Dr Samantha Smith is STBB's chief Content Writer and Legal Editor. She graduated with a BSocSci, LLB, LLM, and PhD (Law) from the University of Cape Town. Skilled in socio-legal analysis, critical thinking, and creative and technical writing, she previously worked in investigative legal research, with a special focus on animal law and environmental policy. As of February 2024, Samantha handles all STBB content. This includes brainstorming and writing all social media, newsflashes, newsletters, digital and print advertisements, magazine articles, and all webinar and podcast write-ups. Additionally, she attends to tenders and proposals, legal updates and presentations, biographies, brochures, information sheets, content for special projects, and various other digital publications and communications.

All About Property | Laying the groundwork: The roadmap to becoming a property practitioner

Thinking of becoming a property practitioner in South Africa? Here’s what you should know about the process.

Crucially, the first step to becoming a property practitioner is to apply for a Fidelity Fund Certificate (‘FFC’) and enrol for an NQF4 qualification, which includes workplace and learning modules.

Your internship begins when your first FFC is issued. From this date, the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (‘the PPRA’) gives you 180 days (approximately six months) in which to complete your internship and NQF4 qualification.

Months 1–6

  • Once you receive your FFC, enrol for the NQF4 OC Real Estate Agent Qualification with an accredited QCTO training provider.
  • As of 2024, the new NQF4 qualification includes six workplace modules, replacing the previous logbook requirement. This enables you to complete your NQF4 qualification and internship requirement at the same time.
  • To complete this component, a mentor within your agency must sign off on certain tasks.
  • If you have another qualification equivalent to a 3-year Bachelor’s degree with relevant subjects, you may apply for an NQF4 exemption. In that case, you’d only need to complete the six-month internship, along with six workplace modules.

Months 6–12

  • Once you’ve completed the NQF4 qualification, submit your QCTO certificate to the PPRA to upgrade your status. Now you’ll be eligible to enrol to write the PDE 4 examination.
  • Complete STBB’s exclusive PDE 4 exam preparation.
  • Study hard and write the exam!

Once you’ve passed the PDE 4 exam, the PPRA will issue you with a new full status FFC, allowing you to register for Continuous Professional Development (‘CPD’) and commence the first CPD cycle.

For further information or to consult with a property law specialist, contact us at info@stbb.co.za.

This content is the property of STBB. We encourage the sharing of our content for informational purposes. However, if you wish to copy or reproduce our content on your own platform or website, please ensure that proper credit is given to STBB.

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