What Is CPD in Real Estate? A Complete Guide for Queensland Agents

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in real estate is a mandatory annual requirement for registered or licensed real estate professionals in Queensland. It ensures agents, salespeople and property professionals maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, compliance obligations and industry standards.

If you’re a registered or licensed real estate professional, understanding CPD is not just about meeting a regulatory requirement — it’s about protecting your licence, your agency and your professional reputation.

This guide explains:

• What CPD in real estate means
• The real estate CPD requirements in Queensland
• How CPD points work
• The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 CPD
• Why CPD matters beyond compliance
• How to choose the right real estate CPD course
  

What Is CPD in Real Estate?

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development.

In the real estate industry, CPD refers to structured training sessions that licensed professionals must complete annually to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.

The purpose of CPD in real estate is to:

• Ensure agents stay current with legislative changes
• Improve understanding of compliance obligations
• Reduce professional risk
• Maintain ethical and professional standards
• Strengthen industry competency
• Stay up to date with industry developments
  

Real estate legislation evolves regularly. Without ongoing training, agents risk relying on outdated processes, incorrect forms, or misunderstood compliance requirements.

CPD is designed to prevent that.

Why Is CPD Required in Queensland?

Queensland’s real estate industry is governed by legislation that regulates:

• Property sales
• Trust accounts
• Seller disclosure obligations
• Residential tenancy requirements
• Anti-money laundering reforms
• Privacy obligations
• Marketing and advertising compliance

Because these laws change over time, CPD ensures professionals remain informed and competent.

Real estate CPD requirements exist to:

• Protect consumers
• Promote transparency
• Reduce regulatory breaches
• Improve professional standards

CPD is not optional — it is a mandatory condition of maintaining your licence.

What Are the Real Estate CPD Requirements in Queensland?

To meet your annual CPD requirements in Queensland, you must complete either:

• Two Type 1 CPD sessions, or
• a Type 1 session and a Type 2 session
  

Each session contributes toward your required CPD points for the year.

What Is Type 1 CPD?

A Type 1 CPD session is a “condensed CPD version” of a Unit of Competency from the CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice qualification.

The content in a Type 1 CPD session is aligned with the content covered in the Unit of Competency it is based on, but tailored to meet the needs of existing Queensland real estate professionals. 

Therefore, a Type 1 CPD session will usually cover the basic concepts in real estate and are useful to complete as a refresher or “back to basics” session for real estate professionals.

Even though a Type 1 session is based on a Unit of Competency, you will not have to complete any assessments.

What Is Type 2 CPD?

A Type 2 CPD session session delivers industry relevant content aimed at improving the knowledge and core skills of real estate professionals.  Type 2 CPD sessions have a wider vatiety of topics and cover one or more of the following themes:

• Sound financial management
• Relationship management
• Emerging industry trends
• Legislative requirements

Type 2 CPD sessions are a useful way for real estate professionals to increase their knowledge base, stay up to date with emerging professional issues, and to upskilll professionally.

How Do “CPD Points” Work in Real Estate?

When people search for “CPD points real estate,” they are usually trying to understand how CPD completion is measured.

Queensland does not operate a CPD points system.  In Queensland:

• Each approved CPD session contributes toward your annual CPD obligation.
• You must complete the correct combination of Type 1 and Type 2 sessions.
• Each CPD session you complete must first be approved by the Office of Fair Trading.

Failing to complete your required CPD sessions may expose you to regulatory consequences.

Why CPD Is More Than Just a Requirement

Many agents see CPD as something to “get done” each year.

However, CPD in real estate is fundamentally about risk management.

Protecting Your Licence

Misinterpreting legislation can lead to:

• Breaches
• Fines
• Regulatory investigation
• Reputational damage

CPD strengthens your understanding of compliance frameworks.

Reducing Legal Risk

Common compliance issues include:

• Incorrect completion of Form 6
• Errors in seller disclosure
• Trust account reconciliation failures
• Breaches of the Privacy Act
• Misleading advertising

Validum’s CPD training clarifies these risks and provides structured understanding.

