Class 1 vs Class 2 Real Estate Licence NSW: CPD Explained

Class 1 vs Class 2 real estate licence in NSW, in short: a Class 2 licence lets you do day-to-day agency work for clients, such as selling, buying, negotiating and collecting rent and deposits. A Class 1 licence lets you do all of that and also act as licensee in charge (LIC), work as a sole trader and, if you are the nominated LIC, authorise trust account transactions. On Class 2 and thinking about stepping up? Here’s how to upgrade to Class 1.

CPD requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 agents: core CPD is set by your licence category and area of practice, not your licence class. A Class 2 and a Class 1 residential salesperson complete the same core for 2026–27: at least 7 hours of interactive training with an approved provider, covering 4 compulsory topics. Class 1 holders then add two things: at least 5 hours at a NSW Fair Trading accredited forum and, if they work in residential sales, buyers agency, commercial, business broking or stock and station, AUSTRAC’s Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF.

Confirm powers on the NSW real estate agent licence page and CPD on the official Fair Trading CPD page. This is a practical summary, not legal advice.

Class 1 vs Class 2 licence: what each one lets you do

From the NSW real estate agent licence page:

A Class 2 licence allows you to:

• act as an agent for a client to sell, buy or exchange property, businesses or professional practices
• negotiate with clients and vendors
• collect rent, deposits, bond payments and fees related to a lease, licence or contract

A Class 1 licence allows you to do all of the above, and:

• act as a licensee in charge (LIC)
• work independently as a sole trader
• if you are an LIC, open and authorise trust account transactions for the business

Class 2 holders are not allowed to open or manage a trust account, or be nominated as a licensee in charge. Only a Class 1 agent who is nominated as LIC can authorise withdrawals from the agency’s trust account.

Holding Class 1 does not automatically mean you are the nominated LIC. Eligibility and nomination are different steps.

How to upgrade from Class 2 to Class 1

Most agents get there the same way: at least 2 years on an unrestricted Class 2 licence, a Diploma of Property (Agency Management) and a Class 1 logbook your LIC has signed off. Then you apply to upgrade online through Service NSW.

What you need before you apply

• 2 years on Class 2. At least 2 years holding an unrestricted Class 2 real estate agent licence.
• The diploma. This is the Class 1 course: the Diploma of Property (Agency Management) CPP51119 or CPP51122, or the older Diploma of Property Services (Agency Management) CPP50307, from a registered training organisation.
• The Class 1 logbook. Every Part 1 task and at least 8 Part 2 tasks in the work experience logbook, completed over a 2-year period. Your supervising licensee in charge signs each task as you achieve it.

Start the logbook early and keep it safe. Fair Trading suggests completing every task even if you’re not planning to upgrade soon.

If your Class 2 licence carried a restriction at any point in those 2 years, you’ll also need the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice units. Other restricted licences have their own pathways in the Qualifications Order, so check with Fair Trading on 13 32 20.

Applying through Service NSW

You upgrade online through Service NSW with a MyServiceNSW Account. Have these ready to upload:

• your diploma and signed logbook
• details of your employment in the real estate and property industry
• a Notification of Licensee in Charge Details form, if you’ll be nominated as LIC

Fees are on Fair Trading’s fees page, and lodging online is cheaper. Fair Trading aims to issue licences within 30 working days once it has everything, though some licence types take longer because of checks with outside agencies.

What changes once you hold Class 1

You can be nominated as LIC, work as a sole trader and, as a nominated LIC, authorise trust account transactions. If you’re nominated, read what LIC supervision involves.

Your core CPD doesn’t change, because it follows your area of practice. You add a Fair Trading accredited forum of at least 5 hours and, in residential sales, buyer’s agency, commercial, business broking or stock and station work, AUSTRAC’s AML/CTF course. Core hours still need to be interactive, and live interactive webinars count, so you can complete them online with an approved provider.

CPD requirements for Class 1 vs Class 2 agents

People still search “Class 1 CPD” and “Class 2 CPD” as if the hour count splits by licence level. Fair Trading sets core compulsory topics and minimum interactive hours by licence category and area of practice. Class 1 and Class 2 holders on the same pathway complete the same core. Class only adds the Class 1 extras below.

For the full hours-and-topics matrix, see NSW CPD requirements 2026–2027.

Class 1 vs Class 2 CPD at a glance

Requirement	Class 2	Class 1
Core compulsory topics	By licence category + area of practice	Same core rules
Core minimum hours	By area of practice	Same (by area of practice)
NSW Fair Trading accredited forum	Not a Class 2 requirement on the current CPD page	Min 5 hours, relevant to licence category, in addition to core; dual licence = one forum for the year
AUSTRAC real estate AML course	Not listed as Class 2 on the current CPD page	Required for Class 1 in named areas of practice; sits outside the forum framework
Record retention	3 years (licence holders)	3 years

Takeaway: start with your category and practice area for core CPD, then add Class 1 extras if you hold Class 1.

Core hours depend on your area of practice (not your class)

There is no single “Class 1 hours” or “Class 2 hours” figure for core CPD. Fair Trading publishes minimum interactive hours and compulsory topics by pathway. Class only matters for the additional Class 1 obligations.

Example: residential real estate sales (same for Class 1 and Class 2 on that pathway)

Residential real estate salespeople must complete a minimum of 7 hours of interactive training from an approved provider, covering 4 compulsory topics:

• Auction laws and practice
• Contracts
• Rules of Conduct refresher
• Supervision Guidelines and AML CTF in agency practice

Class 1 holders on that pathway still complete those core hours, then add the forum and AUSTRAC where named.

