Following an email from Mr Clive Ashpol clarifying the criteria for equivalency expemption.
From: Clive Ashpol [mailto:clive.ashpol@eaab.org.za]
Sent: 06 October 2015 12:43 PM
Subject: Equavalency Exemption
Further to the above matter I would now advise as follows:
The grant of an equivalency exemption against the NQF Level 4 and 5 real estate qualifications
Provision is made for persons holding a relevant tertiary qualification that aligns with the curriculum of the NQF Level 4 and/or 5 real estate qualifications respectively, and also complies with the requirements of the equivalency exemption matrices, a copy of which is attached for ease of reference, to apply to the EAAB for the grant of an equivalency exemption application against those qualifications.
The following documents are required to found such an equivalency exemption application, namely:
- a letter addressed by the applicant to the EAAB formally requesting the grant of the equivalency exemption;
- a copy of the applicant’s identity document;
- a short curriculum vitae;
- a copy of relevant degree/diploma certificates;
- a copy of the academic history (or statement of courses passed) in respect of those tertiary qualifications; and
- proof of payment of the assessment fee, as per the annexed attachment.
Exemptions against the Professional Designation Examination (PDE)
There are two possible ways in which an exemption might be granted against the PDE, namely:
The statutory PDE exemption
In accordance with the provisions of the Standard of Training of Estate Agents Regulations, 2008, any estate agent who continuously held a valid fidelity fund certificate between the period 2003 to 2008 inclusive may be granted an exemption against the PDE. The nature of the exemption to be granted will depend on the status of the applicant. If, thus, the applicant held a valid fidelity fund certificate as a non-principal estate agent during the relevant period that person will be granted an exemption against the Professional Designation Examination for non-principal estate agents (PDE 4). If, however, the applicant held a valid fidelity fund certificate as a principal estate agent between 2003 and 2008 that person will be granted an exemption against the Professional Designation Examination for principal estate agents (PDE 5).
The age-based educational exemption
Estate agents are eligible to apply for an exemption against both the relevant NQF real estate qualification as well as the PDE, against payment of the prescribed application fee, provided that they:
- are aged 60 years or older;
- have held a valid fidelity fund certificate for a period of at least five years;
- currently hold a valid fidelity fund certificate; and
- have no infractions registered against their names at the EAAB.
It will be found that in practice most of the persons who apply for the grant of an equivalency exemption against the NQF real estate qualifications do not fulfil the criteria for the grant of a PDE exemption. Such persons are, therefore, required to write the PDE.
I do hope that this clarifies the position.
Kind regards,
Clive Ashpol HonsBA, MBL, LLB, LLM
Education and Training Department
ESTATE AGENCY AFFAIRS BOARD
http://www.eaab.org.za/one_learner_youth_programme/one_learner
http://www.eaab.org.za/complaint
The new EAAB telephone number is 087 285 3222
