BECOMING A REAL ESTATE AGENT IN NSW: Your step-by-step guide to success.

A real estate agent hands the keys to a couple to their new home

The world of real estate is exciting and dynamic – from helping families find their dream homes to facilitating lucrative property deals. If you’ve ever dreamt of making waves in New South Wales’ vibrant real estate scene, we’ve got the roadmap for you!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed real estate agent in NSW:

1. Earn your Certificate of Registration

To kick start your career in real estate, the first step is enrolling in and completing a Certificate of Registration Course. This foundational course, which typically lasts between 4 and 6 months when completed full-time, covers essential industry knowledge and ensures you’re equipped to work under a licensed agent.

After completing the course, you can register with the NSW Fair Trading Department for your Certificate of Registration.

2. Gain hands-on experience

With your Certificate of Registration in hand, you will be able to start working as an assistant agent. This is a stepping-stone to becoming a licensed agent, so during your first 12 months, you will need to gain real-world experience under the guidance of an experienced and licensed agent, covering various facets of real estate, including property management and sales.

3. Take the next step: Acquire your Class 2 licence

To further your career, you’ll need to complete a Licence Qualification Course, which takes around 12 months to complete on a part-time basis. Completing this course equips you with a deeper understanding of intricate real estate concepts, laws and practices and will allow you to apply for a Class 2 licence with the NSW Fair Trading.

With a Class 2 licence, you will be allowed to act as an agent for a client to sell, buy or exchange property, negotiate with clients and vendors and collect rent, deposits, bond payments and fees related to a lease, licence or contract.

4. Professional Development

Even after getting your licence, the learning doesn’t stop. The real estate industry is constantly evolving and NSW regulations require real estate agents to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training each year. 

5. Cultivate your reputation

Having a licence is just the starting point in real estate. To truly thrive, you need to consistently deliver exceptional customer service and build a name for yourself. Take the time to work on your customer service, nurture client relationships, and expand your referral network and online reviews. These are hugely important deciding factors for potential new clients.

6. Aiming higher? Become a Class 1 agent

If you’d like to further progress your career by opening your own agency, you can obtain your Class 1 licence. Ensure you’ve held your Class 2 licence for at least two years before pursuing this advanced certification. As a Class 1 agent, you can act as the licensee in charge, which allows you to work without supervision, oversee a team of agents and open and authorise trust account transactions for the business. To maintain this class of licence, you will be required to complete up to 10 hours of CPD training each year.

Join the Prudential Real Estate team

Embarking on a career in real estate can be challenging, but with dedication and the right guidance, it’s truly rewarding. At Prudential Real Estate, we don’t just offer job roles; we provide avenues for genuine career growth (see below), complemented by a comprehensive mentoring program. This ensures that our employees have the support they need to thrive and achieve their career goals.

We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who are eager to make a mark. Are you ready to launch or accelerate your career in a supportive and enriching environment? Connect with us through our Careers page and we’ll be in touch.

Information referred to in this article was obtained from publicly accessible sources from NSW Fair Trading, TAFE NSW and RETS. The information provided in this blog post is for general guidance only and should not be taken as personal advice. We do not accept any liability for any errors or omissions.


Prudential Real Estate Campbelltown | (02) 4628 0033 | campbelltown@prudential.com.au

Prudential Real Estate Liverpool | (02) 9822 5999 | liverpool@prudential.com.au

Prudential Real Estate Macquarie Fields |  (02) 9605 5333 | macquariefields@prudential.com.au

Prudential Real Estate Narellan | (02) 4624 4400 | narellan@prudential.com.au