the 12 month period following the granting or renewal of the license.

• The professional development must consist of :
  • an education program;
  • a seminar, workshop, lecture, conference or discussion group;
  • a multimedia or website based program; or
  • research and preparation of an article published in a legal publication; or
  • Any combination of two or more of the above
• The professional development must be of significant intellectual or practical content and must be relevant to conveyancing work.
• The professional development must be conducted by persons qualified in the subject matter to be covered.
• A licensed conveyancer is entitled to one point for each of the following:
  • one hour of participation in a course of education relevant to conveyancing work;
  • one hour of participation in a seminar, workshop, lecture, conference or discussion group;
  • one hour spent in the preparation of written or oral material forming part of the formal instruction for a course or program relating to conveyancing work;
  • for every 1000 words of an article published in a legal publication or other such publication (up to a maximum of 3 points);
  • for every two hours spent on a program of private study of audio or video material that has been developed as part of a conveyancing or legal further education program (up to a maximum of 3 points).
• A licensed conveyancer must certify that he or she has undertaken five (5) points of professional development in the 12 month period immediately prior to applying for renewal of a licence.

More information see Fair Trading NSW

Victoria

While it is not mandatory for a licensed conveyancer to complete CPD points in Victoria under the Conveyancers Act 2006, it is, however, a compulsory requirement for all licensee members of AIC Vic to complete ten (10) CPD points each year (1 October – 30 September).

5 of the 10 points (hours) must be from the Level 1 Education program and can be obtained in face-to face education through Legalwise. The other 5 points (hours) must be from the Level 2 Program.

Each member of the AIC Vic must provide evidence of completion of the CPD requirements to the office by 1 October each year for the preceding 12months

More information see AIC Vic.

The Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is the governing body that registers and regulates migration agents in Australia.

Effective 1 January 2018, to renew your registration as a migration agent under the Migration Act 1958, you must complete CPD activities worth a combined total of at least 10 points in the 12 months before you apply to re-register, unless you are the holder of an Australian legal practising certificate. The OMARA recommends you complete your CPD activities at least eight weeks before your registration expires.

• Migration agents in their second year of practice onwards, must:
  • complete at least one CPD point each year on either Ethics and Professional Practice or the Code of Conduct for RMAs; and
  • accumulate at least five (5) CPD points from Category A activities
  • claim no more than five (5) Category B activities each year
  • Agents in their first year of practice need to complete the Practice Ready Programme

Practitioners should ensure that individual Law Society requirements regarding mandatory subjects are met and should verify those requirements with their local Law Institute or Law Society.

More information see OMARA

These guidelines are published by the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (the Board) to assist registered attorneys to understand Continuing Professional Education (CPE) practise and procedure stated in the Patents Regulations 1991(Cth). These Australian regulations also apply to New Zealand-resident patent attorneys by virtue of section 271 of the Patents Act 2013 (NZ).

The CPE requirements set out in the Patents Regulations also apply to trade marks attorneys by virtue of regulation 20.14 of the Trade Marks Regulations 1995.

The overarching requirement provided by regulation 20.24 is that single-registered patent attorneys or trademarks attorneys must complete 10 hours of CPE activities every year. A person who is registered as both a patent attorney and a trade marks attorney must complete 15 hours of CPE activities every year.

The Board recommends that registered attorneys undertake a breadth of activities in any year, and there are a number of events/conferences that provide an appropriate breadth of activities. Patent attorneys should be aware that the trans-Tasman patent attorney regime requires patent attorneys to have knowledge and experience of IP law and practice in Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, irrespective of where they reside, patent attorneys should reflect this trans-Tasman requirement in their CPE activities.

For all registered attorneys, the Board believes that:

• Attorneys who hold a single registration shall complete at least 5 hours of CPE activities in the field of either patents or trade marks (depending on their specialisation).
• Attorneys who hold dual registration shall complete at least 5 hours of CPE activities in both fields of patents and trade marks (i.e. a total of 10 hours).
• All registered attorneys must include a minimum of 1 hour of professional conduct or ethics CPE activities.
• Up to 4 hours of CPE activities in other areas related to an attorney’s practice (e.g. commercialisation, innovation funding, designs, copyright, branding, licensing, etc.) can count towards maintaining professional competence.
• Within the 10-hour requirement, no more than 3 hours should be claimed for personal study (or no more than 4.5 hours of the 15 hour requirement for an attorney who holds dual registration).

