Missed Last Year’s NSW Real Estate CPD? What You Can and Can’t Do Now

Maybe your renewal notice has just landed, or you’re booking this year’s course and it hits you that last year’s CPD never got finished. It’s an uncomfortable moment, and the first question is usually whether you can still sort it out.

Here’s the honest answer. There’s no catch-up period for a CPD year that has already closed, and no course can be dated back to it. Anything you complete now counts for the current CPD year. That isn’t the end of the story, though. Below is why the rules work this way, what a missed year can mean, and the practical steps worth taking now.

Can you still complete last year’s CPD?

Not in the way most people hope. The NSW CPD year runs from 1 July to 30 June, and Fair Trading says you must complete the CPD for your licence category each year. Once 30 June passes, that year is closed.

Fair Trading’s arrangements don’t provide for carrying CPD from one year to the next for most licences, and there’s no published process for finishing a past year late. So if you book a course today, it doesn’t fill the gap in last year’s record. It counts toward this year, the 2026–27 CPD year.

That can feel harsh when you’re keen to put things right. It helps to understand why the system is built this way, because it also explains why some of the fixes you might be tempted by simply aren’t available.

Why a course now can’t count for last year

There are three reasons, and they all come from Fair Trading’s own rules.

The first is that compulsory topics are set fresh each year. The Commissioner determines the compulsory learning topics annually, and providers are approved to deliver them for a specific CPD year. A course you take now is built around this year’s topics for your area of practice. Some topic names may look familiar from year to year, but the course is designed for the current year, not the one that has finished.

The second is that CPD doesn’t carry between years. Fair Trading’s arrangements don’t provide for carrying CPD from one year to the next for most licences, so each year’s requirement stands on its own.

The third is the record itself. When you complete a compulsory topic, an approved provider’s record of completion has to show the date, time and place you did it, and the provider guarantees in writing that you attended and took part for the whole course. Providers also keep those records and give Fair Trading information when asked. A certificate can only show when you actually did the training.

That’s why no approved provider can give you a certificate for a year that has already ended. If anyone ever suggests they can date your training to an earlier year, treat that as a warning sign and walk away. A record that doesn’t match when you actually trained isn’t a genuine record of completion.

If you want to see what this year’s course needs to cover, our overview of NSW CPD requirements sets out the topics for each pathway.

What missing a CPD year can mean

CPD isn’t optional paperwork. Under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002, complying with CPD requirements is a condition of every individual licence. Fair Trading says that failing to meet your CPD requirements may result in the suspension or cancellation of your licence, and it may also result in a court penalty of up to $11,000.

Notice the word “may”. Fair Trading doesn’t say what will happen in any particular case, and nobody outside Fair Trading can tell you that either. What it does make clear is that this is taken seriously.

Your records matter here too. You keep your own CPD records, and Class 1 and Class 2 licence holders must hold them for 3 years and provide them to Fair Trading if asked. That means a missed year can come up well after the year itself has closed.

Then there’s renewal. Fair Trading’s licence page says that to be eligible to renew your licence, you must complete CPD training each year. If your renewal is coming up, that’s a good reason to get clear on your position before you lodge it. Our guide to renewing your NSW real estate licence walks through how renewal works.

If you’re a licensee in charge thinking about the whole office, our guide to what happens if your agency misses CPD looks at it from that side.

Were you exempt last year?

Before you assume the worst, check your dates. Fair Trading has an automatic exemption for licences that start late in the CPD year.

If your licence commenced less than 90 days before the end of the CPD year, you were exempt from CPD for that year. That covers a new licence, and a licence restored or reactivated after it had expired since the CPD year began. For the 2026–27 year, Fair Trading’s example is a licence that commenced on or after 1 April 2027, so you can map the same window back onto your own start date.

There is one exception. The exemption doesn’t apply to a licence that started again after a suspension or cancellation with a condition requiring you to complete specified CPD.

Fair Trading can also exempt someone by written notice. If you think that might apply to you, ask Fair Trading directly rather than assuming.

What to do now

If you’ve checked your dates and the exemption didn’t apply, take these steps in order.

1. Confirm your dates. Find when your licence started and whether it was restored or reactivated at any point, so you know exactly which CPD year you missed and whether an exemption covered it.
2. Contact NSW Fair Trading. Call 13 32 20 and be upfront about the missed year. Fair Trading is the only one who can tell you where you stand, so don’t rely on guesses from colleagues or the internet.
3. Book this year’s CPD early. Whatever happens with last year, you don’t want the same problem twice. Our guide to when to book NSW real estate CPD explains why leaving it until June makes life harder.
4. Choose an approved provider for your area of practice. Compulsory topics must come from a provider approved for this CPD year. Our guide to checking Fair Trading approved CPD providers shows you how to confirm one.

When you book, check the format. Compulsory topics must be interactive and include an assessment, either face-to-face or as a live interactive webinar, and a live webinar counts in full, which makes it easier to fit around listings and inspections. Self-paced study on its own doesn’t meet the requirement. Our guide to completing NSW real estate CPD online explains what makes a webinar count.

Once you’ve finished, keep your certificates and confirmations together for at least 3 years. Our guide to keeping CPD evidence audit-ready has a simple way to do it.

Making sure this year counts

Missing a year is stressful, but you can make sure it’s a one-off. Book early, finish every compulsory topic and its assessment well before 30 June, and save your confirmations as soon as they arrive.

If you’re ready to get this year sorted, our NSW CPD courses page shows what’s included and how to book.

Frequently asked questions

Can I complete last year’s CPD now?

No. The NSW CPD year runs from 1 July to 30 June, and Fair Trading’s arrangements don’t provide for carrying CPD between years. Any course you complete now counts toward the current CPD year.

Can a CPD provider backdate my certificate?

No. An approved provider’s record of completion must show the date, time and place you completed the topic, and the provider guarantees in writing that you attended. A certificate can only show when you actually did the training.

What happens if I missed a CPD year?

CPD is a condition of your licence. Fair Trading says failing to meet your CPD requirements may result in suspension or cancellation of your licence, and a court penalty of up to $11,000. The best step is to contact NSW Fair Trading directly.

Can I still renew my licence if I missed CPD?

Fair Trading says that to be eligible to renew your licence, you must complete CPD each year. If you missed a year, speak to NSW Fair Trading before your renewal so you know where you stand.

Was I exempt from CPD because I started late in the year?

You were exempt if your licence started, or was restored or reactivated, less than 90 days before 30 June. For the 2026–27 CPD year, that means a licence that commenced on or after 1 April 2027.

How long do I need to keep my CPD records?

Class 1 and Class 2 licence holders must keep their CPD records for 3 years and provide them to Fair Trading if asked.

Can I do this year’s CPD online?

Yes, through a live interactive webinar with an approved provider. Compulsory topics must be interactive and include an assessment, so self-paced study on its own doesn’t count, but a live webinar does.