Skip to content
careertips

HomeCoursesProperty and real estateCertificate IV

Certificate IV · national qualification

Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice

The Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice is the qualification most people complete to work as a real estate agent, property manager, buyer's agent or auctioneer.

Compare 6 providers
Illustration of a person working as real Estate Agent
How long it takes
4 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $1,960
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $8,670
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Real Estate Agent
$78,200 median pay
Taught by
6 providers
4 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in property and how it is bought and sold
  • good communication skills for dealing with many different people
  • a careful approach to paperwork and record keeping
  • an ethical mindset when handling other people's money and decisions

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Licensing for real estate work depends on your state or territory. Choose yours to see what applies.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Business Broker

    Business brokers value and sell small to mid-sized businesses, setting a realistic asking price, finding qualified buyers and holding a deal together through to settlement.

    What else you need

    In NSW, business agent functions sit within a real estate agent licence, and the required qualification is this Certificate IV. Requirements are set by each state or territory regulator, so check yours. The award alone does not confer a licence.

    Median pay$88,400 (estimate)

  • Buyer's Agent

    A buyer's agent finds, assesses and negotiates property purchases for clients who want someone acting on the buyer's side of the deal.

    What else you need

    Buyer's agents are commonly licensed as real estate agents, and this Certificate IV is the licensing qualification in NSW. Requirements are set by each state or territory regulator, so check yours. The award alone does not confer a licence: you must also meet the regulator's experience and fit and proper person requirements.

    Median pay$85,800 (estimate)

  • Property Manager

    Property managers handle the running of a rental property for its owner, collecting the rent, arranging repairs and keeping the tenancy on the right side of the law.

    What else you need

    You typically need to work as a registered assistant agent first, then apply for a licence with your state or territory regulator, and requirements differ by state. The award alone does not confer any licence or registration; check the provider is approved.

    Median pay$78,200

  • Real Estate Agent

    Real estate agents help people buy, sell and lease property, guiding them through inspections, offers and contracts until a deal settles.

    What else you need

    You typically need to work as a registered assistant agent first, then apply for a licence with your state or territory regulator, and requirements differ by state. The award alone does not confer any licence or registration; check the provider is approved.

    Median pay$78,200

  • Auctioneer

    Auctioneers run the live sale that sets the final price for a property, a pen of cattle or a room of goods, calling for bids until one buyer is left.

    A step towards this job. What else you need

    Median pay$64,500 (estimate)

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $1,960

at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$6,563 to $8,670

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $1,960
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $8,670
    How long
    4 to 18 months

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Full fee
    $6,563

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 6 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

18 units: 5 that everyone takes and 13 you choose.

  • Property legislation and compliance
  • Ethical practice and conduct
  • Trust account management
  • Property marketing and communication
  • Client relationship building
  • Residential and commercial property
See all 5 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for CPPREP4001…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

This qualification prepares you to work as a real estate professional in residential and commercial property, including business broking and stock and station transactions. Roles it leads to include business broker, buyer's agent, property manager, real estate agency principal and real estate agent.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose before you enrol.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.