It may help when looking for work if you have a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

• surveying
• business studies
• estate management
• property development or management
• urban and land studies

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could become an estate agent by doing an apprenticeship, for example:

• Junior Estate Agent Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Housing and Property Management Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Housing and Property Management Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take 1 year to 1 year and 6 months to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You could work as a trainee sales negotiator or letting agent assistant and learn on the job.

You could also start as an administrator with an estate agent or lettings company and work your way up through training and promotion.

Local knowledge of the area where you'll be working would be an advantage.

You could take a course through an industry body like Propertymark or the Chartered Institute of Housing.

There are courses for people looking to take their first steps in the industry as well as professional development courses for those with experience.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• the ability to work on your own
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• persuading and negotiating skills
• persistence and determination
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• have a full driving licence

As an estate agent, you'll:

• value properties and advise on market rent levels
• arrange viewing appointments and show clients around properties
• negotiate between buyers and sellers
• work with professionals like surveyors, solicitors and conveyancers
• organise property maintenance and cleaning
• make sure the buying, selling and letting process meets legal requirements

You could work in an office, at a client's business or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.