Incentives to Encourage Participation
in Continuing Professional Development Scheme

In May 2005, the Estate Agents Authority (EAA) launched the voluntary phase of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme. We hope the introduction of the CPD Scheme – with “Professional Excellence Through Learning” as its objective – will further enhance the competence of practitioners and help keep their professional knowledge up to date.

The CPD Scheme encourages estate agents and salespersons to earn a minimum of 10 CPD points in a year, comprising at least six points from core subjects and four from non-core subjects.

After the Scheme's launch, we consulted estate agency trade associations with a view to enhancing participation. Having considered the feedback, EAA has implemented the following new initiatives:

1. EAA will award a certificate to practitioners who attain the recommended target.
2. In addition to the certificate, practitioners will be allowed to print a CPD attainment symbol endorsed by EAA on their business cards. A competition to design this symbol will be held. Details will be announced in due course.
3. EAA will increase the number of e-quiz from four to six times a year, commencing early 2006. An e-quiz is an online CPD activity conducted by EAA. It takes the form of a typical property transaction which a licensee may come across in everyday practice. After studying the case and supporting materials, participants must answer 10-20 questions. One core subject CPD point is awarded to those attaining the pass mark specified for that particular e-quiz. Results and an answer guide are both released. The e-quiz is free for those answering online. (Answers can also be manually marked by the e-quiz administrator Hong Kong CyberU, which charges an administration fee of $100 per e-quiz.)
4. In addition to talks, EAA will hold regular e-quiz case study seminars/workshops. These offer an interactive way for practitioners to discuss issues related to property transactions. Two to three core subject CPD points will be awarded to participants per session.
5. EAA will organise more “outreach” CPD seminars/lectures/workshops to enable licensees working in different districts to participate in CPD activities more conveniently. Trade associations are welcome to contact EAA for co-organisation of such activities.
6. The scope of CPD non-core subjects has been widened and the category “Macro Socio-Economic Issues” added. One example of this is the CPD Distinguished Speaker Series organised by EAA. The Honourable Leung Chun-ying, GBS, JP, was the first speaker. Mr Leung spoke on “New Milestones in the Economic Partnership between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta”. The second event was held on 17 November 2005 with Mr Kwok Kwok-chuen, Government Economist of the HKSAR, as the Distinguished Speaker. Mr. Kwok gave a talk entitled “The Economic Transformation of Hong Kong: Problem, Challenge or Opportunity?”. The two talks were well received.
7. EAA will reimburse $2,500 of the accreditation fee for each successfully accredited CPD activity organised by other training providers, including estate agency trade associations. Each training provider can be reimbursed for a maximum of five CPD activities.

Dr. Steven Poon Kwok-lim, JP, Chairman, introduced new initiatives of the Continuing Professional Development Scheme to the media.