When you become a real estate agent, you will have to go through continuing education. Real estate agents’ continuing education requirements vary from state to state. They are attached to renewing your real estate license, which is different in each state, too.
All 50 states have rules when it comes to real estate agents continuing education. Let’s take a closer look at each state and what’s required for continuing education.
Alabama
You will need to meet the real estate agent continuing education requirement of 15 total hours every renewal period in Alabama. This must include a three-hour Risk Management course. During your first six months after getting your license, you will also need to meet the post-license education.
- License Renewal: Every two years
- Post-License Education (During First 6 Months): 30 Hours
- Continuing Education: 15 Hours
Alaska
You will need to complete 30 total hours of post-licensing education with your first renewal. 20 hours of continuing education is required every renewal period in Alaska. Eight of the hours must be the core curriculum.
- License Renewal: Every two years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 30 Hours
- Continuing Education: 20 Hours
Arizona
When you get your real estate license in Arizona, you will need to complete 24 continuing education hours every two years. These hours are a bit more specific than other states and include:
- 3 hours Disclosure (D)
- 3 hours Fair Housing (FH)
- 3 hours Agency (A)
- 3 hours Contract Law (CL)
- 3 hours Commissioner’s Standards (CS)
- 3 hours Real Estate Legal Issues (L)
- 6 hours General
Arizona is a bit specific about the type of hours you will need to complete.
- License Renewal: Every two years
- Continuing Education: 24 Hours
Arkansas
In the state of Arkansas, 18 hours of post-licensing education is necessary for your first year, but this also counts as your annual CE. After that, you must complete one hour of Safety continuing education, along with six hours of elective hours for your continuing education. This is a total of seven continuing education hours.
- License Renewal: Every year
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 18 Hours
- Continuing Education: 7 Hours
California
Once you have renewed your license the first time, you will need to complete 45 hours of continuing education for all other renewals. This will include an eight-hour survey course and at least 18 hours of coursework on consumer protection. All other hours must relate to customer protection or consumer service.
Your first renewal will require five three-hour courses covering the following topics:
- Ethics
- Agency
- Fair Housing
- Trust Fund Handling
- Risk Management
You will also need another 18 hours of consumer protection courses. The rest of your 45 hours will need to relate to consumer service or consumer protection.
- License Renewal: Every Four Years
- Continuing Education: 45 Hours
Colorado
A total of 24 hours of real estate agents’ continuing education is necessary in Colorado. Half the hours are mandatory courses you will have to take, while the other half are electives. The required hours will include a four-hour Annual Commission Update Course. You will take this course three times before you renew, which adds up to 12 total continuing education hours.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 24 Hours
Connecticut
A minimum of 12 hours of continuing education is necessary every two years in Connecticut. It’s due in the even-numbered years and may vary from renewal to renewal. All real estate agent licenses will expire on May 31st for an even number of years.
It’s also possible to pass a 40-question Connecticut Continuing Education Examination in place of some of your continuing education courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Delaware
After your first renewal in Delaware, you will need to complete 21 hours of continuing education courses every renewal period. Your first renewal is quite different, however.
The number of hours you will need to complete will depend on when you were licensed. You will also need to complete specific courses to fulfill the requirements. These courses will vary based on when you get your license, too.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): Varies
- Continuing Education: 21 Hours
Florida
The first time you renew your license, you will need to take 45 hours of post-licensing courses that are designed to build on what you learned in pre-licensing education. After your first renewal, you will need to complete 14 hours of continuing education courses every two years in Florida.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 45 Hours
- Continuing Education: 14 Hours
Georgia
All salespersons are required to complete a 25-hour post-license course within their first year of licensure. A total of 36 continuing education hours need to be completed every renewal period. Three of the hours will have to cover Georgia License Law.
