About the exam
Propertymark Commercial Agency Exam structure
An independent England and Wales guide to the current Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Commercial), mapped to CiPA01, CiPA02, CiPA03 and CiPA11 and kept separate from the withdrawn Commercial Property Agency Award.
Issuer and path
Propertymark Commercial Property Agency Study Guide is administered through Propertymark Qualifications. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
CiPA01: The Role of the Property Professional
30 scored + 0 pretest
Professionalism, cross-sector legislation, information technology and professional client and customer service.
CiPA02: The Practice of a Property Professional
30 scored + 0 pretest
Safety and security, property and construction basics, services, environmental considerations, service selling and marketing.
CiPA03: General Law and Practice for Property Agents
30 scored + 0 pretest
The England and Wales law unit covering agency, contract, land, planning, tort, discrimination and dispute resolution.
CiPA11: Commercial Property Practice
30 scored + 0 pretest
Commercial occupation, covenants, termination, renewal, rent, repair, transaction evidence, taxation, planning and sector legislation.
Check the four current codes before booking
Use the learner portal and current Propertymark policies to confirm CiPA01, CiPA02, CiPA03 and CiPA11, identification, equipment, access arrangements and any resit or scheduling rule applying on the booking date.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understand professionalism in the role of a property agent | 0 | 38 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand key legislation applicable to all property agents | 0 | 38 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand how to work effectively with Information Technology (IT) within a property agency | 0 | 37 | 5 | Good |
| Understand how to work effectively and professionally with clients and customers as a property agent | 0 | 37 | 5 | Strong |
| Understand health, safety and security in property agency | 0 | 30 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand basic property types and basic construction methods | 0 | 30 | 5 | Good |
| Understand the provision of services and environmental considerations relating to properties | 0 | 30 | 5 | Good |
| Understand the basic techniques for selling the services of a property agent | 0 | 30 | 5 | Good |
| Understand marketing methods in property agency | 0 | 30 | 5 | Strong |
| Understand the fundamental principles of the law of agency | 0 | 22 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the fundamental principles of contract law | 0 | 22 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the fundamental principles of land law | 0 | 21 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the fundamental principles relating to the law of tort | 0 | 21 | 5 | Good |
| Understand the fundamental principles of town and country planning law | 0 | 22 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand relevant principles of discrimination law | 0 | 21 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the different methods available for handling complaints and dispute resolution | 0 | 21 | 5 | Good |
| Understand how to apply the distinction between a lease and a licence in the context of commercial property | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the distinction between express and implied covenants and their impact on the landlord–tenant relationship | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand covenants within the lease relating to alienation | 0 | 10 | 5 | Strong |
| Understand how a tenancy can be terminated, both at common law and statute | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand statutory protection afforded by Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and a landlord’s grounds for possession | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the process for the renewal of a commercial lease | 0 | 10 | 5 | Strong |
| Understand the meaning of rent and its impact on the landlord and tenant relationship | 0 | 10 | 5 | Good |
| Understand the process of conducting rent reviews on commercial property | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the principles relating to repair and dilapidations | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand what is meant by Heads of Terms and what these contain | 0 | 11 | 5 | Strong |
| Understand how to measure different types of commercial property | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the market appraisal process | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand the range and impact of taxation within the commercial property sector | 0 | 10 | 5 | Good |
| Understand planning classes and licensing | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
| Understand other legislation affecting commercial property | 0 | 10 | 5 | Priority |
How to use this guide
How to study the four current units
Prepare each 30-question unit on its own terms, combine rule recall with short workplace application and keep law and guidance current for England and Wales.
Classify
Identify the jurisdiction, parties, agency role, property, occupation or transaction and the decision required.
Source
Locate the current legal rule, lease term, professional standard, record or market evidence that controls the issue.
Apply
Connect the rule to the facts, test exceptions and distinguish similar concepts such as lease and licence or assignment and underletting.
Record
Preserve authority, evidence, calculations, disclosures, advice, consent, notices and next steps.
Review
Check deadlines, change in facts or law, specialist referrals and whether the action actually resolved the risk.
Professionalism in Property Agency
Ethical conduct, competence, accountability, conflicts, confidentiality and the codes or standards that govern a property professional.
Key rules
Rule 1
Professional judgement begins with the client's lawful interests but remains bounded by duties to customers, the public, the profession and the law.
Exam cue: Identify every stakeholder and duty before deciding what the agent should do.
Rule 2
Conflicts should be identified early, disclosed where appropriate and managed only when continued involvement is permitted.
Exam cue: Separate a commercial preference from a legal, ethical or professional obligation.
Rule 3
Competence includes recognising limits, keeping knowledge current, using supervision and referring specialist issues.
Exam cue: Name the controlling source, apply it to the property and parties, and record the evidence for the decision.
Rule 4
A defensible file records instructions, advice, material decisions, disclosures, consent and follow-up.
Exam cue: Name the controlling source, apply it to the property and parties, and record the evidence for the decision.
