Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any of the questions below to reveal the relevant answers. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with us.
I am not yet in the industry; how do I become a Property Practitioner/ Full Status Estate Agent, and can I start studying before I am employed?
Yes, you can start studying certain courses before becoming a Candidate Property Practitioner/ Intern Estate Agent. For example, your Logbook Knowledge course, NQF level 4 in Real Estate, and Skill-enhancing courses. This will also beef up your CV and get you one step ahead before you join. The steps are listed in this video:
How do the courses work at PropAcademy?
You register for the course and get started once payment reflects. When you order your course, you create an online profile where you will log in to start your course. You will then start with M1 and work your way systematically down the list. Your course has learning material, and depending on the course; we offer videos, quizzes and resource material for you to use. We support you throughout your course. Once completed, you will receive your certificate of achievement. Each course has a course duration and will expire.
How should I prepare to start my online studies?
Do you offer payment plans?
YES! When you register for a course, you will get to the billing page and need to choose a payment option, EFT, Debit or Credit Card. Further to this, PayJustNow offers interest-free loans (we cover the fees, not you) to anyone who qualifies. These fees are payable over 3-month instalments.
Who must hold an FFC?
Any person who is dealing in property for gain. https://www.propacademy.co.za/who-needs-a-ffc/
Description: Any natural or juristic person who deals in property for gain. A primary residence is excluded.
Where a developer/managing agency/auctioneer and other industries that now fall under the definition of Property Practitioners are trading and require an FFC to be paid commission, can they apply for an exemption so that they can receive their commission payments?
No. All natural and juristic persons who fall under the definition of Property Practitioner/ Estate Agent must hold an FFC. To hold an FFC, they must open an Agency Firm and have a Principal Property Practitioner in place.
Do administrative staff now have to apply for an FFC?
No. If the staff member is not liaising with the public to sell or lease a property, then they do not require an FFC.
Do I have to get an FFC and comply with the PPRA/EAAB?
Any person who is dealing in property for gain. This will include individuals who for example are letting their properties through Airbnb.
If you applied for an FFC after 1 February 2022, and you haven’t received it, are you meant to re-apply now through the PPRA/EAAB for it to be issued within 30 days?
Within 30 days from the date of application, the Authority must consider any application that meets the requirements. It is deemed to have been accepted unless the Authority, within those 30 days, advises the applicant of a reason required for an extension on good grounds. This extension may not exceed 20 working days. Should the applicant not supply all application requirements, then the 30 days will start again from when they supply all required documents and proof of payment.
Exemptions are allowed for non-compliant agents or agents that could only previously comply by paying a penalty to The Authority. Is this now waived and can I apply for my FFC?
Yes. From the date that the Act was effective, 1 February 2022, any non-compliant agent can apply for their FFC and will not be charged penalties for past offences as long as those offences did not include any offence whereby it is legislated that FFCs may not be issued, such as being in liquidation. If a person is wanting to apply for their FFC where in the past they incurred penalties for not de-registering, or for trading without an FFC, penalties will be waived
Fidelity Fund Certificates (FFCs) are now valid for 3 years. When do we have to apply?
Property Practitioners/Estate Agents holding a valid FFC must apply for a 3-year FFC on the renewal date, end of October each year.
The PPRA/EAAB FFC Renewal fee is too high, they mentioned a payment plan, is this still available?
No, they decided not to offer it. You need to pay EFT or credit card, upfront.
How do I renew my FFC?
Please explain the FFC renewal process.
When I renew for 3 years, if I leave during this period, will I be refunded?
There is no provision in any legislation or policy which allows the practitioner to get a refund.
I paid for my 2022 FFC in the middle of October 2021, but still haven’t received anything yet – even after a few queries and sending proof of payment to the PPRA/EAAB.
Unfortunately, our hands are tied, and we cannot source your FFC for you, but we can refer you to a firm that gives this service.
Do I understand correctly that my Agency doesn’t have to pay for their FFC, only the Principal and Practitioners/ Agents do?
