About the Australian Real Estate Licence Assessment
Real estate licensing in Australia is state-based. To legally sell, manage or lease property on behalf of others, you must hold the appropriate licence or registration for your state. This requires completing an approved qualification through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and passing written knowledge assessments. Requirements differ across NSW, VIC, QLD and other states, but all test your knowledge of real estate practice, property law, agency obligations, and consumer protection legislation.
The knowledge assessment typically covers four areas:
- Property Law and Legislation: the relevant state property legislation (e.g. Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 in NSW, Estate Agents Act 1980 in VIC, Property Occupations Act 2014 in QLD), conveyancing basics, and tenancy law
- Agency Practice and Ethics: fiduciary duties to clients, disclosure obligations, conflicts of interest, trust account management, and professional conduct standards
- Property Management: residential tenancy legislation, bond lodgement, maintenance obligations, entry notices, rent increases, lease renewals, and handling breaches
- Sales and Contracts: contract of sale requirements, cooling-off rights, deposit handling, auction rules, marketing regulations, and underquoting prohibitions
Important: Real estate legislation differs significantly between states. NSW legislation is not the same as VIC or QLD. Study the legislation for the state where you intend to work, using another state's rules in your assessment will result in incorrect answers. Trust account mismanagement is a serious offence and a key area in all state assessments.
Key Real Estate Licensing Facts to Know
- NSW: Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP41419) + application to NSW Fair Trading; Class 1 (Licensee in Charge) requires additional units
- VIC: Agent's Representative Certificate (entry level) or Estate Agent's Licence, administered by Consumer Affairs Victoria
- QLD: Real Estate Registration Certificate (entry level) or Licence, administered by Office of Fair Trading Queensland
- Trust accounts: All states require agents to hold client money in a designated trust account, separate from business funds; misuse is a criminal offence
- Cooling-off periods: NSW: 5 business days after exchange on residential property; VIC: 3 business days; QLD: 5 business days
- Disclosure obligations: Agents must disclose conflicts of interest, beneficial interests, and any known defects in a property to buyers
- CPD requirements: Licence holders must complete continuing professional development (CPD) hours annually to renew their licence
- Underquoting: Deliberately advertising a property below the estimated selling price is illegal in NSW and VIC and is a frequently tested topic
RTOs and state licensing bodies do not provide free practice questions for the real estate knowledge assessment. TestReady AU fills that gap with 100+ realistic questions covering property law, agency obligations, sales and property management, with step-by-step explanations for every answer.
| Feature | RTO Course Materials | TestReady AU |
|---|
| Practice questions | Limited in-course only | 100+ questions |
| All 4 assessment areas | Not drill-ready | Law, Agency, Management, Sales |
| Answer explanations | Minimal | Every question |
| Instant feedback | No | Yes |
| Drill by topic area | No | Yes |
Free sample: Try 5 randomly selected questions below. Use Drill Mode to focus on trust account obligations and disclosure requirements, the sections most candidates find hardest.