- License Renewal: Every Four Years
- Post-License Education (During First Year): 25 Hours
- Continuing Education: 36 Hours
Hawaii
In Hawaii, you will need to complete 20 hours of continuing education courses as a real estate agent. These hours have to be done every renewal period with six hours of core courses and 14 hours of elective courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 20 Hours
Idaho
You are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education courses every renewal period in Idaho. Six hours will need to be core courses, while 14 can be elective hours.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 20 Hours
Illinois
At least 12 continuing education hours will need to be done from the core curriculum in Illinois. These hours have to be completed before you can renew your license every two years. Agents also have to complete a one-hour sexual harassment prevention course.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 45 Hours
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Indiana
You must complete 12 hours of continuing education courses every renewal period in Indiana.
- License Renewal: Every Year
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Iowa
It’s necessary to complete 36 total continuing education hours in Iowa for each renewal period. Eight hours will be a Law Update course, while four hours will be on Ethics. The rest must be approved electives.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 36 Hours
Kansas
During every renewal period, real estate agents in Kansas have to complete 12 hours of continuing education. Three hours is a mandatory course called Kansas Required Core.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Kentucky
Six continuing education courses must be completed in Kentucky to renew your license every year. Three of these hours have to be on an approved law course.
- License Renewal: Every Year by December 31st
- Continuing Education: 6 Hours
Louisiana
You will need to complete 12 continuing education hours every year to renew your real estate license in Louisiana. Four hours will be a mandatory topic given by the Commission.
- License Renewal: Every Year
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Maine
As a real estate agent in Maine, you must complete 21 hours of approved continuing education every renewal period. Three hours have to be a mandatory core course.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 21 Hours
Maryland
As a real estate agent in Maryland, you will need to complete 15 hours of continuing education every two years. These hours will include:
- Legislative – 3 hours
- Brokerage Relationship and Disclosure – 3 hours
- Ethics – 3 hours
- Fair Housing – 1.5 hours
- Electives – 4.5 hours
You will need to complete these categories for your hours every renewal period.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 15 Hours
Massachusetts
You will need to complete a total of 12 hours of continuing education every renewal period in Massachusetts.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Michigan
For every renewal period in Michigan, you will need to complete 18 hours of continuing education courses. Two hours will need to cover law, rules, and court cases about real estate.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 18 Hours
Minnesota
A total of 30 continuing education hours have to be completed every renewal period. your hours have to be completed by June 30th every year except the first year you have a license. At least 15 of the hours have to be done each year.
Every license year, you will need to complete a specific continuing education course and one hour of training in laws or regulations on agency representation and disclosure. Another hour has to be a course in state and federal fair housing laws, rules, regulations, and other antidiscrimination laws.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 30 Hours
Mississippi
You will need to complete 16 hours of continuing education courses in Mississippi. These hours are split in half between mandatory and electives. The mandatory hours include two hours on MS license law, two hours on Contract Law, and four hours on Agency Law.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 16 Hours
Missouri
A total of 12 continuing education hours are necessary for every renewal period in Missouri. Three of the hours have to be a course from the Missouri Real Estate Commission.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Montana
At least 12 continuing education hours must be completed every course year in Montana. If you’re a real estate agent, you will need to complete these hours every year by October 31st.
- License Renewal: Every Year
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
Nebraska
As a real estate agent in Nebraska, you will need to complete 18 hours of continuing education every renewal period. Six of the hours will be a designated subject from the Nebraska Real Estate Commission.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 18 Hours
Nevada
After your first renewal in Nevada, you will need to complete 24 hours of continuing education hours every renewal period. These hours must be split as follows:
- Agency – 3 Hours
- Contracts – 3 Hours
- Ethics – 3 Hours
- Law and Legislation – 3 Hours
- General courses – 12 Hours
For every renewal period, you will need to complete these hours.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 30 Hours
- Continuing Education: 24 Hours
New Hampshire
Every two years, you will need to complete 15 hours of continuing education courses in New Hampshire. This will include a three-hour core course.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 15 Hours
New Jersey
A total of 12 hours of continuing education hours will need to be completed every renewal period in New Jersey. Six of the hours will need to be on core topics, with two hours on ethics.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 12 Hours
New Mexico
In New Mexico, real estate agents are known as associate brokers. After your first renewal, you will need to complete 36 hours of continuing education every renewal period, including:
- Ethics – 4 Hours
- Core Electives – 4 Hours
- Electives – 16 Hours
- Core Courses – 12 Hours
These courses will need to be completed within the right time frame.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 36 Hours
New York
A total of 22.5 hours of continuing education courses will need to be completed every two years. Three hours will need to be on topics including fair housing and discrimination. Another hour must also be on the law of agency, and two more hours must be on the agency.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 22.5 Hours
North Carolina
When you want to renew your North Carolina real estate license, you will need to complete eight hours of continuing education courses each year. These hours will vary a bit depending on whether you have BIC Eligible Status or not.
