QUALIFICATION INFORMATION

Under the new QCTO curriculum for real estate, the internship for candidate property practitioners is generally 6 months.

This internship is a mandatory part of the qualification process, where candidates gain practical, on-the-job experience under the supervision of a qualified property practitioner. The goal is to ensure that candidates develop the necessary skills and experience to operate independently in the real estate industry.

A Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) is a legal document issued by the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA), formerly known as the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB). It is mandatory for all property practitioners, including estate agents, auctioneers, property managers, and brokers, to hold this certificate in order to legally operate in the property market.

Without this certificate, any commission earned, or property transaction conducted would be deemed illegal, and the practitioner could face penalties.

The Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) is a key regulatory body in South Africa that oversees the real estate industry.

The PPRA plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and professionalism of the real estate sector in South Africa, ensuring that property practitioners are qualified, ethical,

and accountable. Their oversight helps to foster consumer trust and confidence in real estate transactions.

QCTO stands for the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations. It is a South African statutory body responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and quality assurance of occupational qualifications. The QCTO aims to ensure that training and education in various trades and occupations meet national standards and industry needs.

The QCTO plays a critical role in shaping the skills development landscape in South Africa, ensuring that workers are properly trained and qualified to meet the demands of the job market.

To qualify as a Full Status Property Practitioner under South Africa’s new QCTO curriculum, you must register with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and complete a mandatory internship. You are also required to complete the QCTO Real Estate Qualification and pass the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA). Additionally, you must renew your Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) and participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to maintain your status.

The QCTO NQF Level 4 Qualification in Real Estate is designed to provide learners with foundational skills for various roles in the property industry.

It focuses on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, covering essential modules such as property law, property valuation, sales and marketing, property management, and ethics.

Learners are assessed through formative and summative assessments, with the addition of workplace experience to gain practical exposure.

The program lasts 12 to 18 months, and upon completion, a certification is awarded, enhancing employability in the real estate sector.

The new QCTO curriculum for the NQF Level 4 Real Estate Qualification typically takes 12 to 18 months to complete, but the duration may vary based on several factors.

Full-time learners generally finish in 12 months, while part-time learners, particularly those working while studying, may take up to 18 months or more.

The qualification includes a mandatory internship or practical work experience, which contributes to the overall duration and provides hands-on training.

If learners qualify for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), their completion time may be shortened, as prior real estate experience can count toward certain modules.

Additionally, the time to complete the qualification can depend on the training provider’s schedule and how the coursework is structured.

After submitting your portfolio of evidence (PoE), the process typically involves several steps.

1. The PoE is reviewed by Itakane’s quality assurance team
2. Then assessed to ensure it meets the qualification’s outcomes, covering areas like property law, sales, ethics, and client relations. After the assessor’s review, you receive feedback, which may confirm that you’ve met the requirements or indicate areas needing improvement.
3. The portfolio is then moderated internally to ensure fairness and consistency in the assessment process.
4. You will also undergo a final summative assessment to test your overall competence in both theoretical and practical real estate knowledge. Your internship or workplace experience, if applicable, will be verified to ensure completion of on-the-job training.
5. Upon successful completion of the portfolio assessment, summative assessment, and internship verification, you will be awarded the NQF Level 4 Real Estate Qualification.
6. If any requirements are not met, you may appeal or submit additional evidence for reassessment.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process that enables individuals with over 24 months of holding a Fidelity Fund Certificate to earn real estate qualifications, such as NQF Level 4 or 5, without completing the full training.

The RPL process requires submitting a portfolio of evidence (PoE) that showcases the individual’s skills, knowledge, and experience in real estate, which is then assessed by an accredited assessor.

If the candidate meets the necessary criteria, they proceed to take the required examination.

Under the new QCTO curriculum, it typically takes 12 to 18 months to complete the NQF Level 4 Real Estate Qualification.

However, the duration can vary depending on several factors:

1. Full-Time vs. Part-Time Study

• Full-time learners generally complete the program within 12 months.
• Part-time learners, especially those working while studying, may take up to 18 months or more.

2. Internship Requirement

• The qualification includes a mandatory internship or practical work experience, which is part of the total duration. This on-the-job training ensures candidates acquire hands-on experience.

3. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• If you qualify for RPL, the time may be reduced significantly, as your prior work experience in real estate can count toward certain modules.

4. Training Provider

• The completion time can also depend on the training provider’s schedule and how they structure the coursework.

After submitting your portfolio of evidence (PoE), the process generally follows these steps:

1. Your portfolio is reviewed by the quality assure team at Itakane and forwarded onto an assessor who evaluates the evidence you have submitted to determine whether it meets the required outcomes of the qualification. and that the PoE aligns with the qualification’s standards, covering modules like property law, sales, property management, ethics, and client relations.
2. Once the assessor completes the review, you will receive feedback. This could include confirmation that you’ve met the requirements or, if there are gaps, instructions for improvement or additional evidence needed. Your portfolio may then be passed to an internal moderator for quality assurance. The moderator ensures the assessment process was fair, consistent, and aligned with the qualification standards.

3. You will then undergo a final summative assessment, which aims to test your overall competence in both theory and practical application of real estate knowledge.
4. As part of the process, your internship or workplace experience (if applicable) will be verified to ensure you have completed the required on-the-job training.
5. Upon successful completion of the portfolio assessment, final summative assessment, and internship verification, you will receive your NQF Level 4 Real Estate Qualification.
6. If you do not meet the required outcomes, you may have an opportunity to appeal the assessment or submit additional evidence for reassessment.

This structured process ensures that candidates meet all academic and practical requirements to qualify as professional property practitioners.

RPL enables individuals to meet the requirements for the various real estate qualifications, such as the NQF Level 4 or Level 5, without needing to undergo the full training programs.

An RPL assessment typically involves the submission of a portfolio of evidence (PoE) that showcases the candidate’s experience, competencies, and knowledge in real estate. This PoE is evaluated by an accredited assessor who determines whether the candidate meets the criteria for the qualification. Successful RPL candidates can then be awarded the relevant qualifications without needing to undergo further formal training.

RPL is important because it offers a flexible route for experienced professionals to achieve formal qualifications, which is a requirement to register as a property practitioner with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA).