Queensland CPD comes down to three things: who has to do it, how many sessions count, and the 12-month CPD year those sessions sit in. This guide takes each one in turn using what the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) publishes on its CPD page, then covers exemptions, keeping your records and what to do at renewal.
Who needs CPD in Queensland
The OFT says CPD is mandatory for every Queensland property professional who holds one of these, regardless of job, position or role:
- a real estate agent licence
- a real property auctioneer licence
- a resident letting agent licence
- a registration certificate.
So a salesperson or property manager working under a registration certificate needs CPD in the same way as a licensed agent. The OFT also says CPD training is separate to other training you may have completed when applying for your licence or registration.
How many CPD sessions you need
The OFT says you must complete 2 approved CPD sessions in each CPD year. You can choose either:
- a Type 1 session and a Type 2 session, or
- 2 Type 1 sessions.
The OFT counts sessions, and its CPD pages do not use points. Some other jurisdictions, such as the ACT, use points.
Only approved sessions count. The OFT says to look for session codes beginning with QLDCPD20, or complete an approved unit under the national property services training package. It also says sessions completed in other states or territories are not accepted, even if they were approved there.
Type 1 and Type 2 sessions
The OFT keeps a separate register for each type. On its Type 1 page it describes Type 1 sessions as condensed versions of units in the national property services training package, designed to help real estate professionals build their knowledge and stay up to date with industry standards.
On its Type 2 page it says Type 2 sessions are designed to promote and improve core and industry-relevant skills and contribute towards better service outcomes for clients. They are not based on the training package units.
Because two Type 1 sessions meet the requirement on their own, a Type 2 session is optional. Archer delivers two OFT-approved Type 1 sessions: QLDCPD 20250166 Market Property and QLDCPD 20250167 Preparing to Work with Trust Accounts. You can find both on the OFT Type 1 register.
When your CPD year starts and ends
The OFT says your CPD year is based on the date your licence or registration was issued, so it is specific to you. Two agents at the same desk can have completely different CPD years. There is no shared office deadline.
Four details catch people out:
- If you hold more than one licence or registration, or both a licence and a registration, the OFT says to use the one with the earliest issue date.
- If you upgrade or change your licence or registration, your CPD year aligns with the new issue date.
- For a licence or registration first issued in 2025 or later, your first CPD year starts on the first anniversary of the issue date. CPD you complete before your first CPD year starts does not count towards your requirement.
- For a licence or registration issued before 2025, the OFT's own CPD calculator starts the first CPD year on an anniversary in 2025 or 2026.
The issue date is printed on your current licence or registration. Our QLD CPD year calculator works out your CPD year from it, and our guide on working out your QLD CPD year shows the counting by hand. If anything about your dates is unclear, the OFT is the authority.
Exemptions
The OFT lists these situations where you do not need to complete CPD:
- Your current licence or registration was first issued less than 12 months ago. You only need to start CPD 12 months after it was first issued.
- Your licence was deactivated for most of your CPD year.
- You hold a limited real estate agent licence for affordable housing or for business letting.
- You represent public sector agencies, or you are an official with a licence under the Property Occupations Act 2014, provided you do not hold an individual licence or registration.
You can also apply for an exemption for a CPD year if exceptional circumstances stop you completing your CPD. The OFT has a separate page on that process.
Keeping proof of completion
When you finish a session, the OFT says your CPD provider must give you proof of completion, such as a certificate. You must keep it for 5 years and produce it if the OFT asks for it.
You do not send your certificates to the OFT. Save each one somewhere you will find it again, such as a folder in your email, because the OFT can ask to see it long after you have renewed.
CPD and your renewal
From 6 June 2026, when you renew or restore your licence or registration, the OFT says you need to do one of the following:
- declare that you have completed your CPD (you do not attach proof)
- confirm that you are exempt from CPD
- give details if exceptional circumstances stopped you completing it.
Separately, in its answers to common questions, the OFT says it cannot process your renewal application until your CPD is complete, and suggests completing your CPD before you lodge your renewal to avoid delays. Our guide to the QLD CPD declaration covers the form in detail, and our QLD licence renewal guide walks through the whole renewal.
What QLD CPD costs with Archer
Archer delivers two OFT-approved Type 1 sessions, Market Property and Trust Accounts, at $100 each and $200 for both. Both are online and self-paced, available 24/7 through the student portal, and most agents finish a session in a few hours. You receive a completion certificate for each, and completing both gives you your two required CPD sessions for the year.
Prices can change, so confirm the current figure on our QLD real estate CPD course page before you enrol.
For principals: one CPD year per person
Because each person's CPD year follows their own issue date, or the earliest one if they hold more than one, an office never shares a single CPD deadline. The usual failure is quiet: one person slides past their CPD year while everyone assumes the team is on the same clock.
A simple register fixes it. List each person, their issue date, their current CPD year and the two sessions they have completed, and check it each month. Online sessions help here too, because nobody has to wait for a classroom date to catch up. If you run an office, our agency training service covers team enrolment and CPD planning.
Your next step
Find your issue date, work out your CPD year, then complete your two sessions with time to spare. Start your QLD CPD training online today, or call our Australian-based team and we will help you with the next step. For how Queensland compares with the other states, read our state-by-state CPD guide. The OFT can change its requirements, so check its CPD page for the current rules.
