Apply for a conveyancer’s licence - individual

On this page:

• Before starting your application
• How to apply
• After you lodge your application

Important note: You must use our myCAV online system to apply for a conveyancer’s licence.

To start using myCAV, you will need to create your own myCAV account. Use a personal email address to verify your identity and sign in to your account. If you already have a myCAV account, sign in and select ‘Apply for a conveyancer’s licence – individual’.

For more information, view our About myCAV page.

Before starting your application

Definitions

Conveyancing

The process of transferring the legal title of property or a business from a seller to a buyer is conveyancing. Conveyancing can also include the process of creating other legal interests in land, such as a mortgage, a lease, or an assignment of lease. It also includes legal work connected with the:

• sale or purchase of goodwill and stock-in-trade
• transfer of any relevant business licence or permit.

Conveyancer

A conveyancer is a person or company, other than an Australian legal practitioner, who carries on a conveyancing business for a fee or reward. This applies even if conveyancing is not the main purpose of the business.

Eligibility

Australian Legal Practitioners and incorporated legal practices can conduct conveyancing work in accordance with the Legal Profession Act 2004. They are not required to hold a conveyancer's licence.

To be eligible for a licence you must:

1. be covered by a minimum of $2 million professional indemnity insurance by the current approved broker. For more information, view our Professional indemnity insurance page.
2. meet at least one requirement from each of the following experience and qualifications sections below.

Experience

You must meet one of the following criteria:

• Completed the equivalent of 12 months' full-time experience within the last five years, carrying out conveyancing work under the supervision of either:
  • an Australian legal practitioner who has a practising certificate that authorises them to supervise legal practice by others, or
  • a fully licensed conveyancer in Victoria.
• Successfully completed a recognised law degree and either:
  • an approved practical legal training or corresponding requirements, or
  • the equivalent of 12 months' full-time experience within the last five years carrying out conveyancing work under the supervision of either:
    • an Australian legal practitioner who has a practising certificate that authorises them to supervise legal practice by others, or
    • a fully licensed conveyancer in Victoria.
• Held a conveyancer’s licence in Victoria in the last five years.

About current qualifications

The Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing is the qualification currently offered by registered training organisations for prospective conveyancers. The other qualifications above are ‘legacy’ qualifications that were available in the past. They are still recognised for licensing purposes. This avoids the need for those who have completed older qualifications to re-train.

A law degree started on or after 1 July 2008 is not recognised and does not meet the qualification eligibility criteria for a licence. A policy change at that time required licence applicants to complete conveyancing competencies. 

Ineligibility

You are automatically ineligible to be licensed if you are:

• under 18 years of age
• currently insolvent under administration (bankrupt, debt agreements under Part IX or Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966)
• a disqualified person within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act 2004
• currently disqualified from holding a conveyancer's licence (or equivalent) anywhere in Australia or elsewhere, or the subject of an order by any regulatory body disqualifying you from acting as a conveyancer or equivalent
• a represented person under the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986 (and a guardian or administrator has been appointed).

You may also be ineligible if:

• within the last 10 years, you have been convicted or found guilty of a disqualifying offence involving fraud, dishonesty, drug trafficking or violence punishable by 3 months or more in prison. For information about spent convictions, view Spent convictions
• you have ever had a claim admitted against you from the Victorian Property Fund or Estate Agent’s Guarantee Fund.

Permission

For disqualifying criminal offences and claims against the Victorian Property Fund or Estate Agents' Guarantee Fund, you may still be granted a licence if you apply for permission. 

For more information, view: 

• Disqualification and permissions
• Spent convictions.

Records checks

You must provide proof of your identity as part of your application. 

You may be able to do this by verifying your identity online. For more information, view Identity verification. 
 
If you can’t complete online identity verification, you must submit certified copies of four identity documents and a signed consent form with your myCAV application. The correct documents, properly certified, will help your application avoid delays. For more information, view Records checks. 

The Business Licensing Authority (BLA) will conduct checks with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), and other agencies to verify the information provided in the application. Any disputes about the accuracy of the results of the checks will be referred to ACIC. 

Fees

The application fee from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 is $1,241.80.

The application fee must be paid at the time of application. The fee is non-refundable.

Providing incorrect information

It is a serious offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading statement in relation to a licence application. Significant fines apply.

Unlicensed trading

Unlicensed conveyancers are liable for significant fines and/or two years in prison.

If you intend to operate through a company, that company must also be licensed. View Apply for a conveyancers licence - company.

How to apply

Complete and lodge the conveyancers individual licence application via myCAV.

Start application

Additional documents required with the application

In myCAV you must attach a copy of your professional indemnity insurance certificate issued by the current approved broker (not required if you will be employed by another Victorian licensed conveyancer). For more information, view our Professional indemnity insurance page.

If you cannot complete online identity verification you must also attach:

• A completed Consent to national criminal history and other record checks (Word, 353KB).
• Certified copies of the required identification documents, including at least one document containing your certified photograph. Details are on the Consent to national criminal history and other record checks form.

If you have conveyancing work experience with a fully licensed conveyancer or Australian legal practitioner, lodge written evidence from your employer(s) confirming your employment with them.

You must ensure that this written evidence is signed and dated by your employer(s) and it provides confirmation of the dates of your employment and hours spent on conveyancing per week. It must also contain a detailed list describing the conveyancing duties you have performed. For further details, refer to application form.

After you lodge your application

Processing time

To avoid delays, please complete the form correctly and attach all necessary documents. The average processing time last quarter was 24 days.

You must not conduct a conveyancing business unless the BLA grants you a licence.

Additional information

When considering your application, the BLA may require you to provide further information. You will be advised by email if further information is required. The BLA may refuse your application if you do not provide this within a reasonable timeframe.

Change of information

If any change occurs in the information you have provided in your licence application, you must notify the BLA in writing within 14 days of becoming aware of the change.

Sharing your information

The BLA gives your information to:

• Consumer Affairs Victoria
• other law enforcement and regulatory bodies
• your professional indemnity insurance provider (if applicable).

These organisations may report any relevant information to the BLA.

For privacy information, view Information and privacy - BLA.

Withdrawing your application

You can withdraw your application in writing at any time before it has been determined by the BLA. Please note that the fee is non-refundable.

Unsuccessful application

If your application is not successful, you will be notified by email. You can appeal the decision by applying to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) within 28 days of the decision.

Successful application

If your application is successful, you will receive a conveyancer’s licence by email, which is ongoing unless surrendered, suspended, disqualified or cancelled. To familiarise yourself with your ongoing obligations and licensing requirements, view Running your business.

Conditions on a licence

The BLA may impose conditions on a licence:

• which must be complied with before the BLA grants a licence
• when the BLA grants a licence
• at any time, at the request of any person, or on the BLA’s own initiative.

The BLA may also vary or revoke any of the conditions or restrictions imposed on a licence.