ACQUIRING THE REAL ESTATE QUALIFICATIONS

PPRA RESUMES ROLE OF ASSESSING EQUIVALENCY EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS

For purposes of, inter alia, ensuring consistency and mitigating the risk of ‘forum shopping’ which was, unfortunately found to be prevalent, the PPRA has, with effect from 16 May 2013, resumed the role and function of assessing equivalency exemption applications against the National Qualifications Framework real estate qualifications in accordance with the Board approved equivalency matrices - which may be accessed from the EAAB’s website at www.theppra.org.za. Any equivalency exemption certificates issued by accredited education providers after 16 May 2008 will, therefore, no longer be recognised by the PPRA.

The procedure when applying for the grant of an equivalency exemption

As payment of the assessment fee must be made to the PPRA up front and as this fee is non-refundable, it is essential that prospective equivalency exemption applicants carefully consult, and consider, the relevant equivalency matrix before deciding whether or not to apply for the equivalency exemption. Doing so, furthermore, serves as the necessary diagnostic assessment that should be undertaken by equivalency candidates factually to assess whether they, indeed, qualify for the grant of the equivalency exemption before submitting an exemption application to the PPRA.

After having concluded the diagnostic assessment candidates still wishing to apply to the PPRA for the grant of an equivalency exemption against the Further Education and Training Certificate: Real Estate (for non-principal estate agents) and/or the National Certificate: Real Estate (for principal estate agents), as the case may be or any other new standard of qualification established by the PPRA, are required to prepare, and submit, an equivalency exemption application to exemptions@theppra.org.za

The application should comprise, at least, the following documentation, namely:

a letter from the applicant indicating the NQF real estate qualification(s) against which the applicant seeks an equivalency exemption;

a copy of the candidate’s certified  identity document;

the candidate’s full curriculum vitae;

Certified copy of matric certificate;

SAQA verification letter if a qualification is obtained out of the Republic of South Africa

Proof of payment as specified by PPRA schedule of fees

Certified copy(ies), of qualifications either awarded to the candidate or in respect of which the candidate relies for the assessment of the equivalency exemption application;

Certified copy(ies), of the statement(s) of courses passed towards the attainment of the relevant qualification(s);

Certified copy(ies), of any other professional qualifications and/or designations that may have been awarded to the candidate; and

Such further information as the applicant wishes to disclose to the PPRA for the purpose of properly assessing the applicant’s equivalency qualifications.

The assessment process

Once received, the application will be assessed against the relevant NQF real estate equivalency qualification(s) in accordance with the requirements of the Authority approved equivalency matrices as well as the established criteria for the conducting of a valid and accurate assessment.

Should the PPRA assessors require that the validity of any qualification(s) submitted by candidates be further verified or confirmed, the PPRA may, at the cost of the applicant, cause the qualification(s) in question to be verified by a registered verification agency or by the Department of Higher Education.

The issuing of an exemption letter  

If a candidate is granted an equivalency exemption in respect of the Further Education and Training Certificate: Real Estate and/or the National Certificate: Real Estate or any other new standard of qualification established by the PPRA, the PPRA will issue an appropriate equivalency exemption letter to that candidate, specifically indicating the qualification(s) in respect of which the candidate has been found to be entitled to an equivalency exemption. If the candidate is a registered property practitioner, the PPRA’s database will also be updated accordingly.

 In the event that a candidate is found not to be entitled to the grant of an equivalency exemption that candidate shall be informed accordingly, in writing, by the PPRA. 

The retention of the submitted documents

All applications submitted by equivalency exemption candidates, as well as any other documentary proof pertaining to the equivalency exemption assessment process that was conducted, will be retained by the PPRA until they are no longer required for verification or auditing purposes.

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Document Downloads

Equivalency Matrix NQF Level 4

274KB    Download

Equivalency Matrix NQF Level 5

286KB    Download

Practice Note ETD01-2022