PPRA Education Requirements

Here is a summary of the old and the new qualifications for NQF4 and NQF5 Real Estate.  The old qualifications were regulated by the Estate Agents Affairs Act of 2008, and the new regulations by the Property Practitioners Act of 2019. The new qualification applies to new candidate practitioners receiving their FFC from 1^st July 2024.

Qualification IDs:

• NQF4 Real Estate

Further Education & Training: NQF Level 4: Real Estate: SAQA ID 59097 is replaced by

Occupational Certificate: NQF Level 4: Real Estate: SAQA ID 118714.

• NQF5 Real Estate

Occupational Certificate: NQF Level 5: Real Estate: SAQA ID 20188 is replaced by

Occupational Certificate: NQF Level 5: Real Estate: SAQA ID 121691.

The old qualifications were made up of:

• Intern Logbook – approved by the PPRA.
• NQF4 Real Estate containing Knowledge, Practical, Workplace Evidence, FSA and then certification – approved by QCTO partnered with SSETA.
• PDE4– approved by the PPRA.
• NQF5 Real Estate approved by QCTO partnered with SSETA.
• PDE5 – within two years of obtaining NQF5 certification.

The new qualification applicable from 1 July 2024:

The Act requires that practical training must be completed over a period of six months.  However, the PPRA believes that completing the qualification in its entirety during this period is impractical, and they have applied this six-month period to the practical component of the new qualification.   Candidates who cannot meet those deadlines must apply to the PPRA for an extension.

New Candidates who are Exempt from the NQF Level 4:

• An existing candidate who has been granted an exemption can apply for their FFC, and then they must commence with their 6 practical modules, which must be completed in 180 days. They must then write PDE4.

New Candidates:

• These candidates must complete their NQF4 Real Estate containing Knowledge and Practical modules only. Once done, a report of completion by the Service Provider must be supplied and submitted to the PPRA.
• The agent must now acquire a FFC to continue. The candidate cannot earn a commission whilst completing their knowledge and practical modules.
• An existing candidate who has been granted an exemption from completing his NQF Level 4, can apply for their FFC, and then they must commence with their 6 practical modules, which must be completed in 180 days. They must then write PDE4.
• The workplace evidence module must then be completed
• Agent writes EISA exam.
• Agent received SSETA certification.
• Agent writes PDE4 and is issued non-principal status by the PPRA.

A bit more about the Practical Training:

If you have an FFC currently and are a candidate practitioner, you are required to complete your internship over a period over a period of twelve months and submit your logbook, if it is due, before 1^st July 2024.  From that date, the PPRA will not be accepting logbooks.  Candidates will then be required to sign a letter together with their mentor and principal, confirming that they have completed their twelve-month practical and that they have completed their logbook.

Who is eligible for practical training?

Candidate practitioners who have completed their NQF4 Real Estate, SAQA ID 59097, will not be required to complete the practical training course as they would have completed their workplace module in their course, which aligns with the new practical modules.

What are these 6 practical modules that the mentor or principal must ensure that their candidate has completed?

Once completed, the practitioner must produce a letter confirming their practical training, signed by their principal and mentor. These letters must be emailed to practicaltraining@theppra.org.za   The PPRA will then issue the candidate with a letter of approval.  The PPRA will supply a template for this letter on their website, which must be customised to that estate agency firm.

1. Procedures to identify the property and real estate environment and comply with legislative and regulatory framework.
2. Processes and procedures for applying the Code of Conduct and adhering to ethical business principles.
3. Procedures to build internal and/or external client relationships and databases.
4. Procedures to build a brand reputation and develop a target market.
5. Practices to manage the property and real estate function.
6. Process to apply financial business principles.

Principal Status

Previously, principals who had or are exempt from their NQF Level 5 were allowed to achieve principal status and had two years from the date of issue of their principal FFC to write their PDE5, failing which their FFC was rescinded.

Now, principal FFC will only be issued once the applicant has passed his PDE5.

• Any principal who has their NQF5 20188 but has not done their PDE5 must do that immediately or their next FFC will not be issued.
• Any principal who has not got their NQF5 20188 or exemption from it, must now write the new NQF5 qualification, 121691, failing which their FFC will not be issued.

New Non-Principals

• Any non-principal holding an NQF4 59097 must write his PDE4, or he will not be issued a new FFC.

If you require assistance with any of the above tasks, we offer a range of services for real estate agents, or reach out to us.

This information was attained from the Education Guidelines and Summary provided by the PPRA in June 2024 and from attending the webinar held by the PPRA presented by Mr Mfundo Daki, Head of Education PPRA.