Continuing professional development (CPD) - settlement agents

The CPD program operates on an annual cycle based on the calendar year (January – December).

You must complete a total of six points by 31 December per calendar year if your licence/registration is:

• current / existing 
• granted before 1 October in a calendar year.

Your six points must be achieved from:

• at least four points from core activities and
• two points from either core or elective activities.

You can choose any of the approved elective activities to make up the balance of the six CPD points. The topics can have a specific relevance or interest to you or your business.

You may also make up the outstanding points by attending another core activity.

You cannot ‘carry over’ any extra CPD points to the next CPD period.

Please note: The elective activity “Trust account reconciliation” must be completed by all new settlement agents within their first six months. 

If you do not complete six CPD points per calendar year, you may be:

• issued with an infringement notice 
• prosecuted 
• suspended or have your licence/registration cancelled
• unable to renew your licence

Consumer Protection reviews non-compliance on a case-by-case basis.

You do not need to do CPD if:

• you got a new licence or triennial certificate for the first time between 1 October and 31 December of the calendar year

and

• you completed a required exam within the 12 months before your licence was granted

Activity log

You should maintain a CPD training log with details of each CPD activity completed and the CPD points accrued.

It is your responsibility to keep track of the CPD activities you have attended. You are encouraged to keep these records for four years.

Activities attracting one CPD point per hour need to be supported with a:

• statement of attainment,
• record
• certificate of completion.

Training providers update Consumer Protection on each attendee's record after the CPD activity course has been completed. Anyone not completing the six points in the calendar year will be investigated.

You can complete all of your CPD requirements online. Contact a training provider for further information. See CPD activities - settlement agents.

Financial assistance is available from Consumer Protection if you travel at least 100km (in one direction) to attend a CPD activity in either Perth or Busselton. See CPD distance learning – settlement agents.

You can apply for an exemption in exceptional circumstances. It will only apply for the calendar year you apply for the exemption. You cannot apply for an exemption for a previous year.

You can apply for a total or partial exemption. If a partial exemption is given, the required CPD points will be reduced. For example, if you apply for an exemption from completing your CPD requirements for six months, you will still need to obtain three CPD points for that calendar year.

Exemptions may be granted if you:

• are not working as a settlement agent for all or part of the calendar year. This could be because of serious illness, parental or extended leave owing to an exceptional circumstance; 
• are experiencing particular hardship or difficulty in completing the number of CPD points. This could be because of geographical location or physical or mental disability; or
• do not hold a current triennial certificate for part of the year.