Type 1 vs Type 2 CPD Sessions in Queensland: What Counts and What Does Not

Your licence renewal is approaching and you’ve spent the past few months attending a franchise training day, a local council forum on property law updates, and a sales coaching webinar. None of it counts. As of 6 June 2025, continuing professional development (CPD) became a legal requirement for all real estate professionals in Queensland — and the framework is more prescriptive than most agents initially assume. Understanding the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 CPD sessions in Queensland real estate is not just an administrative detail. It determines whether your hours of training actually protect your licence or simply don’t appear on the ledger.

The Legislative Foundation

Queensland’s mandatory CPD regime is embedded in the Property Occupations Act 2014 (Qld). Division 1A of Part 3 of that Act — sections 92A through 92E — sets out the CPD framework for licensees, covering definitions, the obligation to complete CPD requirements, record-keeping, and the chief executive’s power to approve and publish CPD requirements. Equivalent provisions for salespersons appear at Division 11 of Part 5, sections 151A to 151E.

The practical effect is that compliance is not discretionary. You must complete two approved CPD sessions each CPD year, and if you do not, you may not be eligible to renew your licence or registration. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) administers and enforces these obligations, and it controls exactly which sessions count.

What makes Queensland’s model distinctive is its deliberate structure around two session types. The OFT has split CPD into two types. Each type serves a different educational purpose and draws from different source material. Choosing sessions without understanding that distinction is the most common mistake agents make in their first CPD year.

What Is a Type 1 CPD Session?

Type 1 sessions are condensed versions of units in the national property services training package, designed to help real estate professionals build their knowledge and stay up to date with industry standards.

The “national property services training package” referenced here is the CPP Property Services Training Package, which underpins the qualification framework for real estate licensing across Australia. A Type 1 CPD session is a “condensed CPD version” of a unit of competency from the CPP41419 Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice qualification, with content aligned to that unit but tailored to meet the needs of existing Queensland real estate professionals. As a result, a Type 1 session typically covers the foundational concepts in real estate, making it a useful refresher or “back to basics” session.

There are two pathways to satisfy a Type 1 requirement:

• Approved CPD version: A condensed session based on a unit of competency, delivered by an OFT-approved provider — either a registered training organisation (RTO) or an industry body with at least two years’ experience training the property sector, or a government department.
• Fully accredited unit: Enrolment with an RTO to complete a complete, nationally accredited unit of competency from a qualifying property services qualification.

You can enrol with a registered training organisation to complete a fully accredited unit from one of the qualifying qualifications under the national property services training package, including the CPP40521 Certificate IV in Strata Community Management. Notably, while these fully accredited units do not begin with the session code ‘QLDCPD20’ like other approved CPD sessions, they are fully compliant and meet the Type 1 CPD requirements in Queensland.

A critical point worth understanding: even though a Type 1 session is based on a unit of competency, you will not have to complete any formal assessments. This distinguishes it from undertaking the qualification proper. The CPD version delivers the content without the VET assessment burden, which keeps it accessible for working agents.

Topics Typically Covered in Type 1 Sessions

Because Type 1 content maps directly to units in the national training package, the subject matter tends to centre on core technical competencies. Examples drawn from OFT-approved Type 1 sessions currently on the register include topics such as trust account management, property management fundamentals, the sales and auction process, and buyer’s agency practice. REIQ-approved Type 1 sessions have included titles such as Acquiring Expertise in Trust Account Management (QLDCPD20250008) and Financial Intelligence in Real Estate (QLDCPD20250059).

The practical value of Type 1 is as a systematic reinforcement of foundational competency. For newer salespersons, it consolidates skills that may have been covered quickly during initial qualification. For experienced licensees, it serves as a structured audit of knowledge that daily practice can cause to drift from best practice.

What Is a Type 2 CPD Session?

Type 2 sessions are designed to promote and improve industry-relevant skills. They are not based on the property training package units of competency.

This is the key structural difference. Where Type 1 is grounded in the nationally accredited qualification framework, Type 2 operates in a different space — one focused on service quality, industry evolution, and professional practice.

Type 2 CPD focuses on service delivery, consumer satisfaction, and professional ethics, improving communication and negotiation skills across sales, property management, and leasing. The breadth of eligible subject matter is considerably wider than Type 1, which makes Type 2 the more flexible of the two.

A Type 2 session focuses on enhancing service outcomes and consumer protection for buyers and sellers. These CPD courses aim to boost the professionalism, customer service, and ethical business practices of people in the profession, whether in sales or property management.

The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is a notable example of a Type 2 provider. The RTA is an approved provider of Type 2 CPD training sessions, delivering sessions online and in-person to Queensland property managers and agents. Sessions offered by the RTA have covered tenancy dispute management, the lifecycle of a tenancy under Queensland legislation, and the application of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 to daily practice.

