Applicants for a real estate or business settlement agent's licence must have passed the examinations which are required by a public training provider or registered training provider in order to complete an Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing. 

Individuals that have completed the superseded Diploma of Conveyancing must lodge an application for a real estate or business settlement agent’s licence on or before 31 December 2024 for the qualification to be accepted. From 1 January 2025, only the Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing can be accepted in support of an application.

To locate a registered training organisation that is approved to deliver the Diploma you can search the National Vocational Education and Training Register at the Australian Training Sector website.

Real estate and business settlement agent's licence applicants are required to provide a statement of academic record issued by the public training provider or registered training provider verifying that they have completed the education qualifications prescribed in regulation 6(2) of the Settlement Agents Regulations 1982.

Each licensed settlement agent is issued with a licensing kit upon request.

Information

• Licence fees and forms
• Settlement agent - Trust account details

Guidelines

• Trust account handbook 
• A guide to auditing settlement agent's trust accounts 
• Code of Conduct 
• A guide to the Compulsory Professional Development program for settlement agents operating in Western Australia'

The Settlement Agents Act 1981 also requires separate licences be obtained by firms (partnership licence) and companies (body corporate licence) which are set up as settlement agencies. For firms and companies to be licensed, and to continue to be licensed, they must meet and maintain certain standards, including a minimum number of licence holders, staff supervision and sound financial practices.

Requirement to surrender licence if body corporate becomes unqualified

The licence and triennial certificate must be surrendered within five days after the licensee ceased to have the required number of licensed directors or have a licensed person in bona fide control of the business.

If the body corporate ceases to be qualified by reason of death or withdrawal, they can notify the Commissioner and operate for up to three months, after which they must surrender their licence and triennial certificate if they remain unqualified.

Settlement agents forms:

• licence application forms
• renewal application forms

Option to surrender a triennial certificate

If a licence holder does not wish to continue to carry on business, they may surrender their triennial certificate at any time by paying the required holding fee to retain their licence. When ready to return to the industry, the licence holder can apply to renew their triennial certificate.

Renewal of a triennial certificate

A licensee is required to provide the following information/documentation in support of the application lodged to renew the triennial certificate:

• An Australian Police check from an approved provider not more than three months old for the licensee, or for each partner, director and person in bona fide control of the licensee;
• A statement of assets and liabilities as part of the renewal application form; and
• Authorisation for the Commissioner to obtain a credit history report on the applicant’s behalf (also listed in the renewal application form).

To allow enough time for processing and any follow-up requirements relating to your application, it’s important to lodge a complete renewal application with all documentation at least one month before the expiry date. If the renewal is not processed and granted by the expiry date, you are no longer licensed to work. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. 

If the renewal is not processed and granted by the expiry date, you are no longer licensed to work. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Change of name

If a licence holder legally changes their name, they must provide a copy of their name change document (or marriage certificate) as well as a copy of their photographic identification in their new name.

Written notice and relevant supporting documentation should be submitted by email. There is no application fee. A new licence/certificate will be sent to your nominated postal address.

Conditions on licences and triennial certificates

The Commissioner may impose or remove conditions on licences and triennial certificates at any time. If the Commissioner is considering imposing a condition, the licence holder must be notified in writing, and be offered the opportunity to make submissions in relation to the proposed condition.