This qualification is for estate agents, letting agents and commercial agents
By selecting a pathway, based on the country you will be practising in and your chosen specialism, you will have four units to complete to achieve the qualification.
What makes it so flexible is that once you have achieved one pathway, such as a Lettings qualification, you can then register for a Sales qualification without needing to repeat the learning and assessment related to content that is common to both specialisms.
Available Qualification Pathways
Lettings
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Lettings) – England
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Lettings) – Wales
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Lettings) – Northern Ireland
- SCQF Level 6 Certificate in Property Agency (Lettings) – Scotland
Sales
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Sales) – England
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Sales) – Wales
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Sales) – Northern Ireland
- SCQF Level 6 Certificate in Property Agency (Sales) – Scotland
Commercial
- Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Commercial) – England and Wales
This qualification is available as a Level 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and SCQF Level 6 in Scotland.
Registration fee: £50 | Exam fees: £62.50 per exam
Cost: £300 (registration, four exams and certification)
Learning materials are not included in the total qualification cost. Visit our learning resources page for more info.
What will be covered?
To achieve your qualification you must complete four units. The first two are mandatory and provide fundamental knowledge applicable to all, covering the role and practice of a property professional. The third unit covers general law and practice, tailored to your chosen nation whilst the fourth unit delves into your chosen specialism whether sales, lettings or commercial.
The two mandatory units are designed to enable you to achieve additional qualifications should you so wish. This will broaden your knowledge and support your career development.
Unit 1: The Role of the Property Professional
This unit considers the role of the property professional and starts by considering the ethical issues faced by property professionals and the Code(s) of Practice they may be obliged to abide by. It then looks at a range of key legislation applicable to property agents. It moves onto working effectively with IT within a property agency, and then considers elements of customer service including communication skills and how to handle customer complaints.
This is a common unit for all nations and disciplines
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Understand professionalism in the role of a property agent
- Understand key legislation applicable to all property agents
- Understand how to work effectively with Information Technology (IT) within a property agency
- Understand how to work effectively and professionally with clients and customers as a property agent
Unit code: CiPA01
All pathways
Unit 2: The Practice of a Property Professional
This unit is about working in a property agency and starts by considering a range of health, safety and security issues. The unit then looks at understanding property types, basic building construction and building defects. The unit then covers the services found in properties and the problems that affect services and looks at environmental issues, sustainable features and local environmental factors. The unit concludes be considering the selling techniques a property professional may employ and the marketing of individual properties and agents themselves.
This is a common unit for all nations and disciplines
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Understand health, safety and security in property agency
- Understand basic property types and basic construction methods
- Understand the provision of services and environmental considerations relating to properties
- Understand the basic techniques for selling the services of a property agent
- Understand marketing methods in property agency
Unit code: CiPA02
All pathways
Unit 3: General Law and Practice for Property Agents
This unit provides an introduction to the general legal concepts relevant to the sale, letting and management of residential and commercial property and takes into account some of the specific issues that can arise.
There are three different versions of this unit that cover the following geographical areas England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland which are common units across any nation pathways.
The unit you will study is determined by the nation you choose when registering
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the fundamental principles of the law of agency
- Understand the fundamental principles of contract law
- Understand the fundamental principles of land law
- Understand the fundamental principles of town and country planning law
- Understand the fundamental principles relating to the law of tort (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or delict (Scotland)
- Understand relevant principles of discrimination law
- Understand the different methods available for handling complaints and dispute resolution
Unit code: CiPA03
England and Wales
Unit code: CiPA04
Northern Ireland
Unit code: CiPA05
Scotland
Specialist unit
Complete your qualification by choosing between the sales, lettings, or commercial to ensure you're equipped with the skills needed to excel in your chosen specialism within the dynamic property sector.
Unit 4: Residential Lettings, Property Management and Practice
This unit covers legal knowledge and practices which can be implemented to the benefit of residential letting agents and their clients.
The unit you will study is determined by the nation you choose when registering
Unit code: CiPA06
England
Unit code: CiPA07
Wales
Unit code: CiPA08
Northern Ireland
Unit code: CiPA09
Scotland
Learning outcomes
- Understand the main services offered by letting agents.
- Understand the market appraisal process.
- Understand the preparation required before marketing a rental property.
- Understand inventories and schedule of condition reports, check-in and check-out procedures and tenancy deposits.
- Understand the legal requirements to ensure safety, energy efficiency and fitness for human habitation in residential property offered for letting.
- Understand the legislation relating to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
- Understand the processes for dealing with applications and offers, and the referencing of applicants and guarantors.
- Understand the process of preparing and providing tenancy documentation (England, Scotland & Northern Ireland) or occupation contract documentation (Wales).