Yes. The Firm or business practitioner does not have to pay any FFC fees because of the legislation which provides that only natural persons pay for FFCs.
I am a Principal for a few Agencies, do I have to pay for Principal FFC renewal multiple times under each Agency?
Yes.
Who is the deadline for?
What if I don’t comply in time?
As per the PPRA/EAAB notice, non-compliance means that your FFC will be blocked. You will need to pay a minimum penalty of R1000, submit a completed application form, and if granted, your FFC will be unblocked and a further 6 months will be given to the Property Practitioner/Estate Agent to fully comply with the PPRA educational requirements. If you do not comply, your FFC will be disqualified.
How do I qualify as a Property Practitioner/Estate Agent?
If a Property Practitioner/Estate Agent has been in the industry since 2012, do they have to produce an intern logbook?
If the agent held an FFC for a full year before Jan 2013, he does not have to complete his Intern Logbook PoE.
How long is the internship?
It takes 12 uninterrupted months to complete, during which period you complete an Intern Logbook Portfolio of Evidence (PoE), showing that you have been active in the field and have acquired knowledge of Real Estate. We advise that you complete your NQF4 in this period too, to avoid delays with compliance.
Can I complete this online?
The training material will be available online for you to complete, however, the purpose of the internship is to give you hands-on training in the workplace under the mentorship of a Principal Property Practioner/Estate Agent or a Property Practitioner/Estate Agent that has been qualified for at least 3 years. All the collected information you acquire during your training must be filed in your PoE. If you are new to online learning, click here to learn how to prepare for your online Real Estate course.
What does your Premium Residential Intern Logbook look like once you have logged in?
Do I get a certificate for each Knowledge Module that I do i.e. Modules 3 to 17?
Every time you complete quizzes 1-17 you receive an email showing your results. Print this and put it on the top of your module. Please check that these emails are not blocked by your server or sitting in your junk mail.
I have completed my quizzes, how do I print them?
You cannot print the quizzes, only the results.
Do I get a full certificate once I have finished?
Once you have completed Modules 1-28 you will be able to download your certificate by logging in and clicking on View Profile, then clicking on the certificate icon next to the course completed. Print and place on the top of your file. If submitting electronically, make sure this is the first page the PPRA/EAAB sees.
I have finished my PropAcademy Logbook, can you check it?
We do not check the logbooks before your submission, you just need to make sure you have completed the logbook course from start to finish.
When is my Logbook due at the PPRA/EAAB?
You need to submit your Logbook to the Authority 12 months from your first FFC issue date, no sooner.
How do I submit my PropAcademy Logbook course to the PPRA/EAAB?
Your Logbook can be submitted by delivery to The Authority’s physical address or via email to [email protected] or [email protected]. We suggest that when you send your email, you send your file via wetransfer or another platform if you choose the email option, and just share the link with them. Watch a short clip here on how to use wetransfer. Please give them your information, name, surname, FFC number and a short paragraph regarding your submission.
After my internship am I a qualified Property Practitioner/Estate Agent?
No. You will remain a Candidate Property Practitioner/Intern Estate Agent until you have been found competent in your Logbook, NQF4 and Professional Designation Exam Level (PDE) 4 which is set by the PPRA/EAAB.
Why do different training providers have different conditions for RPL4?
SSETA set standard requirements that need to be met to qualify for RPL, if you don’t meet their requirements, then you do not qualify for RPL and risk losing your hard work when it comes to assessment and moderation time.
How to order and get started?
Can you show me a sneak peek of the RPL4 course?
How do I navigate my course on your online NQF/RPL profile?
I am completing my NQF/RPL and need to understand how the marking process works.
I don’t have a Matric Certificate; will I still be found competent in my NQF/RPL4?
No. Proof that you have passed Mathematics and two South African languages at a Matric level is a requirement. You will need to take the relevant bridging courses if you cannot supply this proof. Maths and Literature bridging courses are available through PropAcademy. Please note that you would complete your bridging courses once your NQF4 is complete, not prior.
How do I purchase the PDE course?
