PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION EXAMINATION (PDE) INFORMATION BULLETIN CALENDER YEAR. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 1

Transcription

1 PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION EXAMINATION (PDE) INFORMATION BULLETIN CALENDER YEAR Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 1

2 1 Introduction The regulations prescribing the standard of training required for estate agents pursuant to section 27(a)(vi) of the Estate Agency Affairs Act, 112 of 1976, were promulgated under Government Notice R633 published in Government Gazette of 4 June 2008 and came into operation on 15 July 2008 ( the Education Regulations ). This Information Bulletin, therefore, seeks to clarify policy and procedures relating to the examination programme introduced by the Estate Agency Affairs Board ( EAAB ). 2 What is the Professional Designation Examination ( PDE )? 2.1 Regulation 4(3) of the Education Regulations The Professional Designation Examination ( PDE ) constitutes the integrated test of knowledge for practicing estate agents contemplated in regulation 4(3) of the Education Regulations. That regulation provides that: No person may be registered by the Board as a full status agent unless that person has successfully completed the Professional Designation Examination, conducted by the Board. The PDE comprises an integral aspect of the new educational dispensation for estate agents and is entirely distinct from the previous Board examination which was conducted under the old educational curriculum. 2.2 PDE dates for the 2014 calendar year Professional Designation Examinations are scheduled to take place on the following dates during the remainder of 2014, namely: 19 June September November 2014 Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 2

3 2.3. Obtaining the PDE study material prior to the examination Prospective candidates must ensure that they obtain the relevant PDE study material prior to enrolling for the examination. The EAAB is neither able to cancel nor to postpone examination registrations in the event that the candidate concerned has not timeously received the correct study material. Non-receipt of the study material cannot be accepted as a valid reason for the grant by the EAAB of a postponement or the cancellation of an examination enrolment. Examination candidates seeking a postponement or cancellation of the examination under such circumstances will, accordingly, forfeit the examination fee paid. 3. Guidelines for the PDE 3.1 Eligibility criteria to enrol for the PDE Persons may not enrol for the Professional Designation Examination for non-principal estate agents ( PDE 4 ) or for the Professional Designation Examination for principal estate agents ( PDE 5 ) unless they have: been issued with a valid fidelity fund certificate ( FFC ) by the EAAB; and been certificated against, or exempted from, the relevant NQF real estate qualifications referred to in regulations 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(b) of the Education Regulations, namely, the Further Education and Training Certificate: Real Estate for non-principal estate agents and the National Certificate: Real Estate for principal estate agents. 3.2 Examination fees for the PDE The following examination registration fees are payable by PDE candidates: R650,00 to enrol for the PDE 4; and R870, 00 to enrol for the PDE 5. As PDE enrolment fees vary from time to time, candidates wishing to enrol for the PDE are requested to verify the currently applicable registration fee either by accessing the EAAB website at or by telephoning the EAAB on Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 3

4 3.3 On-line registrations Prospective PDE candidates must register on-line for the examination by using the My EAAB portal on the EAAB s website - which may be accessed at On completing a successful on-line registration candidates will receive a confirmatory letter from the EAAB. That letter will also indicate the payment reference number to be used by the candidate when paying the registration fee. 3.4 PDE registration fee The PDE registration fee can be paid be means either of an Electronic Funds Transfer ( EFT ) or by way of a credit card payment. The registration fee must be paid: after a successful on-line examination registration; and within the stipulated time period for the making of payment; failing which the initial registration will lapse, thus obliging the candidate to apply afresh for PDE registration. Examination candidates seeking further information regarding PDE payment procedures may telephone the EAAB on On-line registration procedure - using the unique personal identification number ( PIN ) Examination candidates must ensure that they obtain, or verify, their unique seven-digit PIN prior to initiating the on-line registration process. It will not be possible for a candidate to: complete the on-line registration process; or make payment of the examination registration fee; or receive confirmation of the allocated examination seat number; if the correct PIN has not been used. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 4

