Your Queensland CPD year starts on the anniversary of your licence or registration issue date — not on 1 July or the calendar year. If you hold more than one licence, the earliest issue date sets your CPD year, and an upgrade resets it to the new issue date. Any CPD completed before your year officially opens doesn't count towards your two required sessions.

When does my CPD year start QLD?

Queensland's CPD scheme began on 6 June 2025. From that date, CPD is now mandatory for all Queensland property professionals who hold a licence or registration, and you must complete 2 approved CPD sessions each CPD year. But the year itself isn't the same for everyone.

According to the Queensland Government's CPD guidance, your CPD year is based on the date your licence or registration was issued, which means your CPD year is specific to you. Your issue date is printed on your current licence or registration — that's the date you work from each year.

REIQ's CPD guidance puts it simply: from 6 June 2025, your first real estate CPD year begins on the anniversary date of your licence or certificate being issued, as it appears on your licence or certificate. So if your issue date is 1 August, your CPD year always runs 1 August to 31 July — regardless of when renewal notices land in your inbox.

Multiple licences: the earliest one wins

Plenty of agents hold more than one licence or registration — for example, a full real estate licence plus a separate registration certificate, or licences gained at different times as a career progressed. In that case, you don't get to choose the most convenient date.

The OFT is clear on this: if you hold multiple licences or registrations, your CPD year will change to the earliest issue date. Practically, that means:

  • Find the issue date on each licence or registration you hold.
  • Your licence or registration issue date is printed on your current licence or registration. If you hold multiple licences or if you hold both a licence and a registration, use the one with the earliest issue date.
  • That earliest date becomes your single CPD anniversary going forward.

Upgrades realign your CPD year

Upgrading your licence — say, moving from a registration certificate to a full real estate agent's licence — doesn't just change your authority to work. It can also reset your CPD clock.

If you upgrade or change your licence or registration, your CPD year will align with the new issue date. This catches people out, because it means a CPD year that was ticking along nicely can suddenly shift mid-cycle. If you're planning an upgrade, it's worth checking what that will do to your next CPD deadline before you apply, rather than after.

First 12 months: you're exempt

New to the industry? You get a break. You don't need to complete CPD training if your current licence or registration was first issued less than 12 months ago — you only need to start CPD 12 months after your current licence or registration was first issued.

This exemption exists because new licensees have just finished their initial qualification training — CPD is about ongoing development, not a repeat of day-one learning.

CPD done before your year opens doesn't count

This is the trap most often missed. Agents sometimes complete a session early — keen to get it out of the way, or because a provider ran a session that looked convenient — only to find it doesn't count.

The OFT's position is unambiguous: any CPD you complete before your first CPD year starts won't count towards your mandatory requirements. If your CPD year opens on 1 August, a session completed on 20 July simply doesn't register against that year, no matter how relevant or well-timed it felt.

Worked examples

Example 1 — single licence, straightforward anniversary
Maria's real estate agent's licence was first issued on 15 March 2022. Her CPD year runs 15 March to 14 March each year. Her current CPD year opened on 15 March 2026, and she has until 14 March 2027 to complete her two approved sessions.

Example 2 — multiple licences, earliest date applies
Josh holds a registration certificate issued 10 April 2021 and later added a full licence issued 2 September 2023. Because his CPD year is based on the earliest issue date, his CPD year runs from 10 April each year — the 2023 licence date is irrelevant for CPD timing.

Example 3 — upgrade mid-cycle
Priya's registration certificate was issued 1 June 2024. Partway through her second CPD year, on 20 January 2026, she upgrades to a full licence. From that point, her CPD year aligns with the new issue date — so her CPD year now runs 20 January to 19 January, replacing the old June cycle.

Example 4 — brand-new licensee
Tom's licence was first issued on 3 March 2026. Because CPD only starts 12 months after a licence is first issued, Tom's first CPD year doesn't begin until 3 March 2027.

What you need to complete, and how to prove it

Within each CPD year, Queensland licensees complete two OFT-approved sessions: one Type 1 and one Type 2, or two Type 1 sessions. Two Type 2 sessions on their own never satisfy the requirement. Each approved session carries a code in the format QLDCPD2025xxxx — sessions approved in other states don't count towards your Queensland obligation.

Once you've worked out your CPD year, QRET's OFT-approved sessions cover both categories — for example, Sell Property and Establish Vendor Relationships as Type 1 options, paired with a Type 2 session such as Managing Rent Arrears Effectively. You can browse the full list of CPD sessions to find the right combination for your CPD year.

Keep your Statement of Completion for each session for five years, in case the OFT asks to see it.

Frequently asked questions

Does the CPD year follow the calendar year or financial year?

No. Your CPD year is unique to you — it's based on the issue date of your own licence or registration, not 1 January or 1 July.

What if I don't know my licence issue date?

It's printed on your current licence or registration certificate. If you can't locate the document, the OFT's online licence search can confirm your details — check your expiry and issue information there before relying on a third-party calculator.

I just upgraded my licence — when is my CPD due now?

Your CPD year aligns with the new issue date from the day the upgrade takes effect. Work out the new 12-month cycle from that date rather than your old one.

Can I do my two sessions back-to-back right before renewal?

Yes, as long as both fall within your current CPD year — there's no rule requiring them to be spread out. Just make sure neither session was completed before your CPD year opened, or it won't count.

Does Type 2 CPD from another state count in Queensland?

No. Approved sessions carry a Queensland-specific code, and sessions approved in other states don't count towards your Queensland CPD requirement.

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Once you know your CPD year, locking in both sessions is simple. A QRET membership covers both your Type 1 and Type 2 sessions for the year from $249, so you're sorted well before your deadline.