Can I pay for my course now, but you only release it when I decide to write my exam?
No, we advise buying it now, completing your course, and then printing it for your file to refer to when you are ready.
What does the PDE course look like once I have logged in?
How do I print my PDE course certificate from PropAcademy?
Once you have completed your PDE course and your progress bar is green, you can click the trophy icon at the top of your page to download a certificate of completion
To book my PDE with the PPRA/EAAB, do I have to wait for my NQF competent certificate from SSETA?
It is not required that the Candidate Property Practitioner/Intern Estate Agent wait for the SSETA to issue a Certificate of Competence, as this could further unduly delay the matter. Once the Services SETA has verified the findings in writing, you will be supplied with a letter that you can use to book your PDE with the PPRA.
Will I need to travel to complete my final exams?
The current PDEs are being written online, you can do this from anywhere with an internet connection.
How does the online exam work?
This is a 4-hour open-book exam. You need to ensure you have internet, a working webcam and a mic for this exam, and you must be alone. You will receive instructions from the PPRA/EAAB before the exam.
On the video for the PDE tips, in section A, we need to draw a pie diagram using a coffee tin lid - is the exam not online?
Just before the exam date, the PPRA/EAAB should send you a practice test and in this they teach you how to make a graph.
In the Exam, if you leave a question out, can you come back to complete it later?
I wouldn’t advise this, the PPRA/EAAB said you could, but many people were unable to go back and lost the majority of their marks.
Which professional designation should I be using after I pass the PDE?
Do I register for NQF5 or RPL5?
NQF5 is for agents who have NQF4 competency and want to go one step further. This is also a qualifying criterion to become a principal. You can do this quiz to see if you qualify for RPL instead; this is for agents who manage branches with a Principal.
Why do different training providers have different conditions for RPL5?
SSETA set standard requirements that need to be met to qualify for RPL, if you don’t meet their requirements, then you do not qualify for RPL and risk losing your hard work when it comes to assessment and moderation time.
I am completing my NQF/RPL and need to understand how the marking process works.
When can I write my PDE5?
When you are a registered Principal. Then you will have 2 years in which to write and pass your exam to maintain your status.
How do I purchase the PDE course?
This is a general video:
Can I pay for my course now, but you only release it when I decide to write my exam?
No, we advise buying it now, completing your course, and then printing it for your file to refer to when you are ready.
How do I print my PDE course certificate from PropAcademy?
Once you have completed your PDE course and your progress bar is green, you can click the trophy icon at the top of your page to download a certificate of completion.
Will I need to travel to complete my final exams?
The current PDEs are being written online; you can do this from anywhere with an internet connection.
How does the online exam work?
This is a 4-hour open-book exam. You need to ensure you have internet, a working webcam and a mic for this exam, and you must be alone. You will receive instructions from the PPRA/EAAB before the exam.
On the video for the PDE tips, in the one section A, we need to draw a pie diagram using a coffee tin lid - is the exam not online?
Just before the exam date, the PPRA/EAAB should send you a practice test, and in this, they teach you how to make a graph.
In the Exam, if you leave a question out, can you come back to complete it later?
I wouldn’t advise this, the PPRA/EAAB said you could, but many people were unable to go back and lost the majority of their marks.
Which professional designation should I be using after I pass the PDE?
Do you have a course on how to complete my CPD?
We supply you with an up-to-date, free CPD Guide on our website. Click here.
When are you liable to produce CPD points?
All Property Practitioners/Estate Agents who have been full status or Principal status from 1 January of that year. I.e., if you only received your full status FFC from the PPRA/EAAB in July 2022, you only must start your CPD 3-year cycle in 2023.
How do I know if I am exempt from an education requirement?
All exemption requirements are stipulated in this article.
How do I know if I qualify for a Qualification Based Exemption?
Please do this quiz to find out.
Can I apply for a Qualification-Based Exemption without an FFC?
Yes
Have you sent me my login details yet?
Yes, this is automated. To log in to your course, please click on the link sent to you and complete your login details.
What is my learner number?
