From Candidate to Principal: The FFC Journey

STEP 1: Get Employment

You must first be employed by a real estate company that is already registered with the PPRA.

STEP 2: Apply for Your FFC

Once employed you must register on the PPRA portal.  You will need a certified copy of your ID, employment letter and tick the correct application boxes showing that you are not insolvent and of sound mind.

Costs:

The PPRA charges a fee for issuing your FFC.
Your agency may charge an onboarding fee, a desk fee or a monthly fee.

STEP 3: Submit Your Logbook

Exactly 6 months after the date your FFC was issued, you must submit your Logbook to the PPRA.  Once accepted, the PPRA will tick your education portal.

Costs:

You may buy a Logbook course from an accredited provider for approximately R2,000, or download the Logbook for free from the PPRA website.
There is no fee payable to the PPRA to submit your Logbook.

STEP 4: Obtain or be Exempt from the NQF4 Qualification

You must either complete the NQF4 Real Estate qualification or apply for exemption.

NQF4 must be purchased from an accredited SSETA provider who registers you with SSETA so that you receive your certification on completion.  You cannot share course material.

If you previously worked as an agent for more than one year, you may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, known as RPL, which is a shorter route and more affordable.

You can apply for an exemption if you have an NQF5 qualification in any field.  If you have an NQF7 or higher, apply for exemption for both the NQF4 and the NQF5 at the same time.

Costs:

NQF4 course will be charged by the accredited provider.

If applying for exemption the PPRA exemption fee in 2026 is R2 445.05  and if you use a service provider to apply for your exemption on your behalf, they will have a charge.  You can do this yourself on the PPRA portal, but may find the process daunting.

If you qualify for an exemption on both the NQF4 and NQF5, the PPRA cost for this application in 2026 is R3 630.

After approval, your PPRA portal will show an NQF4 tick.

STEP 5: PDE4

You must register for PDE4 on the PPRA portal and you can take a preparation course from a provider.  This is an online open book exam with set by the PPRA who take approximately eight weeks to mark it.  Once passed you will achieve a tick on your education portal and at that stage you must apply to the PPRA for an upgrade to your FFC from Candidate to Non-Principal Practitioner.

You may apply for an exemption from the PDE4 if you held a Full Status FFC for five consecutive years prior to 2008.

Costs:

Current PPRA exam fee in 2026 is R1 420.18.
You can purchase a PDE preparation course from a provider.
PPRA charge a fee to upgrade your FFC. As at 2026 this cost is R640.00 admin fee plus a new FFC charge of R2 768.00.

STEP 6: Obtain or be Exempt from the NQF5 Qualification

You must either complete the NQF5 Real Estate qualification or apply for exemption.

NQF5 must be purchased from an accredited SSETA provider who registers you with SSETA so that you receive your certification on completion.  You cannot share course material.

If you previously managed an estate agency firm and were involved with managing, loading or releasing funds from the trust account, you may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, known as RPL, which is a shorter route and more affordable.

You can apply for an exemption if you have an NQF7 qualification in any field.

Costs:

NQF5 course will be charged by the accredited provider.

If applying for exemption the PPRA exemption fee in 2026 is R2 445.05  and if you use a service provider to apply for your exemption on your behalf, they will have a charge.

After approval, your PPRA portal will show an NQF5 tick.

STEP 7: PDE5

You must register for PDE5 on the PPRA portal and you can take a preparation course from a provider.  This is an online open-book exam set by the PPRA who take approximately eight weeks to mark it.  Once passed you will achieve a tick on your education portal and at that stage you must apply to the PPRA for an upgrade to your FFC from Non-Principal to Principal Practitioner.

You may apply for an exemption from the PDE5 if you held a Principal Status FFC for five consecutive years prior to 2008.

Costs:

Current PPRA exam fee is approximately R1,600.
Providers course is approximately R2 000.
PPRA charge and admin fee to upgrade your FFC.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only. While we strive to keep all updates accurate and up-to-date, the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) regulations are subject to change, and may do so without prior notice. PPs is not responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, nor for any decisions made based on this information. We encourage readers to consult the PPRA directly or visit their official website for the most current information regarding educational regulations and compliance requirements.