CHICAGO (July 15, 2025) – IREM® (Institute of Real Estate Management), based in Chicago, IL, USA, and the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) of South Africa, are proud to announce that they have entered into a partnership to launch the IREM Accredited Residential Manager® or ARM® certification into the South African market. The ARM® certification is intended for early-career real estate managers and certifies knowledge of the core competencies to manage residential properties successfully.
IREM has already been working with PPRA on providing content for the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules, mandated by PPRA for practicing real estate agents in South Africa. Already IREM’s contributions to the CPD program have been felt. Thato Ramaili, CEO of PPRA, has confirmed that approximately 1200 practitioners have opted to use the IREM modules for CPD credits and another 300 opted to attend a webinar version of one of the CPD modules, presented by IREM instructor and IREM South Africa Gauteng Chapter President, based in Johannesburg, Patrick Katabua, CPM®. “The IREM modules have already been well attended and received good reviews,” added Ms. Ramaili.
This new program with PPRA will funnel individuals who completed PPRA’s Principal Real Estate Agent certification to the ARM®. “This gives professionals here a chance to add a global certification to their credentials, and opens more opportunities in the local sector and beyond,” says 2025 IREM President Dawn Carpenter, CPM®, who was on-hand in Johannesburg, to confirm the program with Ms. Ramaili.
Through the program with PPRA, IREM hopes to increase its membership in South Africa and further work to advance professionalism and the property management industry in the country. IREM opened the South Africa Gauteng Chapter in South Africa in 2018 - the first IREM chapter on the continent, which continues to grow each year.
About IREM
For more than 90 years, our members have made us the world’s strongest voice for all things real estate management. Almost 20,000 leaders in commercial and residential management call this home for education, support and networking. Our CPM®, ARM®, ACoM®, and AMO® certifications are internationally recognized symbols of ethical leadership and a well-managed property. And our tools deliver decades of on-the-job know-how to help members get even better at what they do. Put simply – IREM and its members are here to elevate the profession. If you know real estate management, come get to know us. irem.org
About PPRA
The Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) primary mandate includes, among others, regulating the affairs of all property practitioners; allowing for transformation in the property sector and to ensure consumer protection against undesirable practices and conduct of property practitioners. The Property Practitioners Act (PPA) on which the PPRA derives its core mandate and responsibilities is a consumer-centric organisation whose primary aim is to protect consumers in the property industry, as well as to instill transformation of the property practitioner industry and to maintain professional standards in the property practitioners’ sector. theppra.org.za