Are you interested in joining Singapore’s exciting and dynamic property industry?
Embarking on a real estate career can be incredibly rewarding!
I’m living proof of this; I've not only built a successful career in property sales and team building but also invested in properties in my twenties and started several real estate-related businesses!
You can learn more about my journey with me.
However, becoming a real estate agent isn’t easy.
Before you can start your career as a real estate salesperson, you must complete the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) course and pass the RES exams. After meeting these requirements, you can register with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) as a licensed real estate salesperson.
This complete guide will walk you through what to expect on your journey to getting your license. Don't forget to check out my blog for more on the pros and cons, required capital, and other essential aspects of starting out in a real estate career!
I guarantee you’ll find it super helpful for deciding if this career is right for you and for avoiding the pitfalls and heartaches many of us have faced.
Think of it as "Accelerating your wisdom"!
1. RES Course Fees 2024
The cost of the course ranges from $650 to $784 at various CEA Approved Course Providers (read on to find out about the list of our recommended providers).
- If you’re an NTUC member below 40, you can enjoy up to $250 UTAP subsidy for your RES Exams.
- NTUC members who are 40 and above can enjoy higher funding support of up to $500 each for their course and exams.
- Singaporeans & Permanent Residents 25 years old and above can utilise their SkillsFuture credit of up to $500.
ENQUIRY ON UTAP MATTERS
Website: http://skillsupgrade.ntuc.org.sg
Email: UTAP@e2i.com.sg
NTUC Membership Hotline: 6213-8008
Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
2. RES Examination Fees 2024
The RES Exams consist of 2 papers which cost $425.10 (inclusive of GST).
If you are retaking the exams, it will cost you $239.80 (inclusive of GST) for each paper.
After passing the papers, you will normally attend a real estate recruitment seminar and register with a licensed estate agency.
These are some typical costs to note:
- Real Estate Salesperson Registration Fee: $54.50 + $230 (annual CEA fee) = $284.50
- Professional Indemnity Insurance: $120
- Agency levied admin fee for name cards / ID Tag / Start Up Course etc: Ranges between $300 to $500
In total, you will need to set aside around $2,200 to obtain your real estate licence with a real estate agency IF you pass on the 1st attempt.
What is the RES Course about?
The RES Course is a preparatory course for aspiring property agents to learn and understand the industry concepts and agency practice standards.
Under the Estate Agents Act, it is compulsory for potential property agents to attend and complete the RES Course conducted by a CEA Approved Course Provider.
This regulation is part of CEA’s goal to:
Increase quality standards for real estate agents wanting to pursue estate agency work.
Ensure property agents are professionally equipped and qualified.
Understand and practise good ethical standards.
During the wide-spanning lessons, you will acquire in-depth knowledge on the rules, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to the real estate agency practices like how you should handle a property transaction professionally and in compliance with government policies, state laws, and CEA’s prescribed rules and regulations.
It is truly alot of material and knowledge to remember and understand so, before you sign up for the course, please be mentally prepared and committed to studying really hard!
It is NOT easy and you should join in RES revision classes to help you pass more easily.
Fortunately, we have FREE RES revision classes for you! So do join in for extra mugging and tips! = )
To put it rationally, the RES Course covers such a broad spectrum of the industry that even practicing veteran real estate agents are unable to completely remember all the rules and regulations.
However, it does ensure that new property agents possess a much higher level of competency and knowledge of the real estate industry and related matters than before the exams were implemented.
To be qualified for the RES Course, you will have to meet these requirements:
1. Must be at least 21 years old
2. Singaporean or Permanent Resident
3. Minimum 4 GCE ‘O’ Level passes or equivalent (WPLN)
4. Fulfils CEA fit and proper criteria
RES Exam Topics
Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Exams Schedule
After completing the RES Course with a minimum attendance rate of 75%, you will receive a certification that indicates that you have completed the course.
With this certification, you are then allowed to register for the RES exam at CEA's appointed examination administrator, NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd
The exams are currently held 3 times a year during February/March, June and October.
In order not to miss your desired examination date, you should register at least 2 months in advance as registration closes 1 to 2 months prior.
NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd (LHub)
Website: https://res.ntuclearninghub.com/
Hotline: (Mon - Fri, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm): 6336 5482
E-mail: rea@ntuclearninghub.com
Address:
NTUC Trade Union House
73 Bras Basah Road #02-01
Singapore 189556
Exam Venue:
Singapore Institute of Management Headquarters (SIM HQ)
461 Clementi Road. Singapore 599491
Exam Format
There will be a total of 2 papers with Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the following format:
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes for each paper
Format: Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are of the same format
Section A: 60 MCQs (60 marks)
Section B: 20 MCQs with reference to 1 or 2 Case Studies (40 marks)
- Paper 1 covers Competency Units 1 and 2, which include "Real Estate Agency Industry Overview and Basic Land Law Concepts" and "Dealings with Interests in Land," respectively.
- Paper 2 covers Competency Units 3 and 4, which include "Regulation of Real Estate Agency Industry and Real Estate Marketing" and "Property Transactions."
To obtain your license, you must pass both papers. The passing mark for each examination paper is 60%, and is subject to review by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).
RES Exams Results Notification
The Exam Administrator will notify you of your results.
When are the RES Examination results released?
- The RES Examination results will be released 4 – 6 weeks after the examinations.
Candidates who have passed one paper* are allowed to retake the examination in modular sitting.
The exams results will be in one of the following formats:
- Pass (P)
- Fail (F)
- Pass Paper 1; Fail Paper 2 (P1 F2)
- Fail Paper 1; Pass Paper 2 (F1 P2)
It is a requirement for RES Course participants to pass the RES Exams, comprising two papers, within 2 years of getting your RES Course completion certificate.
If you have a modular pass in one paper of the RES Exams, you are required to pass the remaining paper within the 2 years timeframe.
If you fail to do so, the modular pass in one paper will not be valid and you will have to retake the RES course before attempting the RES Exams (i.e. both Paper 1 and Paper 2) again. Ouch!
It is highly recommended that you join in our regular free RES Exam Revision sessions.
Find out more about our revision sessions.
Appeal of RES Exams Results
If you think you should have passed the exams but failed, you may submit an appeal to review your paper via SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC), CEA's appointed examination administrator, within 5 working days from the date of the notification of examination results.
Do take note that a non-refundable fee of $65.40 (inclusive of GST) will be charged for the review of each paper.
Examination Deferment Request
All deferments, whether COVID related or due to legitimate unforeseen reasons such as NS call up, bereavement etc. are subject to approval of NTUC Learning Hub and an admin fee of $109 will be levied on each deferment.
No refunds will be made.
Applications must be made within 5 working days of the exam date via https://res.ntuclearninghub.com.
Examination Exemptions
Students who have completed the Bachelor of Science (Real Estate) course and Diploma in Real Estate Business course offered by the National University of Singapore and Ngee Ann Polytechnic respectively on or after 1 April 2020 are exempted from Paper 1 of the RES examination.
They will be required to attend and complete the partial RES course for Paper 2 to be eligible to sit for RES examination Paper 2. Course completers will be issued with the Certificate of Completion for Real Estate Salesperson Course (Papers 2) that allows them to register for the exams.
For more information about these two qualifications, refer to the List of Recognized Equivalent Qualifications.
Important Note for Aspiring Real Estate Agents and Foreigners
Attending the RES Course and passing the exams does not automatically qualify you to be a real estate agent.
It is only part of the criteria.
You still have to fulfil other prevailing registration criteria, which include approaching a registered estate agency to submit a salesperson registration application to CEA.
You can refer to CEA’s website (www.CEA.gov.sg) for the list of registration criteria before you register yourself for the RES Course.
For foreigners exploring a career in property sales, you will need to have a valid Employment Pass (EP) issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before you can register with CEA as a real estate salesperson.
You will need to produce a letter of sponsorship issued by your real estate agency when you register for the RES Course.
Hence, you should start by first searching for an established real estate agency which is willing to hire you, to support you in your registration application and guide you through the process.