Topics Typically Covered in Type 2 Sessions

Type 2 sessions span a wider content range than Type 1 because they are not constrained by a qualification framework. Topics approved by the OFT for the current period have included legislative updates on tenancy law, anti-money laundering obligations for real estate agencies, domestic violence awareness and responsibilities under Queensland law, cybersecurity risks in the property industry, and changes to Form 6 requirements under the Property Occupations Act 2014.

Among REIQ-approved Type 2 sessions, for instance, are Navigating Upcoming Changes in Anti Money Laundering Legislation for Qld Real Estate Agents (QLDCPD20250054) and Understanding Domestic Violence and Responsibilities of Real Estate Agents in Queensland (QLDCPD20250060).

The AML/CTF angle in particular reflects the emerging regulatory environment. As Australia’s anti-money laundering regime is extended to professional services including real estate agencies, Type 2 sessions covering this content have practical, near-term compliance value beyond the CPD obligation itself.

The Valid Combinations: What Your Annual Requirement Actually Looks Like

To meet the OFT CPD requirements, a real estate agent must complete two approved CPD training sessions per year, choosing from the following options: one Type 1 CPD session and one Type 2 CPD session; or two Type 1 sessions. The OFT says a duration of two to three hours for each compulsory CPD session is considered sufficient.

This means two Type 2 sessions alone will not satisfy your annual obligation. You must have at least one Type 1 session in the mix. Many agents default to the one-of-each combination, which is the most logical approach: the Type 1 reinforces core competency, and the Type 2 adds contemporary, industry-relevant content that keeps practice current.

The ability to complete two Type 1 sessions provides useful flexibility — particularly for agents who identify a second area of foundational knowledge they want to consolidate, or who find a second suitable Type 1 session more accessible in their region or schedule.

Although real estate agent CPD points are compulsory in other jurisdictions, there is no requirement for them in Queensland. Instead, agents need to complete two CPD sessions every CPD year, each taking about two to three hours. This is markedly simpler than the point-accumulation systems used in New South Wales and Victoria, where annual hour requirements run considerably higher.

Your CPD Year: When the Clock Starts and Stops

One aspect of Queensland’s CPD model that catches agents out — particularly those who have completed training ahead of schedule — is that the CPD year is individual, not calendar-based.

Each CPD year begins on the anniversary date of the issuing of your licence or certificate. Each agent’s CPD year is based on the date your licence or registration was issued, meaning your CPD year is specific to you.

Any training you do before your CPD year begins will not count. This catches agents who complete sessions early, expecting them to carry forward. They do not. If your licence anniversary is 1 October and you completed an OFT-approved session in July, that session falls outside your CPD year and contributes nothing to your mandatory obligation.

The OFT provides a CPD calculator on its website that allows you to enter your licence issue date and identify exactly when your CPD year begins and ends. Your licence or registration issue date is printed on your current licence or registration. If you hold multiple licences, or both a licence and a registration, use the one with the earliest issue date.

From 6 June 2026, when renewing or restoring your licence or registration, you will need to declare that you have completed your CPD — you do not need to attach proof at the time of renewal. However, the records must exist. You must keep the proof-of-completion document for five years and produce it to the OFT on request.

What Does Not Count: The Non-Qualifying Training Trap

This is where many agents are exposed. The Queensland CPD framework is explicit: only sessions that appear on the OFT’s approved list, or that constitute fully accredited units from a qualifying property services qualification delivered by an RTO, will count.

Only the approved CPD sessions listed on the OFT’s website will count towards your two mandatory sessions. Any CPD sessions completed from other states or territories, even if approved there, will not be accepted.

This exclusion is significant for agents who have trained across state lines or who participate in national franchise training programs. A session approved by NSW Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs Victoria carries no weight in Queensland, regardless of content quality.

The following categories of training are common sources of confusion — and none of them satisfy the Queensland CPD obligation unless they appear on the OFT’s approved list:

• Franchise-run sales training and onboarding programs
• Internal agency professional development days
• Conference keynote sessions, panel discussions, or industry forums
• Real estate market update webinars
• Training completed through providers who have not submitted a session proposal to the OFT
• CPD sessions delivered in another Australian state or territory
• Any training completed before your CPD year commenced

When selecting a CPD session in Queensland, only OFT-approved sessions can count towards your mandatory annual requirements. An approved CPD session will have a CPD code next to its title — for example, QLDCPD20250183.

The session code is the clearest verification method available. If a provider cannot supply a QLDCPD code for their session, treat it as non-qualifying until confirmed otherwise. Sessions approved in Queensland begin with the session code ‘QLDCPD20’, or alternatively agents can complete an approved unit under the national property services training package.

The provider eligibility rules are also specific. CPD sessions may only be provided by eligible organisations that have had sessions approved by the OFT. To have a session approved, a provider must lodge a CPD session proposal, which the OFT evaluates in conjunction with the CPD Advisory Panel. This panel — comprising industry, community, and training representatives — plays an active role in determining which sessions are sanctioned.

