Published: 11th January 2022.
Written by Jodie Magrath

A Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice can help you advance your career in real estate or take it in a whole new direction. Whether you plan to work as a real estate agent, an auctioneer, a buyer’s agent or a stock and station agent, this course can give you the skills you need to succeed. You might work with owners who are selling property, people looking to purchase a new home or you may be involved with tenants and landlords in rental properties.

The Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice covers a range of topics to prepare you for various roles in the real estate industry. You’ll learn about current real estate practices and explore strategies for dealing with buyers and sellers. This course looks at the fundamentals of Australian property law and also addresses issues such as trust accounting, marketing and communications. A career in real estate can be fast-paced and challenging. If you enjoy working with clients in an exciting property market, this could be a great pathway for you. Working in real estate requires strong customer service skills and excellent negotiation abilities. You’ll need to be a good communicator and be able to deal with clients from a range of backgrounds. It’s important that you can work quickly when needed and draw on your problem solving skills during difficult circumstances.

A Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice is an ideal course of study for the following careers:

Property Manager

A Property Manager coordinates the management of rental properties. You might work for a real estate agency or for a property management business. Property Managers liaise with tenants and landlords and may organise maintenance and repairs when required. You’ll ensure rent payments are received and conduct inspections of rental premises. You may also advertise vacant properties and find suitable tenants.

Real Estate Agent

A Real Estate Agent oversees the buying and selling process during real estate transactions. You’ll work with people who are selling properties and also liaise with parties looking to buy. Real Estate Agents advertise properties for sale, carry out marketing campaigns and may organise events such as open homes and auctions. You might also be involved in sales negotiations, preparing contracts of sales and coordinating settlements.

Tenancy Officer

A Tenancy Officer manages tenants at a real estate agency or property management business. You might find suitable tenants for a vacant property or help prospective tenants find a place that meets their needs. Tenancy Officers may organise repairs, servicing or maintenance or attend to any other requests from tenants. You may conduct property inspections and coordinate paperwork such as rental contracts.

Higher education pathways

A Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice is a great way to get started in a real estate career. This course will allow you to work as a real estate agent, but if you plan to further your career by owning or managing your own real estate agency, you may decide to enrol in a Diploma of Property (Agency Management). This course covers topics relevant to managing a real estate business and addresses issues such as legal compliance.

If you want to advance your studies you could enrol in a university degree such as a Bachelor of Property Economics or a Bachelor of Business majoring in real estate. A university course can extend your knowledge and increase your career opportunities. You may be able to use a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice as a pathway to these courses.

Getting started

If you’re interested in enrolling in a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice, it’s important you find the right course provider. Providers usually vary in the way they deliver their courses and you’ll need to find the qualification that meets your needs. Contact a range of providers and request information about the duration of the course, costs, any prerequisites and the content the course will cover. Once you have all the information you can compare details and make a decision that works best for you.