More information see Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board.

Different rules apply in different states.

Australia Capital Territory

The Agents (Continuing Professional Development) Guideline 2008 (No 1) sets out a comprehensive continuing education program for agents.

Licence Conditions:

• the agent completes 12 points of continuing professional development in the 12 month period to the renewal of the licence for each year
• maintains a log and other records of continuing professional development in accordance with this Guideline; and
• produces this information to the Commissioner for Fair Trading or investigators appointed under the Fair Trading (Consumer Affairs) Act 1973 within a reasonable time after a request that the information be produced;
• real estate agents who hold a conditional licence to sell land by way of auction are not required to undertake continuing professional development under subparagraph (1) as a condition of their licence (refer paragraph 6)
• Note: It is a condition of a licence that the licensee satisfy the relevant requirements for continuing professional development as set out in this Guideline (Agents Regulation 2003, s 7A).
• Surplus points may be carried forward for 12 months. As some continuing professional development must be completed each year, a maximum of 11 points may be carried forward.

Continuing Professional Development Points

There are three categories of learning in relation to which points may be obtained for continuing professional development.

• Category 1
  1. includes self-paced learning which does not require formal assessment and does not have to be delivered interactively
  2. points for continuing professional development shall be calculated at the rate of half a point per hour of activity
  3. a maximum of two points can be obtained from category 1 each 12 month period; and
  4. only the hours of the actual presentations may be counted for seminars or conferences
  5. Typical examples of these types of activities include attending seminars, conferences and forums, watching videos, and on the job learning
  6. The content of the learning must be related to the work activities of the licensee or registered salesperson and provide an educational outcome.
• Category 2
  1. includes activities which do not require formal assessment but must be delivered interactively
  2. points for continuing professional development shall be calculated at the rate of one point per hour of the activity
  3. the continuing professional development may only be considered category 2 where the person delivering the training is competent to deliver the training
  4. examples of these activities include workshops, seminars, conferences, and forums where the learner is required to participate and the use of web-based tools and CD Roms where the learner is required to input responses
  5. This category also includes workshops or seminars organised and delivered by professionally qualified people including, but not limited to, lawyers, accountants, auditors, valuers or other renowned experts in a relevant field
• Category 3
  1. Category 3 continuing professional development involves undertaking an activity with a stated learning outcome with assessment. This should be one or more units of competency which contribute to a recognised qualification or learning pathway relevant to the property industry.
  2. points for continuing professional development shall be calculated at the rate of eight points per unit of competency
  3. the continuing professional development may only be considered category 3 where the person delivering the training is competent to deliver the training.
  4. The learning activities must be conducted by a Registered Training Organisation accredited to conduct training for the real estate sector. Where applicable, training providers must have any required Commonwealth and ACT accreditation requirements under the Australian Quality Training Framework

More information see ACT Government

New South Wales

It is a requirement under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 for licence and certificate of registration holders to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

A licensee or certificate of registration holder with a licence or certificate condition requiring continuing professional development must complete 12 points of professional development in the 12 month period immediately prior to the renewal due date of the licence or certificate, regardless of the number of licences held. Surplus points may be carried forward for 12 months. As you must complete some continuing professional development each year, a maximum of 11 points may be carried forward.

Continuing professional development in the broad learning areas specified below t may be undertaken from any of the learning categories listed below. However, if training is undertaken under learning category 1, it must be combined with training learning category 3.

Learning Category 1

• An activity with an identifiable learning outcome. The training must be delivered interactively such as by CD-ROM, workshops, a web-based tool, forums or conference presentation.
• Point Entitlement: one point per hour
• A maximum of four points can be achieved in learning category 1.

Learning Category 2 Withdrawn.

