top of page
Writer's pictureStuart Chng

How to be a Property Agent in Singapore (2024)

Updated: Jun 29


Interested in a real estate sales career?


Getting a real estate licence these days can be a challenge with the low passing rates we have observed recently.


Take these 3 steps to quickly get yourself certified as a property agent in Singapore!


how to get property agent licence in singapore
Read on to find out how you can get your property agent career started


First, a matter of cost. How much does it cost to take the RES course and exams?


1. Property Agent Course aka the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) course:


Budget between $700-800 for the RES course.


- If you are an NTUC member below 40, you may enjoy up to $250 UTAP subsidy for the RES exams.

- NTUC members who are 40 and above can enjoy higher funding support of up to $500 each for their RES course and exams.


- Singaporeans & Permanent Residents can make use of their SkillsFuture credit of up to $500.


TO ENQUIRE ON UTAP


NTUC Hotline: 62138008


Mondays to Fridays 9am to 530pm. Saturdays, 9am to 1230pm


2. RES Exams:


$417.30 inclusive GST for 2 papers.

$235.40 inclusive GST per paper for exam re-takers.


Upon passing the exams, you will usually need to pay to register with a licensed estate agency. There are joining promotions that go on time to time though as real estate agencies compete to recruit new agents.


Registration fees to expect for parking your licence with an agency:


Real Estate Salesperson Registration fee: $53.50 + $230 annual CEA fees = $283.50


Professional Indemnity Insurance: $120 - $150


Agency admin fees for name cards, ID Tag, Start Up Course and Admin fees: $300-500 range.


What is the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Course Syllabus about?


Since 2010, the Council of Estate Agencies (www.cea.gov.sg) has instituted that all housing agents need to attend rigorous training and pass the exams to qualify as a real estate agent.


The RES course aims to help aspiring realtors learn and understand the policies and regulations governing estate agency work and ensure higher levels of proficiency and professionalism in our industry.


The course content is dense and covers a wide spectrum of topics and segments of the market, and quite frankly can be difficult for those who are not academically inclined.

Candidate requirements:


- To be at least 21 years of age

- Singaporean or Permanent Resident

- Minimum of 4 GCE ‘O’ level passes or equivalent (WPLN)

- Fulfils CEA fit and proper criteria


Course Contents:

Real Estate Housing Agent RES Exam Topics
RES Exam Topics 2024


After completing the RES Course, you may register for the RES exam at CEA's appointed examination administrator, NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd, and must pass the 2 RES exam papers.

NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd (LHub)

Contact: (Mon - Fri, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm): 63365482

Address: NTUC Trade Union House 73 Bras Basah Road #02-01

Singapore 189556


Exams are currently held 3 times a year during Feb/March, June and October. You would be wise to register at least 2 months in advance as registration closes 1-2 months prior.


Examination Venue:


Singapore Institute of Management Headquarters (SIM HQ) 461 Clementi Road. Singapore 599491


(If you're driving there, you're recommended to reach there 1 hour before as the carpark jam starts 30 min before the start of the exams with hundreds of cars streaming in)


Exam Eligibility Criteria:


Exam candidates will need to comply the following:


- Complete the RES course with a minimum 75% attendance record before they are eligible to receive the "Certificate of Completion for RES Course".


Exam Format:


2 papers each (2 ½ hours per paper)

Both Papers 1 & 2: - Section A: 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - 1 mark each - Section B: 15 MCQ with reference to 1 or 2 Case Studies – 2 marks each - Section C: 10 Fill in the Blank Short Answer Questions (SAQs) - 2 marks each


Exam Results:


- Exam Administrator will notify you of your results.

- RES course participants will have to pass the RES examination within 2 years from the date of issue of the Certificate of Completion of RES Course. 

- If you are unable to pass any remaining Papers within the 2-year timeframe, you will have to retake the RES course and sit for the full RES examination again i.e. both Papers 1 and 2.


When are the RES Examination results released?


- The RES Examination results will be released 4 – 6 weeks after the examinations.

Appeal of RES Exam Results


If you think that you should have passed the exams, you may submit an appeal to review your exam paper via NTUC Learning Hub, CEA's appointed examination administrator, within 5 working days from the date of the notification of examination results.