- Understand the management of rents payable in respect of residential tenancies (England, Scotland & Northern Ireland) or occupation contracts (Wales).
- Understand the procedures to be followed when tenancy agreements are amended, extended or renewed.
- Understand the principles of tenant protection and how tenancies (England, Scotland & Northern Ireland) or Occupation Contracts (Wales) can be ended .
- Understand repairing responsibilities and how repairs and maintenance should be managed.
How long will it take?
Our guidance is to allocate 135 hours for study and assessments, but the actual time required will depend on your existing knowledge. Once you register, you'll have two years to complete your qualification. If you do not achieve the required units within this timeframe, you will need to re-register.
How will I be assessed?
Each unit assessment consists of 30 questions of different styles (multiple choice, multiple response, drag and drop, matching, and list style) which must be answered within 45 minutes. A mark of 60% must be achieved to receive a Pass and 80% to gain a Distinction.†
What will I get?
You will receive a certificate from Propertymark Qualifications, a regulated awarding organisation. Level 3 certificates are broadly equivalent to A Levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. SCQF Level 6 certificates are broadly equivalent to the Scottish Higher Qualifications.
This qualification pathway is suitable for membership of ARLA Propertymark. Learn more about becoming a member.
Unit 4: Sale of Residential Property
This unit investigates the practices of a sales agent which demonstrates a practical knowledge in which the legal and best practice principles can be identified as being implemented to the benefit of the agent and their client.
This unit is for learners across all nations
Unit code: CiPA10
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how specific legislation influences the estate agency business
- Understand the duties and responsibilities of a sales agent
- Understand the market appraisal process
- Understand the principles that influence the preparation of property particulars for marketing purposes
- Understand the duties of a sales agent in the context of marketing and negotiating a sale
- Understand the requirements of different types of seller
- Understand the main factors that influence the progression of a sale
How long will it take?
Our guidance is to allocate 125 hours for study and assessments, but the actual time required will depend on your existing knowledge. Once you register, you'll have two years to complete your qualification. If you do not achieve the required units within this timeframe, you will need to re-register.
How will I be assessed?
Each unit assessment consists of 30 questions of different styles (multiple choice, multiple response, drag and drop, matching, and list style) which must be answered within 45 minutes. A mark of 60% must be achieved to receive a Pass and 80% to gain a Distinction.†
What will I get?
You will receive a certificate from Propertymark Qualifications, a regulated awarding organisation. Level 3 certificates are broadly equivalent to A Levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. SCQF Level 6 certificates are broadly equivalent to the Scottish Higher Qualifications.
This qualification pathway is suitable for membership of NAEA Propertymark. Learn more about becoming a member.
Unit 4: Commercial Property Practice
This unit provides the knowledge required to successfully practise as a commercial property agent. It develops an understanding of leases, licences and covenants. Then moves onto look at how a tenancy can be terminated and renewed, and considers rent arrears and repair and dilapidations. Knowledge is also developed on Heads of Terms, measurements, taxation, planning classes and licensing alongside other key legislation affecting commercial property.
This unit is only available in England and Wales
Unit code: CiPA11
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how to apply the distinction between a lease and a licence in the context of commercial property
- Understand the distinction between express and implied covenants and their impact on the landlord–tenant relationship
- Understand covenants within the lease relating to alienation
- Understand how a tenancy can be terminated, both at common law and statute
- Understand statutory protection afforded by Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and a landlord’s grounds for possession
- Understand the process for the renewal of a commercial lease
- Understand the meaning of rent and its impact on the landlord and tenant relationship
- Understand the process of conducting rent reviews on commercial property
- Understand the principles relating to repair and dilapidations
- Understand what is meant by Heads of Terms and what these contain
- Understand how to measure different types of commercial property
- Understand the market appraisal process
- Understand the range and impact of taxation within the commercial property sector
- Understand planning classes and licensing
- Understand other legislation affecting commercial property
How long will it take?
Our guidance is to allocate 145 hours for study and assessments, but the actual time required will depend on your existing knowledge. Once you register, you'll have two years to complete your qualification. If you do not achieve the required units within this timeframe, you will need to re-register.
How will I be assessed?
Each unit assessment consists of 30 questions of different styles (multiple choice, multiple response, drag and drop, matching, and list style) which must be answered within 45 minutes. A mark of 60% must be achieved to receive a Pass and 80% to gain a Distinction.†
What will I get?
You will receive a certificate from Propertymark Qualifications, a regulated awarding organisation. Level 3 certificates are broadly equivalent to A Levels in England and Wales.
This qualification pathway is suitable for membership of NAEA Commercial. Learn more about becoming a member.
† Pass marks are notional and could be changed by Propertymark Qualifications.