How to track NSW CPD hours in the 2026–2027 year

Tracking NSW CPD hours for the 2026–2027 CPD year (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027) is simpler when you treat it as an ongoing habit, not a June scramble. If you hold a class 1 licence, class 2 licence, or a certificate of registration, you are responsible for completing the CPD that applies to your pathway — and for keeping records you can produce if NSW Fair Trading asks.

This guide focuses on what to log, how long to keep evidence, and how to stay organised mid-year. For the full hours and compulsory-topic tables, see our 2026–2027 NSW CPD requirements overview. Always confirm details on the NSW Government CPD page (last updated 9 July 2026 at the time of writing). This article is a practical summary, not legal advice.

Start with the pathway that applies to you

Before you track hours, write down the pathway you are completing against:

• each licence category you hold (Real Estate, Stock and Station, and/or Strata), and
• the areas of practice in which you operate.

Your compulsory topics and minimum interactive hours follow that combination. Dual-licence holders and agents working across more than one Real Estate area of practice may need more than a single-pathway minimum. Class 1 holders also have additional obligations (accredited forum and, in relevant areas of practice, AUSTRAC AML training) that Fair Trading has said will be detailed further — track those separately once published guidance is available.

Assistant agents (certificate of registration holders) follow a different structure: Certificate IV units rather than the interactive compulsory-topic hours that apply to Class 1 and Class 2 licence holders. Keep that pathway’s evidence in its own log so it is not mixed with licensed-staff records.

What to record for every completed session

Fair Trading requires licence and certificate holders to keep their own records of compulsory topics completed. Certificate of registration holders must keep the statement of attainment issued by a registered training organisation for each Certificate IV unit completed.

A practical CPD log entry usually includes:

• CPD year (2026–2027)
• Your name and licence / certificate number
• Licence category and area of practice the learning counts toward
• Compulsory topic name (use the published topic title)
• Approved provider name
• Delivery format (face-to-face or interactive webinar) and attendee-cap awareness where relevant
• Completion date and interactive hours claimed
• Assessment completed (yes/no — compulsory topics must include an assessment activity)
• Evidence file location (certificate, completion statement, or statement of attainment)
• Notes for dual-licence or shared-topic situations (so you do not re-count the same learning incorrectly)

Store the original evidence with the log. A spreadsheet without certificates is harder to use if Fair Trading requests records.

How long to keep CPD records

Published retention periods are clear:

• Class 1 and Class 2 licence holders: keep all records for 3 years
• Certificate of registration holders: keep all records for 4 years

Do not delete older evidence just because the current CPD year has rolled over. Retention runs from the records themselves, and requests can arrive after the year ends.

A simple mid-year tracking rhythm

Use a light cadence so progress stays visible:

1. After each enrolment — add a “planned” row with topic, provider, date, and expected hours.
2. After each completion — mark it complete the same day, attach evidence, and update hours remaining against your pathway.
3. Monthly — review planned vs completed topics; check whether shared topics already cover a dual-licence gap.
4. Quarterly — confirm nothing is waiting on Fair Trading updates (for example Residential Property Manager topics still being finalised, or Class 1 forum / AUSTRAC detail).
5. Before renewal season — export or print your year summary and confirm every compulsory topic has evidence attached.

Carry-over is not available for most licences. Completing early still helps, but unused hours generally do not move into 2027–2028 — except assistant agents, who can carry forward additional Certificate IV units completed during the CPD year.

What Licensees in Charge should track for the agency

Licensees-in-charge must have all CPD training detailed in the agency training plan. That means agency-level tracking should show, for each agent:

• the pathway they are completing
• planned and completed compulsory topics
• evidence status
• any Class 1 extras once Fair Trading publishes delivery detail

Keep assistant-agent Certificate IV progress separate from Class 1 / Class 2 interactive compulsory-topic plans. For planning context, see our guide to NSW LIC training plans and CPD.

Common tracking mistakes to avoid

• Logging “online CPD” without checking interactive delivery — compulsory topics for Class 1 and Class 2 agents must be interactive (face-to-face max 40, or interactive webinar max 25) from an approved provider. See what interactive CPD means.
• Tracking hours only, not topics — minimum hours matter, but you still need the published compulsory topics for your area of practice.
• Mixing pathways in one undifferentiated list — dual licences and multi-area practice are easier to audit when each pathway has its own rows.
• Saving certificates in email only — download them into a named folder or tracker attachment so they survive inbox clean-ups.
• Assuming last year’s RPM topic list still applies — Residential Property Manager details for 2026–27 are still being finalised by Fair Trading.

How EDUTIVE can help

EDUTIVE is listed among the organisations approved by the Strata and Property Services Commissioner to deliver compulsory CPD topics for the 2026–27 year (see the approved providers section on the NSW CPD page).

• Use CPD Tracker to organise planned and completed hours against compulsory topics, keep evidence together, and support agency training-plan workflows.
• Browse interactive courses for your licence pathway on the CPD Course catalogue.

Confirm your exact obligations against your licence categories, areas of practice, and the latest Fair Trading guidance before you enrol or finalise your year summary.

Frequently asked questions

What CPD records must NSW property professionals keep?

Licence and certificate holders must keep their own records of compulsory topics completed and provide them to NSW Fair Trading if requested. Certificate of registration holders must keep the statement of attainment for each Certificate IV unit completed from the relevant qualification pathway.

How long should I keep NSW 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.

Can unused CPD hours carry into the next year?

No for most licences. Carry-over is not available except for assistant agents who complete additional Certificate IV units during the CPD year.

What should I log for each CPD session?

Record the CPD year, your licence category and area of practice, the compulsory topic name, approved provider, delivery format, completion date, interactive hours, assessment status, and where the evidence file is stored.