Need CPD points fast? Last-minute CPD, honestly

If your registration expiry is close and you are short, the rules decide what is possible, not the provider. Here is what you can actually do in the time you have, in order of urgency.

First: how much time do you really have?

Your CPD has to be complete when you lodge repeat registration, and you can lodge any time in the 60 days before expiry. If you lodge and pay before your registration expires, you stay registered while the application is processed. So the real question is how many days until you lodge, and the answer should be "before expiry", not "on expiry day". How the deadline works →

What is possible in the time left

The order to do things in

1. Work out your exact gap. Points, Category A shortfall, mandatory topics. The calculator does this in a minute. Count only activities completed in the 12 months before you will lodge.
2. Book the live Category A sessions first. They are the only thing you cannot do on demand. Check the upcoming schedule and the next CPD Weekend, and book every session you need, today.
3. Start the mandatory topics tonight. The ethics and Code of Conduct modules each take about 90 minutes. If a live session you booked is approved for a mandatory topic, you can skip the matching module.
4. Fill the remaining Category B points with self-paced modules, up to 6 online points per 24 hours including any online live sessions on the same day.
5. Check the certificates, then lodge. Each one needs the activity number, category, date and your MARN. What the OMARA expects →

A two-day example: 10 points from zero

Two days, 10 points, at least 5 of them Category A, both mandatory topics covered. It only works if the weekend is running and has places, which is the whole argument for booking now rather than reading further.

Mistakes that cost agents their registration

• Buying "10 points online in a day". Only 6 count. The other 4 are wasted money and, worse, wasted time.
• Doing 10 points of private study. Five is the ceiling for Category B. Without 5 live points the application fails.
• Using a provider that is not OMARA-approved. Zero points, whatever the certificate says. Check in two minutes →
• Forgetting a mandatory topic. Ten points without an ethics activity is nine usable points and an incomplete application.
• Letting expiry pass. After expiry you cannot give immigration assistance until a late application is approved. Lodge before the date, even if it is close.

FAQ

Can I complete 10 CPD points in one day?

No. Under the 2026 rules no more than 6 points from online activities count in any continuous 24-hour period, and at least 5 of your 10 points must be live Category A sessions. Two days is the minimum, and only if the live sessions are scheduled.

What is the fastest way to get Category A CPD points?

A CPD Weekend: 2-point live, interactive Category A workshops across a Saturday and Sunday on Zoom, with both mandatory topics included. Six points a day count, so three workshops a day covers the Category A minimum and more. Weekday sessions, when scheduled, fill smaller gaps.

How quickly can I get a certificate for a self-paced module?

Immediately on passing the assessment. Widen modules take about 90 minutes of study followed by a 10-question assessment with an 80% pass mark.

My registration expires tomorrow. What should I do?

Lodge and pay for repeat registration before it expires if your CPD is complete, so your registration continues while it is processed. If your CPD is not complete, the OMARA accepts late applications for up to 36 months, but you cannot give immigration assistance until it is approved. Finish the points as fast as the rules allow and lodge.

← Back to the full CPD requirements guide