Agents can now sign up to register their interest in Rightmove’s new qualification, the Level 3 Certificate for Estate and Letting Agents, or CELA.

The new qualification, which will be regulated by Ofqual, aims to help more agents have easier access to professional training and is on track to launch by the end of the year. 

The course has been specifically designed ahead of potential regulations that the government may bring in based on the Regulation of Property Agents working party, which reported over three years ago without any sign of enforcement to date.

The training will be free as part of an agent’s Rightmove membership and delivered by a slew of industry experts.

This includes leading industry trainer Richard Rawlings; ARLA Propertymark chief executive David Cox, now a Rightmove executive; Susie Crolla, chief executive of the Guild of Letting & Management; Frank Webster, former vice-chairman of one-time legendary lettings firm Finders Keepers; and property law expert David Smith from JMW Partners.

Following over 120 hours of free training, agents will then be able to sit an independently adjudicated exam through awarding organisation ABBE for a fee of £215 (plus VAT) payable to them, to be awarded with the qualification.

The qualification is designed for both estate and lettings agents, with the syllabus covering topics including legislation and codes of practice, generating opportunities, delivering exceptional service and property marketing.

The free training towards the qualification will be delivered online and on-demand so agents can study at their own pace. The content will be produced to suit all learning styles, including video, an accessible digital handbook and a simple user interface.

Agents can now register their details on the new qualification landing page on the Rightmove Hub to be first in line for information, updates, and access to the course: https://hub.rightmove.co.uk/get-qualified-with-rightmove/

Other experts participating include Property Ombudsman Rebecca Marsh and Rightmove’s Emma Atkinson and Lisa Gray.

Rightmove’s head of education Jason Charles says: “Agents can now sign up to be the first to have access to our new education qualification which we’re on track to launch before the end of the year. Our comprehensive syllabus covering both sales and lettings features content from some of the industry’s most influential educators, so that agents have access to the highest quality training for free. Agents can also head over to the new landing page for more information and answers to questions they might have about the new qualification.”