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Embrace Continued Growth: PropAcademy Highlights the 2024 CPD Program

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PropAcademy, in alignment with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA), is thrilled to announce the commencement of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for the year 2024. This initiative underscores our commitment to uphold the highest standards in the real estate sector and to support the continuous professional growth of property practitioners.

Enhancing Professional Skills

The CPD program is designed as a crucial platform for real estate professionals to sharpen their skills, stay current with evolving industry trends, and meet ongoing educational mandates. It’s an opportunity for practitioners to not only enhance their capabilities but also to ensure they remain at the forefront of the real estate profession.

Important Updates to the CPD Policy

The PPRA has made significant updates to the CPD policy for 2024:

  • Immediate Participation: Property practitioners who have successfully passed the PDE4 between February and June 2024 can now enroll in the CPD program within the same calendar year.
  • Subsequent Year Participation: Those passing the PDE4 from July to November will be eligible to join the CPD program in the subsequent calendar year, as they are upgraded to non-principal property practitioner status.

Enrollment and Compliance Details

  • CPD Fee: The fee for the 2024/2025 financial year has been set at R1,700 per participant. Ensure to use your seven-digit reference number when making payments and retain all payment records for verification purposes.
  • Personal Development Plan (PDP): Each practitioner is required to complete their Personal Development Plan, aligning it with their professional objectives before enrolling in the CPD e-Learning program.
  • Module Completion: Participants must complete four CPD modules annually, as stipulated by the relevant regulations. This year, a wider selection of modules is available, allowing you to tailor your learning to your specific professional needs.

Seeking Further Information?

Should you have any inquiries or require assistance regarding the CPD program, please feel free to reach out to the PPRA’s Education, Professionalisation, and CPD Department or contact PropAcademy for guidance tailored to your professional journey.

This initiative is part of our ongoing effort to ensure that property practitioners are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in an ever-changing market. At PropAcademy, we are dedicated to your continued success and professional development.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided by the PPRA. PropAcademy is not responsible for any changes to the regulations or guidelines that may occur after the date of this publication.

CPD: The Way Forward

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Revamping CPD: A New Direction for Estate Agents’ Professional Development

In December 2023, the Property Principal Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) issued a notice to all estate agents obligated to accrue Continual Professional Development (CPD) points as part of their ongoing education.

The key points of this notice include:

  • All payments, up to and including for 2023, must be current.
  • CPD points outstanding from before 2023 are no longer required.
  • Your CPD Personal Development Plan (PDP) for 2024 must be completed.
  • The previous categorisation of CPD points into Verifiable and Non-Verifiable is now discontinued.
  • Going forward, four modules per annum must be completed. These can be found on your MyCPD PPRA Portal once released.
  • These modules may be completed via your PPRA MyCPD Portal or with a provider accredited by the PPRA.

Who is eligible to complete CPD annual modules?

  • Full Status agents, known as non-principal property practitioners, are eligible.
  • All non-principal practitioners qualify for CPD the year following the achievement of their new non-principal status, as recorded on their PPRA MyPortal.
  • All principal property practitioners are eligible for CPD.

This notice marks a significant shift in the approach to CPD, simplifying the process while ensuring that all practitioners continue to develop their professional skills. It’s essential for all estate agents to stay informed of these changes and ensure they comply with the new requirements to maintain their professional standing and continue providing high-quality service in the real estate industry.

Educational material now available for CPD

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IMAGE: Courtney McKenna of PropAcademy

The EAAB announced that the CPD 2021 material will be uploaded in the coming weeks thereby making the CPD programme available from 1 October 2021 to all eligible estate agents.

Experience has taught the EAAB that there are some estate agents who experience difficulties in navigating the CPD portal which compromises their ability to complete the CPD programme. In this regard, the EAAB will, in due course, issue a schedule to remotely assist the affected estate agents using a meeting virtual platform.

“We wish to further reiterate the position we have clarified before that, all estate agents who did not take advantage of the CPD fee ministerial waiver in 2020 and made payment towards the CPD programme, will not be required to pay 2021 CPD fees.

“Conversely, all estate agents who took advantage of the ministerial CPD fee waiver for 2020, will be required to pay CPD fees for 2021.

“We urge those estate agents who have not yet done the catch-up to finalise their 2020 CPD programme before 1 October 2021,” the EAAB said in a statement.

The EAAB thanked the stakeholders for their patience and understanding.

Courtney McKenna of PropAcademy said continual professional development (CPD) is just that – information that keeps stakeholders up to speed with changes to legislation, regulations and general knowledge within the property industry.

“CPD is commonplace in most professions and has been so for years. Property practitioners are dealing with the public daily, and more than that, advising them on property-based investments.  This cannot be done without knowing current changes to various property related Acts. CPD also keeps you ahead of the pack with changes in the financial world that relate directly to the property industry.

“There are two aspects to CPD. One is verifiable CPD points, where you are required to achieve 15 points in 5 different property categories. Verifiable points are only attainable directly from the EAAB through the property practitioners EAAB portal. These verifiable points are in the form of online learning material, videos and then a quiz.

“Non-verifiable CPD points can be attained through PropAcademy or any other training that relates to property matters. Annually you are required to achieve five non-verifiable CPD points in 3 different categories. This information is freely obtainable on the PropAcademy website,” she explained.

When do I qualify for CPD?

Full status and principal status property practitioners qualify for CPD, which kicks in the year after the EAAB advised them that they were successful in their PDE4 exam. For example, if you write your exam in November 2021 and your PDE4 results are released in January 2022, you will need to comply with CPD in 2023.

“PropAcademy has several online CPD online short courses designed by experts, enabling the property practitioner to achieve the required non verifiable points in record time. Our courses are approximately an hour-long, include training material, online quizzes and a certificate for each point.

“Once both non-verifiable and verifiable points are completed, they must be uploaded to the CPD MyPortal, on or before a determined cut-off date. Should a property practitioner not produce these points as required, the EAAB may impose penalties, including a fine and rescinding of the practitioner’s Fidelity Fund Certificate.  Without a current valid FFC, you may not trade,” McKenna said.

Written by
Danie Keet (Property Professional)