Revived from the RoPA report, a mandatory agent qualification is back on the agenda. Lisa Isaacs discovers why you should get qualified now.
13th Jan 20260 413 5 minutes read Lisa Isaacs
The Government is intent on ‘professionalising property agents’. Light regulation, low public trust scores and the absence of minimum professional standards are supposedly a blight on the industry, as laid out in the Home Buying & Selling Reform introducer.
Agents, however, have long argued that experience and memberships of industry bodies are enough but with binding conditional contracts and a Code of Practice on the horizon, every agent should be competent and fit to practice.
As well as emboldening the industry’s knowledge base and setting minimum levels of service, a mandatory agent qualification also has the potential to turn agency into a coveted, aspirational career.
When I grow up, I want to be…..When BBC’s Bitesize Careers asked teens their preferred vocation in 2025, they didn’t say estate agency. Instead, they want to become doctors, engineers, vets, police officers and teachers – all roles with training, qualifications and professional validation at their heart.
Anthony Hesse, Property Personnel
Anthony Hesse at Property Personnel understands why agency isn’t setting the careers world on fire: “As the law currently stands, becoming an estate agent requires no qualifications and no experience. As a result, it’s often seen as a transient, low-skill job, rather than a professional career.”
It’s not as if all property professions are viewed in the same light but Anthony believes a formal qualification would put agents on an equal footing: “It makes sense that agents are subject to the same scrutiny as others in property advisory sectors, such as financial services, surveying and conveyancing.
“They all have clear qualification frameworks elevating their professional status and demonstrating a minimum standard of competence.”
Hilary Grayson at Sava agrees: “Energy assessors must also demonstrate their competence through qualification and accreditation, yet agents – who advise clients on high-value transactions – currently have no formal benchmark.
There’s a real opportunity here to reposition agency as a respected, skilled profession.”
“Introducing a qualification for agents would bring parity across related professions and reinforce consumer confidence that everyone involved in their property transaction meets a consistent standard of knowledge and ethics. There’s a real opportunity here to reposition agency as a respected, skilled profession.”
Expanding the talent poolAnthony adds that a mandatory agent qualification would also attract a higher level of talent into the profession. He feels any profession needing a qualification to practice has added kudos, so introducing an agency requirement could tempt people who would otherwise dismiss a career in agency.
He says: “Generation Z, for example, typically look for roles with structure, recognised learning pathways and long-term development opportunities, so an agency qualification would certainly appeal to that age group.”
Analysis that supports this thinking includes Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey. It found young professionals are prioritising career progression, seeking roles that allow them to learn and develop.
“A mandatory qualification would create meaningful career pathways for individuals entering or progressing within the sector,” comments Hilary, “particularly if professional bodies such as the RICS support the initiative.”
Will 20 years count for anything?There is a strong argument for special arrangements to be made for agents who have been successfully practicing for years. Hilary believes experience should be recognised, although experience is not necessarily a guarantee of modern competence.
A good system will include recognition of prior learning for experienced agents, alongside top-up routes or assessments.”
She recommends: “A good system will include recognition of prior learning for experienced agents, alongside top-up routes or assessments to demonstrate understanding of up-to-date legislation, regulation and consumer protection. This kind of approach would also ensure newcomers have clear entry routes, while established professionals can validate and strengthen their existing credibility.”
Hilary Grayson, Sava
Hilary is keen to point out that a qualification doesn’t necessarily mean taking an exam. Anything mandatory could take the form of structured assessment based on actual competence and not just recall.
As an Ofqual-regulated assessment centre already delivering qualifications in surveying, valuation and housing, Sava has the ability to design and deliver competency-based, accessible and flexible qualifications that reflect real-world practice. Hilary says this would allow experienced agents to demonstrate their understanding of the latest standards.
Are retakes a reality?We know some agents held professional qualifications before the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) report was released in 2019 and a flurry gained them after, so how existing qualifications may hold up in the future is a valid question.
Charlotte Jeffrey-Campbell, The Able Agent
Qualification conversion is a hot topic at The Able Agent. Charlotte Jeffrey-Campbell has overseen hundreds of agents gaining a Level 3 qualification (equal to an A level).
“The RoPA report detailed that any Ofqual-regulated, nationally recognised qualifications would have been accepted for licensing. The Able Agent’s Level 3 qualifications already meet that standard,” says Charlotte.
“If the Government introduces additional content or broadens the requirements, online top-up modules would be straightforward to implement. With a large bank of high-quality content already in place, we can quickly add or align material to meet any revised syllabus.”
Back to the booksNew joiners and less experienced agents may find themselves in a more ‘back to school’ environment – a concern for streamlined offices where time is of the essence. Charlotte says gaining a qualification will be challenging because the knowledge required is broad and varied but says it will be accessible for those in full-time roles.
“Most learners can achieve a Level 3 qualification within six to seven months. Study can be in short, manageable sessions – either 25 minutes a day – or two-hour focused blocks. There should be online pathways, flexible assessment options and remote invigilation systems, as well as local test centres.”
Why wait to get qualified?Although the Home Buying & Selling Reform consultation is nearing its end and a roadmap for change promised in 2026, realistically we are years away from a compulsory agency qualification, so why act now?
Time and resourcing pressures can be alleviated if agents start the qualification process now. “We created our CELA qualification because we had a number of agents asking us to create something that helped them get ahead of any legislation.
Agents taking immediate action will have more flexibility to learn at their own pace.”
“Agents taking immediate action will have more flexibility to learn at their own pace and managers can schedule training for the whole team, all while still delivering exceptional service to keep their pipeline moving,” says Rightmove’s Christian Balshen.
Qualifications also help with perceptions. “Home movers expect high levels of professionalism from agents,” adds Christian. “In fact, 74% of homeowners said they’d be more likely to use an agent who is qualified over one who isn’t, adding they’d even do so if their fee was higher.”
A statistic like that should encourage more agents to prepare now for the inevitable and win new business in the process, but agents do need to help themselves. More is required to raise awareness among the general public that agents can obtain qualifications and have been tested on best practice.
Christian Balshen, Rightmove
“Around a third of homeowners are currently unsure what qualifications or licences agents are required to hold,” says Christian, “so there’s an opportunity for qualified agents to showcase their commitment to professionalism. Agents who qualify before it becomes compulsory can use their accreditations as a unique selling point and to gain a competitive advantage.”
Training for Rightmove’s Level 3 CELA qualification is included within the Rightmove membership for estate and letting agencies, with the portal futureproofing the content to ensure it meets the RoPA report guidelines and any incoming standards.
“The only cost is the final exam fee charged by the awarding body,” concludes Christian.
Tagsrecruitment Ropa training 13th Jan 20260 413 5 minutes read Lisa Isaacs Share Facebook X LinkedIn Share via Email
