29 Aug 2009
From today Realestateweb guest columnist Luvuyo Mkangelwa, managing director of the Prior Learning Centre, will tackle all your questions about the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) requirements for estate agents. Agents registered before 15 July must attempt to earn the RPL qualification. Those registered after this date will have to serve for 12 months as a rookie and earn the same qualification through formal training and assessment by an organisation accredited by the Services SETA.
Is RPL compulsory? Who must do it? Yes, RPL is compulsory. All existing agents must attempt RPL to earn the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) qualification in Real Estate by 2011 as gazetted in the regulations. The RPL process will identify gaps in knowledge and these can be bridged through further formal training and assessment. These gaps must be bridged by end 2013. RPL can only be offered by an accredited RPL centre (accredited by the Services SETA specifically for this FETC Real Estate - they must be able to prove this to you.) FETC is a matric level, or school-leaving, qualification. What will happen if you don't do this? Come the deadline (December 2011), you simply won't get your Fidelity Fund Certificate. This FFC is your licence to trade. If you don't have your FFC, you'll be trading illegally which means you can go to jail. You also need an FFC to be legally entitled to your commission. The Estate Agency Affairs Board could also name-and-shame transgressors. If the agent is new, with no work experience, he or she should be trained because there is "nothing to RPL". RPL is ideally for people with a lot of work experience. So, if you want to be an agent: a) Find a company that will give you the practical training because you need to serve a one-year internship; b) While you are doing that, 30% of your time has to be spent in a learning environment. Link up with a training provider; and c) At the end of this, write the new PDE - Professional Designation Exam - as do all agents with less than five years of experience. This PDE has not yet been set. Keep up-to-date with important property news and insights. Subscribe to Realestateweb's weekly newsletter by clicking here. Got a question on RPL? Send it to news@realestateweb.co.za.
For more information contact dirk@spiralsight.co.za Article obtained from Realestateweb, Mr Luvuyo Mkangelwa, 20 October 2008.