5 Examination candidates may obtain or, if required, verify their PIN by telephoning the EAAB on The EAAB will not be able to track PDE registration payments unless the correct PIN was used by the examination candidate concerned. Examination registration fees must be paid by PDE candidates into to the following bank account: Account Name : Estate Agency Affairs Board Bank : ABSA Account No : Branch code : Branch : Protea Park 3.6 PDE venues Use of accessible examination venues The EAAB endeavours to utilise examination venues that will be most accessible to the majority of PDE candidates Insufficient enrolments to warrant the use of a particular venue Examinations are generally conducted in all provinces subject, however, to sufficient enrollments being received for any particular venue to warrant the use of that venue as an examination centre. In cases where insufficient enrollments are received to warrant the use of a particular venue as an examination centre, candidates who may have already enrolled to write the PDE at that venue will be contacted by the EAAB, either through or telephonically, with the suggestion that they make use of an alternative venue for writing the PDE. Should the proposed alternative arrangement not be unacceptable to the candidate that person will automatically be re-enrolled to write the PDE in the originally chosen venue on the next scheduled examination date at that venue. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 5

6 3.6.3 Candidates may not change a chosen examination venue Candidates are requested carefully to choose the examination venue where they wish to write the PDE. Once a candidate has been registered to write the PDE at a particular examination venue any application for a change of venue can only be considered under the most exceptional of circumstances. An application for a change of examination venue may not be considered once the period for examination registrations has closed - regardless of whether or not the examination candidate has paid the examination registration fee Access to the examination venue Examination candidates will not be permitted to access the examination venue unless they have received a written notification from the EAAB indicating their examination number. 3.7 Entry to particular examination venues As there is limited seating capacity available at each examination venue, applications to write the PDE at a particular examination venue will be accepted, and processed, by the EAAB on a first-come - first-served basis. When all available seats at a particular examination venue have been allocated candidates will be advised in writing by the EAAB that they were not able to be accommodated at the selected venue. Candidates may then elect either to choose an alternative available examination venue or to write the next scheduled PDE at the originally chosen venue. 3.8 The examination application process Qualifying examination candidates must use the MyEAAB online portal (accessed at when enrolling for the PDE. The necessary examination registration fee must also be paid by the candidate within the indicated time period. A written examination confirmation, containing details of both the examination venue and the candidate s examination seat number, will be sent to candidates approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled examination date. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 6

7 3.8.2 Eligible examination candidates must ensure that their educational status is correctly updated on the EAAB website before accessing the MyEAAB portal. If it appears that their educational status has not been updated, candidates should immediately a copy of the Certificate of Competence issued by the Services SETA in respect of the Further Education and Training Certificate: Real Estate (NQF Level 4) and/or the National Certificate: Real Estate (NQF Level 5), alternatively, documentary evidence of the grant of an equivalency exemption against the NQF real estate qualification concerned, to the EAAB at upgrades@eaab.org.za to enable the qualification(s) to be appropriately updated. Once the relevant qualification(s) has been updated on the EAAB database the candidate may proceed to enroll for the examination online. Examination candidates will not be able to enroll for the PDE until the required NQF educational qualification, which is a pre-requisite to enrollment, has been updated on the EAAB database The following documents must be submitted to the EAAB by examination candidates prior to the examination enrollment, namely: an accurately completed Information Update form (which can be downloaded from the EAAB s website) as well as a copy of the applicant s identity document and, also, marriage certificate or divorce order if a change of surname is required; a copy of the Certificate of Competence issued by the Services SETA confirming that the applicant has been certificated against the relevant NQF real estate qualification; or a copy of the Statement of Results issued by the Services SETA to confirm that the candidate has been found competent against the relevant NQF real estate qualification; or a copy of a letter issued by the Services SETA, on a letterhead of the Services SETA and duly dated and signed, to confirm that the candidate has been found competent against the relevant NQF Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 7

8 real estate qualification; or a copy of a letter issued by an accredited real estate training provider, on a letterhead of that training provider and duly dated and signed, indicating that the competency finding made by the training provider in respect of the candidate has been moderated/verified by the Services SERA and upheld, to confirm that the candidate has been found competent against the relevant NQF Real estate qualification; or a copy of a letter issued by an accredited real estate training provider prior to 16 May 2013, on a letterhead of that training provider and duly dated and signed, or a copy of a Letter of Exemption issued by the EAAB, duly dated and signed after 16 May 2013, to confirm that the candidate has been granted an equivalency exemption against the relevant NQF real estate qualification Candidates enrolling for the PDE are deemed to have acquired the necessary PDE study material from the EAAB. Candidates who have not yet acquired the study material should immediately do so by completing the study guide order form (which can be accessed from the EAAB website under the EDUCATION top menu bar). An onus rests on candidates to ensure that they have obtained the requisite study material in sufficient time to enable them adequately to prepare for the PDE By enrolling for the PDE candidates acknowledge and confirm that they are ready for, and prepared to write, the examination Where a PDE registration application has either not been fully completed or has been incorrectly completed the candidate concerned will not be granted access to the examination venue. The candidate will, in such circumstances, be required to reapply to register for that examination before the closing date thereof if the candidate wishes to be issued with an examination seat Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 8

