Do You Need a Separate Licence to Conduct Auctions in Queensland?
You hold a Queensland real estate agent licence. You understand the listing process, you know how to negotiate, and you’ve run dozens of successful campaigns. Now a vendor wants to go to auction — and someone in the office asks whether you can actually call it yourself. The answer is: not unless you also hold a separate auctioneer licence. In Queensland, the right to stand at the front of a crowd and conduct a property auction is not bundled with your real estate licence. It requires its own credential entirely.
This distinction catches agents out more often than it should, particularly those who have moved from interstate where the licensing framework works differently. Understanding exactly what each licence authorises — and where the boundaries lie — is not optional knowledge for a Queensland agent.
How the Property Occupations Act 2014 Draws the Line
In Queensland, the conduct of property auctions is regulated under the Property Occupations Act 2014 (Qld) and supporting regulations. The Act establishes a licence framework that is categorical: it creates distinct licence types with distinct authorised activities, and those categories do not overlap by default.
Both auctioneers and real estate agents fall within the definition of property agents under the Act. An “auctioneer” is specifically defined as a person who holds an auctioneer licence. An auctioneer licence is separate and distinct to that of a real estate agent licence, and it authorises the auctioneer, in the course of business or as an employee, to sell or attempt to sell or offer for sale or resale any real property, or an interest in real property, by way of auction as an agent for others for reward, and to sell the property or interest by any means during the auction period.
An auctioneer must have a current and valid licence. An auctioneer licence is the only type of licence that permits a person to auction real estate — not a real estate agent or chattel auctioneer licence. However, it is possible that a person holds more than one type of licence.
That last point is the practical resolution for many agents: they obtain both a real estate agent licence and an auctioneer licence, which allows them to list, negotiate, and call the auction themselves. But these are two separate applications, two separate training pathways, and two separate licences — held concurrently rather than combined into one.
What a Real Estate Agent Licence Does Not Authorise
This is the part that creates confusion, especially for agents moving from New South Wales or Victoria. A full Queensland real estate agent licence authorises its holder to negotiate and complete property sales, manage properties, operate trust accounts, and run a real estate agency. The full real estate agent licence allows you to operate trust accounts and run, own or manage a real estate agency. It does not allow you to conduct auctions.
The position is even clearer for registered salespersons. As a registered real estate salesperson, you work under the supervision of a real estate agent who holds a Queensland Office of Fair Trading real estate licence. Real estate salespeople are not permitted to conduct property auctions or manage real estate trust accounts.
So the prohibition runs through the entire hierarchy of the real estate stream: salespersons cannot call auctions, and licensed real estate agents cannot call auctions. The authorisation to conduct a real property auction exists solely within the auctioneer licence. An agent who calls an auction without holding that licence is acting outside the scope of their authorisation — and the penalties that flow from unlicensed conduct under the Property Occupations Act 2014 are serious.
It is worth emphasising: there is nothing stopping a skilled agent from obtaining both licences. The point is simply that possession of a real estate licence does not grant this right automatically. The auctioneer licence must be applied for and held independently.
What the Auctioneer Licence Actually Authorises
The auctioneer licence confers a specific bundle of rights that go beyond standing at a podium and calling bids. An auctioneer licence authorises the holder to sell or attempt to sell or offer for sale or resale any real property, or an interest in real property, by way of auction as an agent for others for reward; to sell the property or interest by any means during the auction period; and to sell or attempt to sell or offer for sale or resale goods by way of auction if the sale is directly connected with a sale by auction of a place of residence or land performed by the auctioneer.
That second authorisation — to sell by any means during the auction period — is often underappreciated. An auctioneer licence allows you to sell real property by auction. This includes attempting or offering to sell the property, as well as selling other types of property by auction, but only if the property is connected to a real property auction — for example, livestock as part of an auction for a farmhouse and rural land — and selling the property by any means during the auction period.