Common traps
Assuming a client's instruction overrides law or professional standards.
Prevention: Check the current qualification, jurisdiction, document and effective date before relying on a remembered rule.
Treating a disclosure after the event as a complete cure for an unmanaged conflict.
Prevention: Check the current qualification, jurisdiction, document and effective date before relying on a remembered rule.
Memory anchors
Professionalism in Property Agency: scope
Ethical conduct, competence, accountability, conflicts, confidentiality and the codes or standards that govern a property professional.
Professionalism in Property Agency: focus 1
Professional judgement begins with the client's lawful interests but remains bounded by duties to customers, the public, the profession and the law.
Professionalism in Property Agency: focus 2
Conflicts should be identified early, disclosed where appropriate and managed only when continued involvement is permitted.
Professionalism in Property Agency: focus 3
Competence includes recognising limits, keeping knowledge current, using supervision and referring specialist issues.
Professionalism in Property Agency: focus 4
A defensible file records instructions, advice, material decisions, disclosures, consent and follow-up.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
Propertymark Qualifications: Commercial qualifications
Controlling public current-qualification page for the exact name, England and Wales scope, age, GLH/TQT, grading, four unit codes and all published learning outcomes.
Propertymark Learning: Certificate in Property Agency
Current learner-facing pathway, four-unit structure, 30-question and 45-minute format, question styles, 60% pass and 80% distinction thresholds, remote invigilation and learner-portal specification boundary.
Propertymark Qualifications
Awarding-organisation hub with current examination policies and the withdrawal list showing the former Level 3 Award in Commercial Property Agency and its final examination date.
Launch of the modular Certificate in Property Agency
Official 17 June 2024 notice confirming that the new modular Certificate opened for registration on 14 June 2024 and explaining the common, jurisdiction and specialist unit model.
PMQ Examination Regulations effective 31 May 2026
Current remotely invigilated examination conditions, identification, permitted equipment, materials and integrity rules.
PMQ Fees List effective 1 August 2026
Official list separating the current Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Commercial) from the withdrawn Level 3 Award in Commercial Property Agency.
FAQ
Common Propertymark Commercial Agency questions
What is the current Propertymark commercial qualification called?
Propertymark Qualifications currently lists Level 3 (SCQF Level 6) Certificate in Property Agency (Commercial). The learner pathway is Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency (Commercial) for England and Wales. This guide uses that current Certificate route.
Is the Level 3 Award in Commercial Property Agency the same qualification?
No. Propertymark lists the former Level 3 Award in Commercial Property Agency as withdrawn and no longer open for registration. Legacy candidates have final-exam arrangements through 30 September 2027, but its COM1, CPA2, CPA3 and CPA4 syllabus is not the current Certificate blueprint.
Why can I still find an old Commercial Property Agency sample paper?
Propertymark's site still hosts historic material for the withdrawn Award and candidates completing that route. The document identifies the old Award and old unit codes, so it must not be used as the controlling outline for a new current-certificate learner.
Which four units make up the current commercial pathway?
CiPA01 The Role of the Property Professional, CiPA02 The Practice of a Property Professional, CiPA03 General Law and Practice for Property Agents for England and Wales, and CiPA11 Commercial Property Practice.
Can the units be taken in any order?
Yes. Propertymark says candidates may complete the four units in any order, but all four must be passed before the full qualification is certified.
How is each current unit assessed?
Each unit has a 45-minute remotely invigilated online exam containing 30 questions. Published styles include multiple choice, multiple response, drag and drop, matching and list-style questions.
Is this guide a complete copy of the programme specification?
No. It maps every unit and learning outcome Propertymark publishes publicly. Propertymark says the full programme specification and assessment criteria are supplied to enrolled learners through the learner portal; those controlled materials remain authoritative.
Does the commercial pathway cover Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. Propertymark currently lists the commercial pathway for England and Wales only. This guide therefore uses CiPA03, not CiPA04 for Northern Ireland or CiPA05 for Scotland.
Does the parenthetical SCQF Level 6 make this a Scottish commercial route?
No. The awarding page uses a suite title containing Level 3 (SCQF Level 6), but the same page expressly says the commercial qualification applies to England and Wales. Propertymark does not list a Scottish commercial pathway.
Are all learning outcomes weighted equally?
Propertymark publishes 30 questions per unit but no item count for individual learning outcomes. This blueprint gives each unit about one quarter of the planned 601 future practice items; the within-unit allocation is a transparent Pass Harbor plan, not an official weighting.
Why is full mock mode disabled?
The current qualification is four separate assessments and uses interaction types beyond this static study model, including drag-and-drop, matching and list-style questions. A single fixed mock would misrepresent the official delivery.
How should I handle changes in commercial property law?
Use the current learner specification, Propertymark notices and authoritative legislation or regulator guidance for your sitting. For professional work, confirm the current law and obtain legal, surveying, valuation or tax advice when the issue exceeds your role.