- License Renewal: Every Year
- Continuing Education: 8 Hours
North Dakota
You need to complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years in North Dakota. At least half the hours have to be on state-required subjects.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 24 Hours
Ohio
Complete 30 hours of continuing education, and you can renew your license in Ohio. Three hours have to be done on Core Law, with three more hours on Ethics and another three hours on Civil Rights.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 30 Hours
Oklahoma
You will need to complete 21 required hours of continuing education every renewal period in Oklahoma. One hour will need to be done in each of the following:
- Fair Housing (FHR)
- License Code & Rules (CAR)
- Broker Relationships (BRA)
- Hot Topic (HOT)
- Contracts (CON)
- Professional Conduct (PSC)
The final 15 hours can be electives approved by the commission.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 21 Hours
Oregon
You will need to complete 30 continuing education courses when it comes to renewing your real estate license in Oregon. Three hours have to be done in Law and Rule, with the other 27 hours in other topics.
If it’s your first renewal period, the 27 hours of continuing education will be done in Broker Advanced Practices.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 30 Hours
Pennsylvania
You will need to complete 14 hours of approved continuing education every two years in Pennsylvania.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): Specific Continuing Education Courses
- Continuing Education: 14 Hours
Rhode Island
A total of 24 hours of continuing education courses are necessary to renew your Rhode Island real estate license. Six of the hours will need to cover specific topics. You will also need to take a lead poisoning/lead hazard mitigation course of at least three hours once.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 24 Hours
South Carolina
During every renewal period, you will need to complete 10 hours of continuing education courses in South Carolina. This must include four hours of mandatory courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 10 Hours
South Dakota
Real estate agents need to complete 24 hours of continuing education courses, with 12 of those hours on required subjects.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 24 Hours
Tennessee
A total of 16 continuing education course hours have to be completed every renewal period. Six hours will need to be CORE courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 16 Hours
Texas
After your first renewal, you will need to complete 18 hours of continuing education courses every renewal period. You will also need to complete 98 total hours of post-licensing courses for your first renewal. These hours include 90 hours of the SAE real estate course and 8 hours of TREC Legal Update courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 98 Hours
- Continuing Education: 18 Hours
Utah
You will need to complete 18 hours of real estate agent continuing education hours every renewal period. Nine of the hours will need to cover Core topics.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 18 Hours
Vermont
If you want to renew your real estate license in Vermont, you will need to complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years. Four hours will need to be a mandatory course.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 16 Hours
Virginia
After your first renewal, you will need to complete 16 hours of continuing education every renewal period. Eight hours will need to be on mandatory topics. You will need to complete 30 hours for your first renewal over nine different courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 30 Hours
- Continuing Education: 16 Hours
Washington
For your first renewal, you will need to complete 90 hours of specific courses. After your first renewal, you will need to complete 30 hours of continuing education with three hours of core courses.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Post-License Education (First Renewal): 90 Hours
- Continuing Education: 30 Hours
West Virginia
You will need to complete seven hours of continuing education every year to maintain your license in West Virginia.
- License Renewal: Every Year
- Continuing Education: 7 Hours
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, real estate agents will need to complete three six-hour continuing education courses. This is a total of 18 hours every two years.
- License Renewal: Every Two Years
- Continuing Education: 18 Hours
Wyoming
You will need to complete 45 hours of continuing education every renewal period. This includes 24 hours of required courses and 21 hours of elective courses.
- License Renewal: Every Three Years
- Continuing Education: 45 Hours
If you want to know what’s necessary to renew your real estate license, the requirements are listed above. You will need to meet the real estate agent continuing education course requirements for your state.