9 number for the particular PDE Where an examination registration application is in order but the candidate concerned has failed to make payment of the examination registration fee within the five days after the conclusion of the registration process that is allowed for this purpose, an examination seat number will not be issued to the candidate who will be precluded from writing the PDE. It is imperative, therefore, that payment of the correct examination registration fee is timeously made by all candidates 3.5. The examination format The PDE is a four-hour, open-book examination - tips on how to prepare for an open-book examination, with examples of previous ethics case studies, can be accessed at The examination incorporates a 40-mark knowledge component, a 30-mark practical case study and a 30-mark ethics case study. Candidates must obtain an overall mark of 50% to pass the examination Examination rules, terms and conditions Acknowledgement of receipt of applications Applications to write the PDE received by the EAAB will be acknowledged. On successful registration for the examination a letter of confirmation will be sent to the candidate at the address indicated in the application. Candidates who have not received an acknowledgement or allocation of an examination seat number within two weeks after enrollment may accept that their application was unsuccessful and should immediately the EAAB Education and Training Department at pde@eaab.org.za. The should provide full details of the candidate s enrollment as well as proof of payment of the examination registration fee. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 9

10 An onus rests upon each individual examination candidate to ensure receipt by the EAAB of an application to register for the PDE and, in addition, that the examination registration fee has been timeously paid Confirmation of registration A written confirmation will be addressed by the EAAB to PDE applicants whose examination enrollment application satisfies the eligibility criteria and who have paid the examination registration fee within the five day period granted for this purpose. The confirmation will not only specify the date, time and venue of the examination but also indicate the examination number assigned to the candidate. The written confirmation must be taken by candidates to the examination venue since the examination number is required on the examination answer script. The examination number should also be used as the reference in any possible future correspondence with the EAAB pertaining to the examination. It is to be underscored that the mere submission of an application for PDE registration does not in itself guarantee or confirm registration for the examination. 4 SUPPORTING EXAMINATION CANDIDATES 4.1. Support provided to examination candidates having special needs The EAAB will endeavour to provide the necessary support to examination candidates having special needs. If a candidate, for example, is unable to undertake the PDE under normal conditions, that candidate may request the grant of a special arrangement. The request for the grant of a special arrangement should be submitted to the EAAB, in writing, together with documentary proof of the relevant special needs, when the examination enrollment form is furnished. If a specially arranged examination is required the EAAB will, after assessment of the special needs concerned, make such alternative examination arrangements as may be felt to be necessary to assist the candidate. The EAAB also has a policy creating a feasible alternative to the writing of the PDE for candidates who, due to proven physical or other disability or impairment, are unable to sit for, or write, the PDE. Affected candidates should approach the EAAB for further information in this respect. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 10

11 4.2. Obtaining PDE study material The PDE study material for candidates, whether principal or non-principal estate agents, is prescribed by the EAAB. The PDE study material can be ordered by completing the study material order form to be found on the EAAB website at The study material can also be obtained at the EAAB s office in Sandton Preparation tips The EAAB has published some tips designed to assist candidates when preparing for the PDE. These tips, which can be accessed from the EAAB s website ( generally outline examination preparation requirements and also provide examples of previous examination questions. It is suggested that examination candidates take the opportunity to access these tips as previous experience indicates that they have proven to be quite beneficial to candidates when preparing for the examination General tips at the examination centre Examinations are conducted in the morning to enable out-of-town candidates to arrive and depart on the day of the examination without the necessity of an overnight stay Examinations commence promptly at 09:00. Candidates must, however, be seated by no later than 08: Examination candidates arriving after 09:00 will be refused admission to the examination venue The original confirmation letter issued by the EAAB, and containing the candidate s examination number, must be brought to the examination venue Candidates must provide positive proof of identity such as, for instance, an identity document, passport or valid driver's licence, at the examination venue While there might be a wall clock at each examination venue, candidates should rely on their own watches to pace themselves during the examination. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 11

