Information for aspiring real estate salespersons

Real estate salespersons are required to protect their client’s interest in a property transaction. Find out how you can become a real estate salesperson.

Last updated 3 March 2026

Duties and responsibilities of real estate salespersons

Estate agents (EAs) and real estate salespersons (RESs) are responsible for promoting and safeguarding consumer interests in property transactions. When you join the real estate agency industry as an RES, you must adhere to the Council for Estate Agencies’ (CEA) regulatory framework.

For example, when carrying out a property transaction as an RES, you must:

Offer your client professional advice
Represent your client in negotiation and promptly update your client on all offers and proposals
Assist your client to enter into a contractual agreement and explain to your client all relevant documents
Seek your client’s prior consent before advertising their property
Declare to your client any conflict of interest and related income/ referral fees
Explain clearly to your client the advantages of co-broking with other RESs

You can find out more about CEA's regulatory framework and enforcement regime.

How to become an RES

To join the real estate agency industry as an RES, you will need to:

Complete the RES course conducted by a CEA Approved Course Provider
Secure and register for a seat at the RES examination
Pass both RES examination papers or equivalent
Approach a licensed EA to submit an RES registration application to CEA

Registration criteria

The criteria for salesperson registration are as follows:

Registration Criteria	Additional Information
i. Must be at least 21 years old.	-
ii. Must have a minimum of four GCE O-Level passes or equivalent.	If you do not have the minimum four GCE O-Level passes, you may consider taking the Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) assessment, developed by the British Council in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore. CEA accepts a grading of Level 5 and above for all five WPLN assessment components (i.e., Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing and Numeracy) in lieu of the four GCE ‘O’ Level passes. For information on how to register for the WPLN assessments, please visit the British Council’s website. (b) Alternatively, you may email us your foreign and/or local private qualifications (e.g., academic certificates, academic transcripts, any other supporting documents) together with the completed Educational Qualification Assessment form (PDF, 210KB) to CEA at licensing@cea.gov.sg for us to assess whether the qualifications meet the educational qualification requirement. We will take approximately 15 working days to assess the qualifications upon receipt of complete supporting documents.
iii. Possess a pass in the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) examination or equivalent.	-
iv. After attaining iii), be registered with CEA through one licensed estate agent.	Please approach a licensed estate agent to submit your salesperson registration. The estate agent will submit your salesperson application to register you as their salesperson.
v. Must not be an existing licensee/Key Executive Officer of another licensed estate agent	If you are an existing KEO of a licensed estate agent, you will need to resign from the KEO position, before joining the new estate agent.
vi. Must not hold a moneylender's licence and not be an employee, director, or partner of a licensed moneylender	-
vii. (Applicable only for returning and renewing salespersons) Fulfil Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for each CPD cycle.	For KEOs/ Practising Directors/ Partners/ Salespersons: (a) If you have left the industry for up to 2 years, you are required to fulfil the same number of CPD hours as if you did not leave the industry, before applying for registration. (b) If you have left the industry for more than 2 years, you are required to take the RES course and pass the RES examination before applying for registration. You can check if you have fulfilled your CPD requirements through the My CPD Portal.
viii. Must be covered by a Professional Indemnity Insurance valid for at least one year from the commencement date of the registration	Learn more about CEA’s requirements for Professional Indemnity Insurance.
ix. Must be up-to-date with Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB)’s MediSave contributions.	Under CPFB’s Self-Employed Scheme, self-employed persons are required to contribute to their CPF MediSave Account, to ensure they have sufficient savings for their healthcare needs. We will only process your registration application if you are up-to-date with your MediSave contributions – either paid in full or have an active GIRO plan¹ with CPF Board. To check your MediSave payment status or make payment arrangements for any outstanding MediSave payable, please visit the Self-employment dashboard via your Singpass login. ¹ Note: GIRO deductions for any outstanding MediSave Contributions will be made on the 25th of the month (or the next working day if the 25th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday).
x. Fulfil the fit and proper criteria under the Estate Agents Act	CEA shall determine if the person is fit and proper for registration after considering all relevant facts or matters. In the circumstances listed below, a person shall not be fit and proper for registration, unless CEA determines otherwise: (a) Where the person has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or fraud. (b) Where the person has had a judgment entered against him/ her in civil proceedings that involve a finding of fraud, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duties on his/ her part. (c) Where the person has been convicted of an offence involving money laundering, proliferation financing or terrorism financing (whether in Singapore or elsewhere). (d) Where the person has been convicted of any offence under the Estate Agents Act. (e) Where the person is an undischarged bankrupt or has made a composition or arrangement with his/ her creditors. (f) Where CEA takes the view that a person is not fit and proper after considering any other relevant facts or matters. The person is required to declare all prior convictions in a court of law (including a military court), in Singapore or in any other country. Example: A person who was previously detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act or served with a detention/ police supervision order under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act would generally be deemed to be not fit and proper for registration, unless CEA determines otherwise after considering all facts or matters (including circumstances of the prior detention/ supervision).

Additional Documents Required

We may require additional documents from you if you are:

An SPR for less than 10 years at the point of submitting your application

A Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) from your country of origin issued within 3 months from the date of submission of application; or
Supporting documents that prove you have resided in Singapore for 10 years or more. e.g., local educational qualifications, IRAS statements, previous employment passes or long term visit passes

A foreigner

Your EA must approach CEA for a preliminary assessment of your registration eligibility and submit required supporting documents, such as a copy of the employment contract and work pass held by you.

You may submit a draft employment contract to CEA if the employment contract has yet to be signed.

If you do not possess a work pass in Singapore yet, the estate agent may do a preliminary self-assessment on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s website using the “Employment/S Pass Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)” to check the type of work pass that you would qualify for if an application for work pass is submitted to the MOM on your behalf.

CEA may take two to three weeks to assess upon receiving all the required supporting documents.