Standardizing real estate brokerage is a challenging task.

Although the 2023 Real Estate Business Law came into effect on August 1, 2024, nine months after its implementation, tens of thousands of real estate brokers still lack brokerage certificates or have expired certificates. Reaching professional standards is a challenging journey.

Illustrative photo: Tuan Anh/TTXVN

Currently, many localities have yet to announce plans for organizing the real estate brokerage certification exam, despite high demand. The implementation of regulations related to the exam and issuance of real estate brokerage licenses still faces many obstacles. The examination system in many localities remains virtually inactive, causing worrying consequences for businesses, practitioners, and the market as a whole.

Many businesses have reported that they all want to improve their reputation and service quality, and build a professional image in the market, as this is an inevitable trend, but they are powerless to do so. This is causing difficulties for hundreds of real estate brokerage businesses because their brokers have not yet participated in the professional certification exams.

Mr. Pham Trung Hieu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Four Home, stated: "The current Real Estate Business Law has delegated the authority to issue certificates to local authorities, but the implementation progress has been very slow. Those working in the real estate brokerage field expect specific guidelines to obtain professional certificates according to regulations."

“Many difficulties and obstacles exist, especially in remote provinces and cities, where there is a lack of coordination between relevant departments and agencies, and a lack of clear guidance documents. The lack of transparency in the training and certification process is hindering the official recognition of practitioners' competence, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the market,” Mr. Hieu analyzed.

The Law on Real Estate Business, Decree 96/2024/ND-CP detailing some provisions of the Law on Real Estate Business, and Circular 04/2024/TT-BXD guiding the framework program for training and professional development in real estate brokerage and real estate exchange management, all effective from August 1, 2024, clearly stipulate that individuals taking the examination for a real estate brokerage professional certificate must meet the following conditions: completing a training course on real estate brokerage knowledge and receiving a valid certificate.

However, the prolonged delay in certification exams has caused numerous problems. Despite training courses organized by various authorities, the certification process remains stalled, hindering those who are qualified to practice. A large portion of current brokers operate "outside the law," posing risks to both practitioners and clients.

Furthermore, a large number of brokers who have completed the course but have not yet received certification are disrupting the supply-demand connection in the market. This delay not only causes fatigue and reduces the credibility of professionals, but also affects the quality of service and customer trust – experts warn.

According to a survey by the Vietnam Real Estate Market Research Institute (VARS IRE), up to 89% of current real estate brokers either lack a professional license or their license has expired; of which, 51.8% have no license and have never received training, 24.1% have received training but do not have a license, and 12.8% have a license but it has expired. Only 11.3% currently possess a valid professional license.

A survey by VARS IRE of nearly 30,000 real estate brokers also showed that, to date, more than 6,000 trainees have completed the training program according to Circular No. 04/2024/TT-BXD of the Ministry of Construction guiding the framework program for training and professional development in real estate brokerage and real estate exchange management, but have not been able to participate in the examination due to difficulties in organizing the examination in various provinces and cities.

Notably, as many as 416 brokerage firms reported a shortage of qualified personnel, leading to many firms being unable to recruit enough legally qualified staff, directly impacting trading activities and the market recovery process. This has created a "hidden storm" in the brokerage industry. Practitioners are caught between the expectation of complying with the law and the reality of having no clear path forward.

This situation reflects a worrying state of professional legality and highlights the urgent need to standardize the workforce, enhance training, and increase transparency in the certification examination process.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Real Estate Brokers (VARS), Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh, stated: A system for testing and issuing professional licenses is a key factor in standardizing the real estate brokerage workforce, but it has not been implemented in any locality. This situation leaves practitioners feeling uncertain and confused.

Simultaneously, brokerage firms face the risk of a shortage of legally qualified personnel to operate trading floors. Delays in issuing examination plans, coupled with a lack of unified guidance and clear definition of the roles of stakeholders, are creating uncertainty and anxiety within the real estate business community.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Hoang Van Cuong, a member of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee, commented that professionalizing the brokerage force is a key factor in building a healthy real estate market. An unprofessional team will not be able to ensure the sustainable development of the market.

However, Mr. Cuong explained that organizing the real estate brokerage certification exam is facing many challenges, partly because provinces and cities are currently in the process of reorganizing their administrative apparatus. In addition, another major difficulty is that the responsibility for developing and securing the exam questions is assigned to the Chairman of the Examination Council in each province. This also creates significant pressure on local authorities.

"To create flexibility, provinces can mobilize the participation of real estate organizations and businesses to reduce the burden in this process," Mr. Cuong suggested.

Given this urgent situation, VARS proposes that, in order to facilitate the professionalization of the real estate brokerage profession and ensure compliance with legal regulations, state management agencies at all levels and localities should promptly develop and approve a plan for organizing examinations. The number of examinations must be sufficient to meet the needs of a large number of brokers.

There should be coordination and agreement between nearby locations to ensure suitable event times, assisting brokers with arrangements and travel, while maintaining flexibility and avoiding waste. In particular, quality must be prioritized to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency. Absolutely no instances of "buying licenses" should be allowed, as this negatively impacts the quality of real estate brokerage services in the future.

According to VNA

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/gian-nan-chuan-hoa-moi-gioi-bat-dong-san/20250505081156945