The “auction period” in this context runs from the signing of the Form 6 appointment through to the conclusion of the auction. The auction period refers to the time frame from the signing of Form 6 until the auction concludes. During this period, the auctioneer can sell the property through negotiations but does not have the same authority to sign the contract on behalf of the parties as they do on auction day.
Once you hold an auctioneer licence, you can legally sell property during an auction process including dwellings, community title lots, businesses, and vacant land in Queensland. As a qualified auctioneer, you can work alone, with others, or as an employee of an auctioneer or a real estate agency.
One narrow exemption is worth knowing: you do not need a licence to run a charity auction if you do not receive reward (payment) for it. This is a limited carve-out and does not extend to any commercial real estate auction context.
The Qualification Pathway to an Auctioneer Licence
Obtaining a Queensland auctioneer licence requires completing specific units of competency through a registered training organisation, then lodging an application with the Office of Fair Trading.
The units required by the Office of Fair Trading Queensland to hold a Real Estate Auctioneer’s Licence are: CPPREP4001 Prepare for professional practice in real estate; CPPREP4002 Access and interpret ethical practice in real estate; CPPREP4003 Access and interpret legislation in real estate; CPPREP4004 Establish marketing and communication profiles in real estate; CPPREP4005 Prepare to work with real estate trust accounts; CPPREP4161 Undertake pre-auction processes; CPPREP4162 Conduct and complete sale by auction; CPPREP4163 Complete post-auction process and contract execution; CPPREP4125 Transact in trust accounts; and CPPREP5006 Manage operational finances in the property industry.
That is ten units of competency, culminating in a Statement of Attainment from your RTO. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be issued with a Statement of Attainment which, together with your application form, needs to be submitted to the Office of Fair Trading Queensland.
For agents who already hold a real estate agent licence and have studied through the CPP Training Package after April 2021, there may be credit for units already completed. If you’ve already completed studies after April 2021 with units drawn from the CPP Training Package, you could be eligible for the Auctioneer Licence Upgrade. This significantly reduces the volume of new study required and is a pathway worth investigating with your RTO before enrolling from scratch.
The approved qualifications that satisfy the educational requirements include specific units drawn from the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice (CPP31319) and the Diploma of Property (Agency Management) (CPP51122). There are new training units that must be completed in order to apply for a property licence or registration. Ensure your RTO is delivering the current units before enrolling — training packages are updated periodically, and outdated units will not satisfy the OFT’s requirements.
Once you’ve completed your real estate educational qualifications and applied, it can take the Office of Fair Trading between four and six weeks to process your application. Factor this processing time into your planning if you have a specific auction campaign in mind.
Interstate Agents and Licence Transfer
For agents moving to Queensland from another state or New Zealand, the framework provides a pathway rather than a full restart. If you currently hold an individual auctioneer or chattel auctioneer licence from interstate or New Zealand, you can transfer it to a Queensland licence.
The transfer pathway — sometimes called a mutual recognition application — means an experienced interstate auctioneer is not required to complete the full qualification from scratch. However, the transfer must be formalised before conducting any auctions in Queensland. Holding an interstate licence and operating in Queensland on that basis alone is not permissible. The Queensland licence must be issued.
This is a specific and practical distinction for interstate-based agency groups who conduct campaigns in multiple states. A Victorian or NSW auctioneer flying to Queensland to call an auction needs a Queensland auctioneer licence, not merely their home state credential.
The Auction Compliance Framework the Auctioneer Must Understand
Obtaining the licence is step one. Knowing the compliance obligations that come with it is equally important. Behind every successful auction is a tightly regulated framework governing who may conduct an auction, who may bid, and how the process must be documented.
Appointment and authority. You cannot conduct an auction on a property without a valid appointment to act. This is done by way of a compliant Form 6 Appointment for residential sales or a Form 6A Appointment for commercial sales. Where an agency is appointed to sell a property by auction, the appointment authorises the agency’s employed auctioneers to conduct the auction. If an external auctioneer is engaged, the auctioneer’s engagement must be formalised and a written copy given to each client.