RECOMMENDED LIST OF
RES COURSE PROVIDERS
2024 Recommended CEA Approved Course Providers for the RES Course
There are many training centres and in case you are wondering which RES course provider to go for, this list will be helpful as I have heard good reviews from the new property agents who have joined us.
If you stay near to central areas, Hastor Property (Reputed high passing rate) and Real Centre Network are the best choices!
If you stay in the west, head to Pioneer Training & Consultancy.
If you are an East sider, head to Singapore Estate Agents Association.
Each real estate school has different RES course schedules to suit busy working adults or parents alike with courses such as weekends only, Saturdays only, specific weekday nights and express classes.
Details here:
Hastor Property Services (Great trainers Celeste Ng and Daryl Ou)
Website: www.hastor.com.sg
Tel: 6252 2802
Email: Training@hastor.sg
Venue: 190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #02-514, Toa Payoh Central,
Singapore 310190
(Located above KFC, please use the stairs beside KFC and go up to Level 2)
Institute of Estate Agents
Website: www.iea.sg
Tel No: 6323 1770
Email: courses@iea.sg
Venue: 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #07-01 HDB Hub East Wing Singapore 310480
Pioneer Training & Consultancy Pte Ltd
Website: www.pioneertraining.org
Tel No: 6462 6093 / 9424 3483
Email: pioneertc@gmail.com
Venue: Blk 134 Jurong Gateway Road #03-309P Singapore 600134
Real Centre Network Pte Ltd
Website: www.realcentrenetwork.com
Tel No: 6511 3009
Email: info@realcentrenetwork.com
Venue: 490 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #09-16 HDB Hub Biz 3 Singapore 310490
BenchMark RealPro Pte Ltd
Website: www.benchmarkrealpro.com
Tel: 6735 5860 / 6735 5861
Email: benchmarkrealpro@gmail.com
Venue: 151 Chin Swee Road #03-31 Manhattan House Singapore 169876.
Singapore Estate Agents Association
Website: www.seaa.org.sg
Tel No: 6702 1602
Email: edu@seaa.org.sg
Venue: 60 Paya Lebar Road #13-23 Paya Lebar Square Singapore 409051 (Office Lift Lobby 1)
RES Course Types Comparison
Wondering which RES Course and Training Centre to go for?
Is the express course or the 9 weeks course more suitable for you?
Check out this article about my review of the 5 major course providers programmes that can suit you whether you are a full-time working mum or a self-employed with flexibility in your day to day appointments.
You will learn about the costs, duration and intensity of each course type and who it is most suitable for.
You're welcome!
What happens after I pass my RES Exams?
Congratulations! You deserve a pat on your back for enduring through the intensive training lessons and exams.
By now, you should have done your research on which agency you should join. If you are still looking around, here’s a guide on which real estate agency you should join after passing your exams.
There are several real estate agencies in the market and it can be a tough decision to select one.
For your reference, the current Top 4 real estate agencies in the market are Huttons, OrangeTee & Tie, ERA and Propnex.
These are the biggest real estate agencies in Singapore that have established systems in place to help you accelerate in your real estate career.
Last but not least …
Submitting a Salesperson Registration
Get an application form from your agency and submit your application to CEA for the ‘In-Principle Approval’ (IPA).
Approval of CEA Registration
Within 4 to 6 weeks, you should receive a notification of CEA’s approval and this means you are ready to start on your exciting and rewarding real estate career!
Welcome to the club!
Looking for great career mentorship to shorten your learning curve?
Get a 1-time free 30 min career consultation. Schedule one right now.
Or drop me a WhatsApp if you would like to start your career with our team or attend our upcoming Huttons recruitment seminar!
Enjoy our 100% RES joining fee subsidies for brand new/experienced agents. Limited slots available.
Jerry Tay is a prominent leader in the real estate industry.
Professionally, Jerry is a licensed real estate agent, a believer in real estate investment, a team leader and speaker. Throughout his career, Jerry has helped many clients grow their wealth through smart property investments and active portfolio management.
Jerry has also coached many New and Experienced RES producing agents from various real estate agencies in Singapore.
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