Other pathways

Buyers agents, commercial agents, residential property managers, and other published pathways each have their own hour and topic lists on Fair Trading. They’re still the same for Class 1 and Class 2 on that pathway. Full detail lives on Fair Trading and the requirements guide.

EDUTIVE’s live enrolment packages today are for residential salespeople and buyers agents, so match the package to your pathway, not your Class 1 or Class 2 licence level.

What Class 1 agents need to add

Fair Trading accredited forum (min 5 hours)

Class 1 licence holders must spend a minimum of 5 hours attending a NSW Fair Trading accredited forum relevant to their licence category, in addition to core CPD. Dual licence holders attend one forum during the CPD year. Fair Trading will hold several forums in 2026–27 (keep the email on your licence up to date), and select approved providers can also deliver accredited forums (those sessions may incur a fee).

How to complete the forum step by step: How Class 1 agents complete the NSW Fair Trading accredited forum.

AUSTRAC “Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF”

Class 1 holders in Fair Trading’s named areas of practice (residential real estate salespeople, buyers agents, commercial real estate agents, business brokers, and stock and station agents) must also complete AUSTRAC’s Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF. Fair Trading says this sits outside the accredited-forum framework and is separate from the compulsory approved-provider topic Supervision Guidelines and AML/CTF in agency practice.

Delivery is through AUSTRAC’s self-paced online program or train-the-trainer model. Keep the matching completion evidence. For the core AML topic vs AUSTRAC distinction, see AML/CTF awareness for NSW agencies.

Does Class 1 status always mean LIC duties?

No. Class 1 makes you eligible to be nominated as Licensee in Charge. You are only the nominated LIC if the business nominates you. If you are the nominated LIC, keep CPD on the agency training plan. See the LIC training plan CPD guide.

Multiple categories or practice areas

If you hold more than one licence category or work across areas of practice:

1. Map core topics for each pathway you actually work in (see dual licences and multiple areas).
2. If you hold Class 1, plan one accredited forum for the year (details on the forum guide).
3. Add AUSTRAC if your Class 1 practice is on Fair Trading’s named list.
4. Keep evidence with your other CPD records.

Keep evidence for the same period

Fair Trading: Class 1 and Class 2 licence holders keep records for 3 years. Certificate of registration holders keep records for 4 years. Your certificates and statements of attainment are the evidence, so keep them somewhere you can find them.

Compulsory topics must come from a Fair Trading–approved provider. Confirm on the approved-providers guide and the live Fair Trading list.

Frequently asked questions

Do Class 1 and Class 2 agents complete the same core CPD?

Yes, if they share the same licence category and area of practice. Fair Trading sets core compulsory topics and minimum interactive hours by pathway, not by Class 1 vs Class 2. Class 1 holders then add Fair Trading’s accredited forum and, in named practices, AUSTRAC’s AML course.

Is Class 1 CPD different from Class 2 CPD?

Core CPD is the same when you share the same category and area of practice. What differs is Class 1’s extras: a minimum 5-hour NSW Fair Trading accredited forum (in addition to core; dual licence holders attend one forum for the year) and AUSTRAC’s Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF in named areas of practice.

How do I upgrade from Class 2 to Class 1 in NSW?

You need at least 2 years on an unrestricted Class 2 licence, a Diploma of Property (Agency Management), and a completed Class 1 logbook: all Part 1 tasks and at least 8 Part 2 tasks over a 2-year period, each signed off by your supervising licensee in charge. Then apply to upgrade online through Service NSW.

Does my CPD change when I upgrade to Class 1?

Your core CPD stays the same, because it’s set by your area of practice, not your licence class. On top of that, Class 1 holders attend a Fair Trading accredited forum of at least 5 hours. If you work in residential sales, as a buyer’s agent, in commercial, as a business broker or as a stock and station agent, you also complete AUSTRAC’s Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF.

What are the CPD requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 agents?

Core CPD depends on your licence category and area of practice, not your licence class, so Class 1 and Class 2 agents on the same pathway complete the same core. For example, residential real estate salespeople need at least 7 interactive hours covering 4 compulsory topics. Class 1 holders then add a NSW Fair Trading accredited forum of at least 5 hours and, in named areas of practice, AUSTRAC’s Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF.

What extra CPD must Class 1 agents complete?

A NSW Fair Trading accredited forum of at least 5 hours, in addition to core CPD (dual licence holders attend one forum for the year), plus AUSTRAC’s Smart real estate agent’s guide to AML/CTF in Fair Trading’s named areas of practice. Confirm on the live Fair Trading CPD page.

How long do Class 1 and Class 2 agents keep CPD records?

Class 1 and Class 2 licence holders must keep records for 3 years. Certificate of registration holders must keep records for 4 years, per Fair Trading.

What’s the next step for core hours?

Match your area-of-practice package on the NSW CPD courses page (residential salespeople or buyers agents), where current intake dates are listed. The Class 1 forum and AUSTRAC course sit outside a normal core course, so plan them separately.

Next step

Pick the course for your area of practice on our NSW real estate CPD courses page, where you’ll find current intake dates. An intake is a booking window only; the CPD year still ends 30 June 2027.

If you hold Class 1, remember the forum and AUSTRAC stay separate from a normal core course. A two-day intake can clear matching core hours (see finish NSW CPD in a two-day intake), but it does not replace the Class 1 extras. EDUTIVE delivers the core compulsory topics; the accredited forum and the AUSTRAC course are completed separately.