Name disclosure. Auctioneers do not need to display their licence at auction, however must either display or announce their name. This is a procedural requirement that applies from the moment the auction opens.
Conditions of sale. Prior to the auction, the auctioneer must announce the conditions of the auction property sale, including the deposit required, details of the inspection and any other relevant information.
Bidder registration. You must keep a register of all bidders at an auction. Only registered bidders may place bids. Since 21 August 2006, a law has required that everyone who wants to bid must first give the auctioneer their name, address, and proof of identity.
Reserve price and vendor bids. In Queensland, auctioneers can accept vendor (seller) bids, but only up to the reserve price. Before the bid reaches the reserve price, the auctioneer can accept bids on behalf of the vendor or their representative. The auctioneer must announce if a bid is a vendor bid. Once you reach the reserve price, any more vendor bids will become false bids. False bids are illegal.
Reserve price confidentiality. You must not disclose the reserve price to anyone other than a person acting for the seller. A penalty of $32,260 applies if you don’t do this.
Price guides are prohibited. A misleading price guide may breach rules about bait advertising. Agents and auctioneers are prohibited from providing price guides for properties being sold by auction — a rule that distinguishes Queensland from Victoria, where price guides are standard practice.
Contract execution. The auctioneer’s authority to sign the contract is activated at the fall of the hammer. The contract must be signed by the auctioneer on the same day to maintain validity.
Auction contract book. When the person places the property with the auctioneer for sale, the auctioneer must enter in the auction contract book the date the property is placed, the name and address of the owner or the person who has placed the property with the auctioneer for sale, and other prescribed particulars.
Ongoing CPD Obligations for Licensed Auctioneers
Holding the licence is a continuing obligation, not a one-time credential. As of 6 June 2025, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a legal requirement for all real estate professionals in Queensland. Whether you are a licensed real estate agent, registered salesperson, or resident letting agent, staying compliant means completing a minimum amount of CPD each year.
CPD is now mandatory for all Queensland property professionals who hold one of the following licences or registrations, regardless of job, position, or role. It ensures you stay up to date with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. This applies to auctioneer licence holders as much as any other credential. You must complete two approved CPD sessions each CPD year. If you don’t, you may not be eligible to renew your licence or registration.
From 6 June 2026, you will only need to confirm your CPD status when renewing or restoring your licence or registration. Auctioneers should plan around their licence anniversary date and complete CPD sessions before lodging their renewal to avoid processing delays.
What This Means for Queensland Agents
The practical conclusions from this licensing framework are clear and consequential.
If you want to call your own auctions, you need a separate auctioneer licence. Your real estate agent licence does not grant this authority — regardless of how long you have been in the industry or how many auction campaigns you have managed. The training pathway is structured around ten specific units of competency, a Statement of Attainment, and an application to the Office of Fair Trading. Budget four to six weeks for the application to be processed, and plan accordingly if you have a live auction campaign in mind.
If you already hold a real estate licence and have studied through the CPP Training Package since April 2021, explore the Auctioneer Licence Upgrade pathway. Depending on your completed units, you may not need to start from scratch. Your RTO can advise on the credit recognition available.
If you are moving to Queensland from interstate, you cannot assume your home state auctioneer credential carries over. A licence transfer application to the Office of Fair Trading is required before you conduct any auction in Queensland. This applies to individual auctioneers and to interstate agencies deploying their auctioneers across state borders.
If your agency uses an external auctioneer rather than in-house staff, the engagement must be documented in writing and a copy provided to the client as required by the Act. The appointment arrangement must be formalised before auction day — not formalised retrospectively.
For agency principals managing a team, this framework means you need to know which of your agents hold auctioneer licences and ensure that no-one calls an auction without that credential. It is a straightforward compliance check, but one that protects the agency, the vendor, and the integrity of every sale conducted under your roof.
The Queensland licensing structure keeps auction authority clearly separated from general agency authority for good reason. Understanding precisely where one ends and the other begins is fundamental knowledge for any agent operating in this market.