How to register for the RES exam (2026)
RES exam registration is a two-stage process run by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA), with examination administration handled by NTUC LearningHub. The key thing to understand: you cannot register directly — you first indicate interest, then pay only if shortlisted.
Before you register: eligibility
You must satisfy CEA’s requirements for a salesperson before sitting the exam, and you must complete a CEA-approved RES course first. In summary:
- Complete the RES course with a CEA Approved Course Provider (ACP), with a minimum of 75% attendance.
- Hold a valid Certificate of RES Course Completion (valid for 2 years for exam eligibility).
- Meet the educational requirement — typically a minimum of four GCE ‘O’ Level passes (combinable across two sittings) or an accepted equivalent, or the Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN) assessment at the required level.
- Be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident (the salesperson registration criteria include age and fit-and-proper checks).
The course itself is the gatekeeper step. Only certificates from CEA ACPs are recognised, and CEA advises considering exam seat availability carefully before signing up for a course.
2026 exam schedule
| Sitting | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Course completion by |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Sat 14 Mar, 9:30am–12pm | Sun 15 Mar, 9:30am–12pm | 20 Jan 2026 |
| July 2026 | Sat 18 Jul, 9:30am–12pm | Sun 19 Jul, 9:30am–12pm | 18 May 2026 |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | Sat 31 Oct, 9:30am–12pm | Sun 1 Nov, 9:30am–12pm | (per CEA announcement) |
Exact Stage 1 and Stage 2 windows are announced per sitting on CEA and NTUC LearningHub’s sites. For the July 2026 sitting, for example, Stage 1 ran on 19 May (9am–12pm) and Stage 2 on 4–7 June.
Stage 1: indication of interest
Stage 1 is where you register your interest via CEA’s online channel (GovEntry, with Singpass authentication for recent sittings). It is a narrow window — typically a single morning.
- Authenticate with Singpass. Have a valid, working Singpass account ready beforehand; you cannot complete Stage 1 without it.
- Access only the official link posted on CEA or NTUC LearningHub’s websites.
- Indicate your exam type — Full-sitting, Modular Paper 1, or Modular Paper 2 (with or without exemption from Paper 1).
- Submit once. Only one submission per NRIC/FIN is allowed; erroneous or duplicate submissions can be disqualified.
Stage 2: registration & payment
If you are shortlisted, NTUC LearningHub contacts you by email with instructions to complete your registration and payment on their website. You must finish within the stated deadline, or your seat is released to the waitlist.
- Complete registration and make payment online within the Stage 2 window.
- Upload the required supporting documents.
- Keep the confirmation email and payment receipt once received.
Documents to prepare
- RES Course Completion Certificate (original) — mandatory for first-time candidates.
- Highest qualification certificate used for your RES course registration.
- CEA Assessment Letter — if you used overseas or local private qualifications.
- Previous RES exam result slips — if sitting a modular (single-paper) retake.
- NRIC / FIN — your registration name must match exactly.
Common registration mistakes
- Waiting to sort out Singpass until Stage 1 day — set it up early.
- Using an employer-issued device with restrictive security, which can break Singpass authentication.
- Submitting the interest form more than once “to be safe” — this is disallowed.
- Missing the Stage 2 payment deadline and losing the seat.
- Letting your course certificate lapse — remember the 2-year validity with no extension.