A non-refundable fee of $64.20 (inclusive of GST) is charged for the review of each examination paper.


property agents recruitment singapore huttons
NAVIS - Be a part of the greatest real estate team in Singapore!


Note for Aspiring Property Agents and Foreigners:


Attending the RES Course and passing the RES Examination does not automatically qualify you to become a real estate agent.


The applicant has to comply with the full registration requirements stipulated under the Estate Agents Act, which include meeting the fit & proper criteria.


Please check the complete list of registration criteria on CEA’s website before registering for the RES Course.


For foreigners who wish to register with CEA as salespersons, they will need to have a valid Employment Pass (EP) issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).


They should consult an estate agency that is prepared to support their future registration application, who would then check with CEA.


Thereafter, when they register for the RES Course, they will need to produce a letter of sponsorship from the real estate agency.


 

List of Recommended CEA Approved Course Providers for the RES Course 2024


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.


Different schools also have accelerated, spaced out or even weekday/weekends only programmes to suit busy working adults, irregular hours workers or time starved parents.


If you stay near to central areas, Hastor Property Services 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 or Real Centre Network.

Details here:


Hastor Property Services (Highly renown RES trainers Daryl Ou and Celeste Ng)

Tel: 62522802

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

Venue: 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #07-01 HDB Hub East Wing Singapore 310480

Pioneer Training & Consultancy Pte Ltd 

Tel No: 6462 6093 / 9424 3483

Venue: Blk 134 Jurong Gateway Road #03-309P Singapore 600134

Real Centre Network Pte Ltd 

Tel No: 6511 3009

Venue: 490 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #09-16 HDB Hub Biz 3 Singapore 310490 

*Update: RCN now has branches in Tampines and Jurong too.


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) 

 

How do I officially get my real estate licence after passing the RES exams?


Congratulations if you managed to pass your exams!


By now you should have done your research on which agency to join and whether they are recruiting.


Otherwise, the top 4 real estate agencies at the moment are Huttons, OrangeTee & Tie, ERA & Propnex.


If you are searching for an agency that would fit your personality, read this article to find out which real estate agency you should join after passing your exams.


Otherwise, you might want to attend a real estate recruitment talk to find out more about each firm's culture, support and platforms and the team that you will be joining.


Finally, this is what you need to do:


Submitting a Salesperson Registration


Get an application form from your real estate agency and submit your salesperson application to CEA for the ‘In-Principle Approval‘ (IPA).


Approval of CEA Registration


Within 4-6 weeks, you should receive a notification of CEA's approval.


Congratulations! CEA has confirmed your registration with your estate agency.


You are ready to start on an exciting and rewarding real estate career!

 

Did this article help you? Like and share it with your friends who have the potential to be great real estate agents!


Looking for great real estate career mentorship to shorten your learning curve?

Get a free 30 min new agent career consultation with Stuart and his team leaders.



Drop me a WhatsApp if you would like to start your career with our team or attend our next Career Seminar!


**Enjoy 100% RES joining fee subsidies for brand new agents. Limited slots available.

 

Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.


He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife.


Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, an avid stocks, options and real estate investor, multiple businesses owner, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.


Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great property investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.


Stuart has also coached many top million dollar producing agents from top real estate agencies in Singapore. Read his agents' reviews here.

 

- Enjoy 100% RES joining fee subsidies for brand new agents. Limited slots available.


P.S. Brand new and interested in the RES Course? Find out how to get your property licence and be a property agent in Singapore!


P.P.S. Passed your RES Exams? Find out what steps to take next to quickly reach your goals!


P.P.P.S. Find out which real estate agency to join after passing your exams!


 

Join us at our RES Boot Camp after passing your RES exams and need to accelerate your sales results!


RES course exam bootcamp start up programme huttons
Shortcut your way to success with NAVIS RES Bootcamp.

Held 3 times a year, our programme consists of over 42 hours of essential training by our top team leaders, sales achievers and project ICs to help you be field-deployable within 7 days.


Suitable for all brand new RES or part-timers who are looking to commit full time, succeed fast and give your 100% in the shortest time possible!


Find out about our boot camp graduates' reviews below.



Comments


bottom of page