Improving Agency Processes

Strong CPD training helps agencies:

• Implement compliant procedures
• Train staff correctly
• Maintain accurate documentation
• Prepare for audits
• Reduce operational risk

Well-informed teams are less likely to make costly mistakes.

Common Areas Covered in Real Estate CPD Courses

Real estate CPD courses in Queensland commonly address:

• The Australian legal framework
• Queensland real estate legislation
• Trust account obligations
• Residential tenancy reforms
• Seller disclosure requirements
• Anti-money laundering regime updates
• Privacy Act compliance
• Australian Consumer Law advertising standards
  

These topics reflect real legislative obligations faced by agents every day.

Online Real Estate CPD Courses

Many real estate professionals now complete CPD through online delivery.

Online real estate CPD courses offer:

• Flexible learning
• Immediate access
• Structured legislative breakdowns
• Practical compliance guidance
• Time efficiency

For busy agents balancing listings, inspections and settlements, online CPD provides convenience without compromising compliance.

How to Choose the Right CPD Course

When selecting a real estate CPD sessionin Queensland, consider:

Is the CPD session approved by the Office of Fair Trading?

Only OFT-approved CPD sessions can count towards your mandatory annual CPD requirements.  An approved CPD session will have a CPD code next to its title (for example, QLDCPD20250183).

Is It Queensland-Specific?

Legislation differs by state. Ensure the content is specific to Queensland regulatory requirements and real estate practice

Is the Category Clear?

Confirm whether the session is Type 1 or Type 2.

Does It Cover Current Legislative Updates?

Look for courses addressing:

• Seller disclosure reforms
• Form 6 changes
• Anti-money laundering regime
• Privacy Act amendments
• Tenancy reforms

Is It Practical?

The best CPD training explains:

• How legislation works
• How to interpret it
• How it applies in agency practice

Not just theory — but practical implementation.

What Happens If You Don’t Complete CPD?

Failing to complete required CPD may result in:

• Regulatory consequences
• Compliance action
• Licensing issues
• Professional risk exposure

CPD is a condition of ongoing professional responsibility.

Ignoring it increases risk.

CPD and Professional Standards

The real estate industry operates in a high-trust environment.

Clients rely on agents to:

• Understand legal obligations
• Disclose correctly
• Handle money properly
• Protect personal information
• Market properties lawfully

CPD reinforces those professional standards annually.

It demonstrates commitment to compliance and ethical practice.

CPD in 2026 and Beyond

Legislation impacting Queensland real estate continues to evolve, including:

• Seller disclosure regime implementation
• Anti-money laundering reforms
• Privacy Act amendments
• Residential tenancy law reforms
• Ongoing updates to contracts and forms
  

Staying informed through structured CPD training ensures you remain compliant, confident and current.

Final Thoughts: Why CPD Matters

CPD in real estate is not just about meeting a requirement.

It is about:

• Protecting your licence
• Reducing compliance risk
• Strengthening agency processes
• Maintaining professional credibility
• Staying ahead of legislative change
  

Queensland real estate CPD requirements are designed to ensure the industry operates at a high professional standard.

Agents who take CPD seriously position themselves as informed, compliant and trustworthy professionals.

And in an industry built on trust, that matters.

Complete Your Queensland Real Estate CPD with Confidence

If you’re ready to meet your annual CPD requirements, Validum Real Estate Training offers OFT-approved Type 1 and Type 2 CPD sessions specifically designed for Queensland real estate professionals.

Our CPD courses focus on practical legislative understanding, compliance clarity and real-world agency application — helping you stay compliant while strengthening your professional knowledge.

Whether you need two Type 1 sessions or a combination of Type 1 and Type 2, our structured CPD training ensures you meet your annual requirements with confidence.

For more information about upcoming CPD sessions or to discuss the right course combination for your needs:

Contact Validum Real Estate Training today or explore our available Queensland CPD courses.

Stay compliant. Stay informed. Stay confident.