Your learner number and order number are one of the same.
How do I complete my course?
Once you have finished your course, you need to make sure each module is marked as complete.
Where are the assignments?
Your assignments are in the quiz section of the NQF/RPL courses.
Must my documents be certified?
Your ID and Matric certificate where required must be certified and the certification must not be older than three months
Do I have to attend the webinar classes?
Our webinar classes are there to help you gain further knowledge and answer any questions you may have. They are not mandatory but they are recommended. If you require notional hours as a pre-requisite for a qualification, then you must attend classes and keep a record of this for SSETA. To see our webinar/events calendar, click here
Can I email you the attachments for answers to my Section D questions?
No, we prefer you to upload them. If you cannot upload them please contact us to assist you.
I don’t see an upload button for module xx
Who’s my facilitator?
You are not appointed with a single facilitator, instead, we have a variety of industry experts who facilitate our courses.
If I don’t have any certificates, what must I attach under Qualifications?
If you don’t have any qualifications then you don’t need to include any.
I can’t download my video, please advise on how I can do this.
Videos are for you to watch before moving to the next step and are not downloadable.
How do I insert documents into my orientation guide?
How do I send files via wetransfer?
Please show me some course tips and tricks
My Course is expiring soon; how do I pay for my extension?
PropAcademy courses must be completed within the course duration. Any extension of this date requires an extension fee. Terms and conditions apply. The extension option can only be taken if your course expired in the past 3 months. Should your course have expired before that, you must re-purchase your course. You can click here to order your extension. You cannot extend your course for 1 month, take a break for a few months, and extend it again after that. In this case, you will need to re-purchase your course.
What is the correct procedure when I want to become a Property Practitioner/Estate Agent?
You must apply for an internship at a Real Estate Agency Firm. To beef up your CV, you can start with your Logbook Knowledge course, NQF level 4 in Real Estate, and Skill-enhancing courses. This will also beef up your CV and get you one step ahead before you join. The steps are listed in this video
I am currently working; can I be appointed in a part-time position at an Agency?
The PPRA/EAAB have no specification as to if you should be full or part-time employed to comply. This is up to you and the Agency hiring you.
How can I find the right internship in an Estate Agency?
How can I find a job at a top Real Estate Agency?
How do I become certified?
How can I become a successful Estate Agent?
How do I start my own Agency?
Am I compliant?
What will happen if I am not compliant?
Am I non-compliant because my Agency is non-compliant?
Where one Property Practitioner/Estate Agent out of many in the service of an Estate Agency Firm is non-compliant, only that Practitioner and the Firm are affected. In such a case, for instance, neither the non-compliant Property Practitioner nor the Firm will be entitled to a commission if the non-compliant Property Practitioner sells a property. Both the non-compliant Property Practitioner and the Firm will also be subject to disciplinary sanction. Other compliant Property Practitioners selling properties will remain entitled to a commission, as will the Firm. If the Firm is non-compliant because of, say, audit non-compliance issues, all the Principals and Property Practitioners in the service of that Firm will be regarded as non-compliant.
Does an attorney whose employees are sourcing and selling Real Estate have to apply to open an Agency and comply with education requirements?
Yes. In terms of section 1(vi)(d) of the Estate Agency Affairs Act, 112 of 1976, practising attorneys are not deemed to be Estate Agents if they perform any Estate Agency functions and activities:
the attorney’s practice.
Such practising attorneys are neither required to register with the PPRA/EAAB nor to be issued with a valid fidelity fund certificates (FFC) by the PPRA/EAAB. It will not be necessary, in addition, for the attorneys concerned either to acquire the real estate qualifications or to pass the relevant Professional Designation Examinations (PDE). Any persons employed by such attorney whose duties consist wholly or primarily of the rendering of Estate Agency functions will, however, be obliged to register with the PPRA/EAAB and to be issued with a Registration Certificate. They will also be obliged to comply with the educational requirements stipulated in the Education Regulations.