Learning Category 3

• Structured learning with an assessed learning outcome linked to either a relevant Australian university qualification or a relevant national training package outcome delivered by a registered training organisation; or
• an activity with an identifiable learning outcome delivered by an industry association, or a government agency.
• Point Entitlement: Three (3) points per hour

More information see Fair Trading.

Victoria

All Licensed and Representative members of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) are required to accumulate 48 CPD points over three (3) years (rolling) with a minimum of 12 points accumulated through REIV activity.

Members are required to vary their training over each calendar year and will not be eligible to accrue CPD points for any training that is the same or similar

CPD is compulsory for Representative and Licensed members only. Affiliate, Retired/Non-Practicing, Interstate, Life and Student members are not required to undertake CPD

A member will be required to maintain 48 points over 3 calendar years with a minimum of 12 points accrued through REIV activity.  The REIV will also accept, subject to approval, activity undertaken by a third party provider.    Members will be required to vary their training over each calendar year and will not be eligible to accrue CPD points for any training that is the same or similar.

More information see Real Estate Institute of Victoria

Queensland

The REIQ continuing professional development (CPD) program is the accreditation system used for acquiring and retaining REIQ membership. Members are required to complete at least 100 points of CPD training each year prior to 31 December, by each licensee of a REIQ accredited agency, or any individual member.

Those who do not undertake their CPD requirement in the prescribed time frame will not be entitled to renew their membership and thus unable to access the full range of REIQ member services.

More information see Real Estate Institute Queensland (REIQ)

Tasmania

The Property Agents Board (the Board), is the statutory authority responsible for property agents in Tasmania.

This policy applies to all licensed property agents who are licensed under the Property Agents and Land Transactions Act 2016 (the Act). However, if a property agent has been granted a licence after 31 March in any year, the requirement of CPD will be waived for the rest of that licence year.

REQUIREMENTS
A property agent must undertake a minimum of 8 points of Board approved CPD in each licence year (1 July to 30 June). An approved CPD activity can only be claimed once.

At least 6 of the 8 points of CPD must be directly related to the property agents industry and the property agent may use up to 2 points of approved CPD of a more general nature that is not necessarily directly connected to the property agents industry.

Further, a minimum of two points of CPD must be provided by an external provider. The term external provider means that the CPD Activity is delivered by a person external to the organisation

CPD may take several forms such as:

• training courses,
• workshops or symposiums
• distance professional developmental/education programs
• multimedia or website-based programs
• a conference or seminar including webinars
• other training types as approved by the Board

Mandatory or elective

CPD activity is categorised by the Board as either mandatory or elective.

The Board from time to time may require all property agents to undertake a CPD activity in a specific topic/issue for an allocated number of points. This type of training will be called a mandatory CPD activity. If the Board requires a mandatory CPD activity, it will specify what training is required and when it must be completed

More information see Property Agents Board of Tasmania

Western Australia

Each year, participants must obtain ten CPD points. Consumer Protection will review the needs of the industry annually. Mandatory activities are paid for by Consumer Protection*.

Participants are required to attend  mandatory activities each year that are relevant to their licence/registration in order to obtain the three (3) mandatory points required by the CPD program, with elective activities making up the rest of the required ten points.

Elective CPD

Elective CPD activities must be completed by licensed agents and registered sales representatives each calendar year.
In addition to the three mandatory CPD activities, agents and sales representatives must complete at least seven points of elective CPD activities in each calendar year, after the initial grant of the licence or certificate of registration.
CPD elective activities may take the form of training courses, seminars, workshops, and online courses. The cost of completing elective activities must be borne by the participant.
Only activities approved by Consumer Protection can attract CPD points. When choosing an elective CPD activity, participants need to be aware different types of activities attract points at different rates.
The activities listed have been approved by the Commissioner for Consumer Protection in accordance with regulation 4AA of the Real Estate and Business Agents Regulations 1979.

Learning Category 4 – “In-House” and Similar training

In each calendar year, metropolitan and regional participants are only permitted to have three elective points from Learning Category 4 activities counted towards the seven which are deemed necessary to be compliant with the CPD program requirements. Remote participants are allowed to claim six elective points per year from Learning Category 4 activities.

More information see Government of Western Australia – Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety