Home/Guides/EAA/Licensing
EAA Topic Spoke

CEA Licensing Process

Last reviewed:

RES journey — overview

  1. Eligibility check — Singapore Citizen / PR, at least 21 years old, minimum 4 GCE O-Level / equivalent.
  2. RES preparatory course — at a CEA-approved provider (e.g. RealCentre, ProNex Academy). Typically 60–80 contact hours.
  3. RES Exam — Paper 1 + Paper 2 administered by NTUC LearningHub. 60% pass mark per paper.
  4. Join an EA — agree terms with an EA willing to sponsor your registration.
  5. EA submits CEA registration — via the CEA portal.
  6. Receive your RES Registration Number — can now practise.

RES exam in detail

PaperCoverageMarks
Paper 1CU1 (Real estate market + Land Law) + CU2 (Contract law, Agency, Tenancy, Property torts, Mortgage, etc.)Section A 60 × 1 + Section B 20 × 2 = 100
Paper 2CU3 (CEA regulation + Marketing) + CU4 (HDB, Sale, Lease, Taxes, Finance)Section A 60 × 1 + Section B 20 × 2 = 100

Section A: standard MCQ. Section B: case-study MCQ — typically 5 case scenarios with 4 sub-questions each.

📚 Free RES exam MCQ practice quiz and timed Mock Exam.

Annual renewal

RES registration must be renewed annually. The EA submits the renewal for each RES under it. Requirements:

  • CPD: typically 6 hours per year (4 hours core + 2 hours professional competence; subject to CEA review). See CPD guide.
  • No outstanding disciplinary issues with CEA.
  • Continued affiliation with an EA.
  • Renewal fee: $230/year (subject to revision).

Estate Agency licensing

An EA must:

  • Be incorporated in Singapore as a company, partnership, or sole proprietorship.
  • Have a designated Key Executive Officer (KEO) approved by CEA.
  • Maintain professional indemnity insurance at minimum required limits.
  • Comply with CEPCC, PMLPFTF, and other CEA-prescribed rules.
  • Renew annually with CEA.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I become a Real Estate Salesperson (RES) in Singapore?▾

Four steps: (1) complete the RES preparatory course at an approved provider (typically 60–80 contact hours), (2) sit for and pass both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the RES Exam administered by NTUC LearningHub, (3) join an Estate Agency (EA) that sponsors your application, (4) the EA submits your registration to CEA via the CEA portal. Total typical timeline: 3–6 months from starting course to registration.

What's the RES exam structure?▾

Two papers, each 150 minutes. Paper 1 covers land law, contract law, agency, planning, mortgage — CU1 + CU2. Paper 2 covers CEA regulations, marketing, HDB, stamp duties, CPF, property finance — CU3 + CU4. Each paper: 60 Section A MCQs (1 mark each) + 20 Section B case-study MCQs (2 marks each) = 100 marks. Pass mark: 60% per paper. Must pass both within a window to register.

Can I be an RES without joining an estate agency?▾

No. An RES must be registered with one Estate Agency at any time. Working as an RES without registration is an offence under the EAA. Switching between EAs is permitted but you can only be registered with one EA at a time — you must de-register from the old EA before joining the new one.

What is a Key Executive Officer (KEO)?▾

The KEO is the senior individual responsible for the day-to-day running of an Estate Agency. The KEO must hold the relevant KEO qualifications (usually a higher-level real estate qualification) and be approved by CEA. Each EA must have one KEO. The KEO is accountable for the agency's compliance with the EAA, CEPCC, and PMLPFTF.

How often is the licence renewed?▾

RES registration is renewed annually — typically by 31 December for the following year. Renewal requires: (a) the RES has completed the required CPD hours; (b) the RES has fulfilled CEPCC obligations; (c) no outstanding disciplinary issues; (d) the EA submits the renewal application. The annual renewal fee is currently $230. EAs renew their licence annually too, with a separate fee.