An attorney is subject to the full rigours of the Estate Agency Affairs Act, and the Education Regulations, if that attorney carries on any Estate Agency activities other than in the course of and/or from separate premises and/or under a name different to that of the attorney’s practice. Under such circumstances, the attorney will be required to register as an Estate Agent with the EAAB and to be issued a valid fidelity fund certificate by the EAAB. It may sometimes be most difficult for an attorney to prove that Estate Agency functions fall within the course of the attorney’s practice – this will depend on the nature of the attorney’s practice and the legal services that are typically rendered by that attorney. It would seem, though, that the phrase ‘in the course of is more likely to refer to judicial sales conducted through a legal firm than simply to ordinary Estate Agency activities.
Do managing agents have to comply with regulated education?
In terms of the relevant Specification of Services notice, the activities of Sectional Title Managing Agents fall within the definition of ‘Property Practitioner/Estate Agent’ insofar as they collect or receive money payable by any person to or on behalf of a body corporate in terms of the Sectional Titles Act. In practice, therefore, all Managing Agents generally fall within the ambit of this requirement. The Act prescribes that monies received from the public must go into the agent’s trust account and from there into the body corporate account to be disbursed on instruction from the body corporate.
How does the PPRA/EAAB penalise the Property Practitioner/Agency for non-compliance?
Provided sufficient admissible proof of the offence is available, the PPRA will institute disciplinary proceedings against the ostensible Property Practitioner/Estate Agent for contravention of Section 26 of the Act. On findings of guilty by the committee of inquiry, the person concerned could be fined up to R25 000 for the offence. The Seller is not liable to pay a commission to the illegally operating Property Practitioner
What are the differences between the old and the new PPA?
I heard Trust Accounts no longer need to be audited.
You must still be audited. If you have a current trust account, you must first apply for an exemption. Only once this is received are you able to close your Trust Account.
What about a Property Management company where all the Complexes have their account, and no money gets paid into the management account except for electricity that is managed?
Trust Account only applies where the public’s money is at risk, such as deposits on leases and sales. Monies paid for services rendered do not require a trust account.
Does this change how we submit our Logbook - for example if I’m completing my Logbook, must I continue, as usual, completing info on EAAA or PPA?
The PPA is effective from 1 February 2022. If you started your course or qualification before that, then you can apply the Act that was in effect at that time.
What about HOAs charging agencies and agents an annual fee to give them the right to sell in the HOA?
PPA No 22 of 2019 prohibits HOAs from precluding Property Practitioners/Estate Agents from selling and renting in the estate.
The Seller’s Declaration has been around for a while now. Now the PPA makes it imperative. All good. The challenge is now with properties going on auction. It has always been a case of strictly voetstoots; what you see is what you get. Some Conveyancers are now insisting on a Disclosure form before they will proceed with registration on properties I have sold on auction. This defeats the purpose of having an auction. Auctions are covered under the Consumer Protection Act where a Seller has no duty to repair anything. It would appear confusion reigns!
The declaration does not supersede voetstoots, patent or latent defects nor caveat emptor. The declaration won’t make any difference.
The New Act states that future education requirements will be condensed into 6 months and 6 modules. Therefore, we no longer have to produce a logbook, NQF4 and PDE4.
There is no change to education and training requirements. In time, after consulting with property experts The Authority may institute some changes. Should this occur then Property Practitioners/Estate Agents will be notified by the PPRA/EAAB in the form of a Practice Note, well in advance of the change?
Section 75(6) of the Act states that: “All regulations made in terms of the Estate Agency Affairs Act remain in full force and effect as if they had been made in terms of or under this Act”.
Reg 33.2.9.2 states that: “The Authority may in good faith conduct consultation with industry representative bodies to establish transitional provisions for the phasing in of some or all of the provisions of this Regulation 33”.
In the case of a Late Estate as well as in Distressed sales, who signs the Disclosure?
In both cases I would say the person who gives the agent the mandate whether sole or open. If he/she does not know the condition, then “not aware of” will suffice as legal principles still apply.
Does one still log in on the EAAB website or is there another address?
For now it is: https://theppra.org.za/