The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) announced today that, with effect from 1 August 2021, applicants of provisional property management practitioner (PMP) licence can select licence validity period of either 12 months, 24 months or 36 months.
The property management industry licensing regime (Licensing Regime) commenced operation on 1 August 2020. To allow the industry sufficient time to adapt, there is a three-year transitional period (i.e. from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2023). During the transitional period, PMPs who do not meet the relevant criteria for academic and/or professional qualifications but possess the specified property management (PM) work experience may apply for a provisional licence. Upon completion of a course specified by the PMSA (Specified Course) within the validity period of the provisional licence, the PMP may apply for a formal licence without having to comply with the requirement of academic and/or professional qualifications. The validity period of the current provisional licence is 36 months to tie in with the three-year transitional period arrangement.
The 36-month licence fees of provisional (Tier 1) and (Tier 2) licences are $3,600 and $1,200 respectively.
As the transitional period arrangement has been implemented for one year, the PMSA announced today that, starting from 1 August 2021, applicants of provisional PMP licence are allowed to choose licence validity period of either 12 months (the licence fees of provisional (Tier 1) and (Tier 2) licences are $1,200 and $400 respectively), 24 months (the licence fees of provisional (Tier 1) and (Tier 2) licences are $2,400 and $800 respectively) or 36 months.
Mr Tony TSE, the PMSA Chairperson said, “This arrangement provides applicants with flexibility, allowing them to successfully complete the Specified Course according to their own situation and timetable, and select an appropriate licence validity period and pay the appropriate licence fee so as to avoid paying any fee more than necessary. It also helps to encourage provisional licensees who meet the criteria to apply for a formal licence as soon as possible.”
Chairperson TSE added, “Applicants of provisional licence should, however, note that there is no renewal arrangement for provisional licence. If a shorter licence validity period is selected, the applicant has to successfully complete the Specified Course within the validity period selected so as to meet the criteria of applying for a formal licence. The PMSA will not accept application for provisional licence after the transitional period.”
For applicants who have submitted applications for provisional licence, and if the licence has not yet been issued, the PMSA will liaise with them and allow them to choose different licence validity period of 12 months, 24 months or 36 months and pay the appropriate licence fee.
As for those with provisional licence issued by the PMSA, and if they apply for and have obtained a formal licence, Chairman TSE added: “During the remaining period of their provisional licence validity, they will be exempted from paying registration fees for attending PMSA’s continuous professional development activities. This is to encourage them to participate in continuous education activities so as to enhance their professional standards and keep them abreast of the latest development.”
Up to late June this year, the PMSA has issued more than 1,500 provisional PMP (Tier 1) and (Tier 2) licences.
Ends/Thursday, 1 July 2021
Issued at HKT 09:00
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