NSW LIC supervision duties: linking CPD progress and training plans

If you are a Licensee in Charge (LIC) of a NSW property agency, supervision is not only about trust accounts and operational procedures. It also includes how you plan, monitor, and evidence the professional development of agents employed in the business — especially through the agency training plan that aligns to each CPD year from 1 July to 30 June.

For the 2026–2027 CPD year, that means treating staff CPD progress as part of day-to-day supervision, not a document you rewrite once in July and forget. This article explains how published Fair Trading LIC and supervision guidance connects to CPD and training plans in practice. It complements our earlier guide to building an NSW LIC training plan; it is not a rewrite of that checklist, and it is not legal advice.

What Fair Trading expects of LICs

According to the Licensee in charge — role and responsibilities page:

• A property agency must appoint an LIC to supervise the business, or several LICs for different parts of the business.
• Licensees who run a business regulated under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 must ensure that no part of the business is left unsupervised by an LIC.
• An LIC is responsible for the proper supervision of the business of which they are in charge and must hold a Class 1 licence in the relevant category.
• Nominated LICs are responsible for developing, implementing, reviewing, and updating the agency’s annual training plan, aligned to each CPD year.

Separately, the NSW CPD requirements page states that Licensees-in-charge must have all CPD training detailed in the training plan for the agency.

The supervision guidelines overview also explains that principal licensees and LICs must properly supervise persons engaged in the business, establish operational procedures for legal compliance, and monitor business conduct — including recording non-compliance and corrective action.

In short: supervision covers people, procedures, and monitoring. The training plan is where CPD sits inside that system.

How supervision links to CPD mid-year

Completing your own CPD does not discharge LIC supervision duties. Individual agents still keep their own CPD records. Your role is to make sure the agency’s plan, pathways, and progress stay coherent as the year unfolds.

Practical supervision habits that keep CPD visible through the year:

1. Know who you supervise and which pathways apply

Map every property and stock agent employed in the agency to their licence category and area(s) of practice. Pathways differ — for example residential salespeople, buyers agents, strata managing agents, and assistant agents (certificate of registration) are not interchangeable on the plan.

When someone joins, leaves, changes role, or adds an area of practice, update the plan promptly. Dual-pathway agents need planning for each relevant pathway.

2. Detail CPD on the agency training plan

Fair Trading expects all CPD training for the agency to appear on the training plan. That includes compulsory interactive topics from approved providers, and other development tied to performance goals.

Use the official training plan guide and template as a minimum guideline. For a practical checklist of fields to capture, see our LIC training plan guide.

3. Monitor progress, not only enrolment

Supervision is weaker if the plan lists intended courses but never shows completions. Mid-year, check:

• Who has enrolled vs completed compulsory topics
• Whether interactive delivery format matches Fair Trading’s published expectations for compulsory learning
• Where certificates or statements of attainment are stored
• External training completed outside your main provider (so the plan stays complete)

The supervision guidelines expect systems that monitor compliance with operational procedures and record corrective action. Treating unfinished or mismatched CPD as something to follow up — not ignore — fits that monitoring mindset.

4. Connect training to how work is supervised

CPD is most useful when learning returns to the desk. After compulsory topics (for example auction, contracts, or supervision-related Class 1 learning where applicable), ask what changes in checklists, file reviews, or handovers. Assistant agents should not be left to operate beyond their authority while waiting for Certificate IV units or supervised experience to catch up.

Common gaps LICs should watch for

• Own CPD done, team plan stale — personal renewal does not equal agency supervision.
• Generic one-page plan for every role — pathways and compulsory topics differ by licence and area of practice.
• Enrolments logged, completions not — Fair Trading expects CPD to be detailed on the plan; progress and evidence matter when you review it.
• No owner for follow-ups — if an agent falls behind, someone needs to chase enrolments, evidence, or pathway changes.
• Forgetting assistant agents and dual pathways — certificate holders and multi-area practitioners need clear planning, not assumed coverage.

How EDUTIVE can help

EDUTIVE is listed among organisations approved to deliver compulsory CPD learning topics for the 2026–2027 year on the NSW CPD page.

For LICs enrolled in a current CPD year EDUTIVE course, CPD Tracker is designed to support agency-level visibility:

• Build and maintain per-agent plans for the CPD year
• Sync EDUTIVE course activity when team members enrol and complete topics
• Add external training so the agency plan stays complete
• Export an agency training plan PDF for your records

Browse interactive compulsory topics on the CPD Course catalogue, then manage progress in Tracker. Always confirm obligations against your licence arrangements and the latest Fair Trading guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Is an annual training plan part of LIC supervision?

Yes. Fair Trading requires licensed agencies to prepare and maintain an annual training plan. Nominated Licensees in Charge are responsible for developing, implementing, and reviewing it each year, aligned to the CPD year from 1 July.

Must CPD training appear on the agency training plan?

Yes. Fair Trading’s CPD guidance states that Licensees-in-charge must have all CPD training detailed in the training plan for the agency.

Does completing my own CPD satisfy LIC supervision duties?

No. Your personal CPD is separate from supervising others. LIC duties include ensuring no part of the business is left unsupervised and keeping the agency training plan current as staff complete CPD.

How is this different from a training-plan how-to guide?

A training-plan guide explains what to put in the document. This article focuses on day-to-day supervision habits — how LICs connect staff CPD progress to the plan and to proper supervision of the business. Start with the training plan checklist if you need the template fields.

Sources

Primary references used for this article:

• Licensee in charge — role and responsibilities
• Supervision guidelines for property agencies
• Continuing Professional Development requirements

Confirm your obligations against your licence arrangements and the latest Fair Trading guidance before relying on this summary.