12 4.4.7 Candidates must heed the time announcements made by the examination invigilator Identifying information Before the examination commences the chief invigilator will instruct candidates to enter certain identifying information on their answer sheets. The necessary information will be sourced from the candidate s examination confirmation letter. If the required information is not correctly reflected on the answer sheet it is likely that the results of the examination will be substantially delayed in respect of that candidate. Examination candidates must also ensure that the information provided on the examination script corresponds with the information contained on their fidelity fund certificate records. Candidates should ensure that any changes required are updated by using the Info Update Form, located on the EAAB s website at Details of a candidate s personal information must also be updated when enrolling for the examination. If information is not appropriately updated by a candidate the results of the examination will be printed according to the information available on the EAAB s IT system while the results of the examination will be sent to the candidate at the address of record. A charge will be levied should it be necessary, in such circumstances, for the EAAB to issue a duplicate Certificate of Professional Recognition to an examination candidate Standard instruction The chief invigilator is required, prior to the commencement of the examination, to announce the standard examination instructions. While these instructions may seem to be unnecessary they do ensure that the identifying information required by candidates on their answer sheets is correct and, furthermore, that the examination is written under uniform conditions no matter where the venue is located. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 12

13 The PDE is an open-book examination As the PDE is an open-book examination candidates may bring any text books, study material, dictionaries, notes, documents, etc., with them to the examination venue. The use of calculators is also permitted and a calculator may, similarly, be brought to the examination venue. Candidates may not, however, purport to answer any questions posed in the examination by simply including a pre-printed note and/or document in the candidate s answer sheet. Candidates doing so will not receive any marks for the relevant question(s). Electronic devices such as, for instance, ipads, laptop computers, tablets, cellular telephones, etc., are, however, not permitted to be used by candidates during the examination. Any candidate found to be in possession of such an electronic device during the examination will not only forthwith be disqualified but will also be charged for failure to comply with the examination rules. 5 REGULATIONS AT THE EXAMINATION VENUE To ensure that all candidates are tested under equally favourable conditions, the following regulations and procedures must be observed at the examination venue: smoking is not permitted during the examination and in the examination venue; candidates are not permitted to work beyond the time allotted for the examination; candidates who wish to leave the room while an examination is in progress may do so only with the permission of the invigilator; any kind of misconduct - such as communicating with another candidate, using unauthorised (particularly electronic) aids, attempting to take the examination for someone else, or removing examination material or notes from the examination room - will result in a candidate being summarily expelled from the examination while the candidate concerned will also be reported to the EAAB for the institution of disciplinary action against such person; candidates are advised that all examination question books and answer sheets remain strictly the property of, and proprietary to, the EAAB and that such Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 13

14 examination question books and answer sheets may not be accessed by examination candidates after the conclusion of the examination; and on completion of an examination, candidates must hand in both their question books and answer sheets - candidates will not be permitted to leave the examination venue until they have complied with this obligation. 6 TAKING THE EXAMINATION Candidates must, at the outset, check to see that they have received the correct question paper for the PDE level they are undertaking. Candidates should, when instructed to do so by the chief invigilator, read though the examination instructions carefully and make sure that they understand them before answering any questions. Candidates are allocated 20 minutes to read the examination paper in addition to the examination duration of 4 hours. Candidates are advised to use the allotted time of the examination economically. Candidates must enter their answers legibly on the answer sheet contained in the question book: no credit will be given for an answer written or indicated in the question book itself. Candidates are reminded that any pre-written document inserted in the examination script will not be marked since all work must be completed in the examination room by the candidate. All rough work must be done in the margins or on the blank pages of the question book, not on the answer sheet. Apart from the identifying information entered before the commencement of an examination, answer sheets should contain only the answers to the examination question. Examination question books and answer sheets remain strictly the property of, and proprietary to, the EAAB and such examination question books and answer sheets cannot be accessed by examination candidates after the conclusion of the examination. Issued for and by the EAAB_ revised 2014 Page 14