Sole provider capability matters too. Providers approved to deliver one type of session are not automatically cleared to deliver the other. A provider may be authorised to deliver Type 1 sessions but not Type 2, or vice versa. Confirming both the session code and the session type before enrolment avoids discovering after the fact that a session doesn’t fill the gap you thought it would.

Proof of Completion and Record-Keeping

Once you complete a session, the CPD provider must supply you with proof of completion, such as a certificate or statement of attainment.

The form of that proof varies by session type. Proof will be in the form of a Statement of Attainment for a Type 1a session — that is, a fully accredited unit — or a CPD Certificate of Completion for all other sessions. Both are valid. The distinction matters only if the OFT or an inspector later asks to sight your records: presenting the correct document type avoids unnecessary follow-up.

Five years. That is how long you must retain your completion documentation. Agents are required to keep the proof-of-completion document for five years and produce it to OFT inspectors upon request. Given licence renewals in Queensland operate on a three-year cycle, this means records may need to span more than one renewal period.

Do not assume that your training provider retains these records on your behalf indefinitely. Practice treating CPD certificates the same way you treat trust account statements: issued, saved, stored securely, accessible on demand.

Exemptions: When CPD Is Not Required

The obligation is broad — it applies to licensed real estate agents, real estate salespersons, property managers, auctioneers, resident letting agents, and business brokers — but structured exemptions exist.

The following individuals are exempt from the CPD obligation: those whose current licence or registration was first issued less than 12 months ago (they only need to start CPD 12 months after the licence was first issued); those whose licence was deactivated for most of their CPD year; those holding a limited real estate agent licence for affordable housing or for business letting; and those who represent public sector agencies or are officials with a licence under the Property Occupations Act 2014, provided they do not hold an individual licence or registration.

You can also apply for an exemption for any given year if you cannot complete your CPD due to exceptional circumstances. To apply, you must provide evidence of the exceptional circumstances with your application to renew or restore your licence or registration.

The 12-month exemption for newly issued licences is a practical grace period, not a waiver. Once that window closes, the full obligation applies in the next CPD year. Newly registered salespersons should confirm their exact start date to avoid inadvertently missing their first CPD year.

Exceptional circumstances — illness, serious injury, significant family hardship — are assessed on evidence. The OFT does not accept scheduling conflicts or workload pressure as grounds for exemption.

Queensland vs Other States: Context Worth Knowing

The new CPD rules bring Queensland in line with other jurisdictions like New South Wales, where CPD requirements have long been enforced. NSW, for example, has required CPD since 2009, with licensees needing to complete a prescribed number of points across compulsory and elective topics each year. Victoria’s CPD framework similarly requires point-accumulation across multiple categories.

Queensland’s two-session model is deliberately streamlined by comparison. The absence of a points system reduces administrative complexity and means agents are not juggling hours across multiple categories. But it is no less mandatory in its consequences. If you do not complete your two approved sessions, you may not be eligible to renew your licence or registration.

For agents or principals who have worked in other states and are now operating in Queensland, the most important distinction is that out-of-state CPD — regardless of how recently it was completed, how reputable the provider, or how directly relevant the content — does not satisfy Queensland’s obligation.

What This Means for Queensland Agents

The practical implications of the Type 1 vs Type 2 CPD framework come down to four decisions every agent needs to make each year.

Verify the QLDCPD code before you enrol. If the session advertisement does not display a code beginning with QLDCPD20, confirm approval status with the OFT’s published list before committing time and money. The volume of non-qualifying training that circulates through franchise networks and industry events creates genuine compliance risk for agents who assume all professional training is CPD-compliant.

Confirm the type and match it to what you need. Before enrolling, identify whether you need to fill a Type 1 requirement, a Type 2 requirement, or both. Two Type 2 sessions is never a valid combination. If you have already completed a Type 1 session for the year, your second session can be either type — but knowing this lets you choose content that actually serves a gap in your knowledge rather than simply repeating a format.

Know your CPD year, not just the calendar year. Your CPD year is based on your individual licence issue date, not the calendar year. Most compliance failures in the first years of a new CPD regime occur because practitioners track a calendar year rather than their own rolling anniversary window.

Store completion records properly and permanently. A certificate of completion or statement of attainment issued after a session is a regulatory document. You must keep the proof-of-completion document for five years and produce it to the OFT on request. File it in a dedicated folder — digital or physical — immediately after receipt. Do not wait until renewal time to locate certificates that may have arrived by email months earlier.

The CPD framework in Queensland is new enough that many agents are still forming their habits around it. The agents who will have the smoothest renewals are those who treat session selection as a compliance exercise first and a professional development opportunity second — and who verify credentials before enrolment, not after.