Introduction

As a real estate agent, staying on top of your continuing education requirements isn’t just about maintaining your license—it’s about being the best professional you can be for your clients. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the current continuing education requirements for real estate agents across all 50 states as of 2025, help you identify the most valuable courses, and provide recommendations for quality education providers that can help you fulfill these requirements efficiently.

Why Continuing Education Matters

Before diving into state-specific requirements, let’s consider why these courses are so valuable:

  1. Maintain Your License: First and foremost, completing required CE hours keeps your license active and your career moving forward.
  2. Stay Current: Real estate laws and practices evolve constantly. CE courses ensure you’re up-to-date with the latest regulations and market trends.
  3. Expand Your Expertise: Specialized courses can help you develop new skills and knowledge in areas like commercial real estate, property management, or luxury home sales.
  4. Increase Your Earning Potential: Additional certifications and specializations can open doors to new client bases and higher commission opportunities.

State-by-State Continuing Education Requirements

Alabama

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 15 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of risk management, 3 hours of Alabama real estate law
  • License Renewal Deadline: September 30 (even years)

Alaska

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 20 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 8 hours of designated courses including ethics and fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: January 31 (even years)

Arizona

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 24 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of contract law, 3 hours of commissioner’s standards, 3 hours of disclosure, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Arkansas

  • Renewal Period: Every year
  • CE Hours Required: 7 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of safety, fair housing, or ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: Birthday of the licensee

California

  • Renewal Period: Every 4 years
  • CE Hours Required: 45 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 18 hours of consumer protection courses, 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of risk management, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Colorado

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 24 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 12 hours of annual update courses (4 hours each year)
  • License Renewal Deadline: December 31 (every 3 years)

Connecticut

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of ethical practices, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: March 31 (even years)

Delaware

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 21 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of Delaware real estate law, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: April 30 (odd years)

Florida

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 14 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of Florida real estate law updates
  • License Renewal Deadline: March 31 (even-numbered license holders) or September 30 (odd-numbered license holders)

Georgia

  • Renewal Period: Every 4 years
  • CE Hours Required: 36 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of license law, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Hawaii

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 20 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of core courses including ethics and law updates
  • License Renewal Deadline: December 31 (even years)

Idaho

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 8 hours of core courses including 4 hours of Idaho license law
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Illinois

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of core curriculum including ethics and fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: April 30 (even years)

Indiana

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of ethics and professional conduct
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Iowa

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 36 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 8 hours of law updates, 4 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: December 31 (every 3 years based on last digit of license)

Kansas

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of Kansas license law, 3 hours of brokerage relationships
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Kentucky

  • Renewal Period: Every year
  • CE Hours Required: 6 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of law updates
  • License Renewal Deadline: March 31

Louisiana

  • Renewal Period: Every year
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours mandatory including ethics and fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: December 31

Maine

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 21 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of law updates, 3 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Maryland

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 15 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of legislative updates
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Massachusetts

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 2 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Michigan

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 18 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 2 hours of legal issues, 2 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: October 31 (every 3 years)

Minnesota

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 15 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3.75 hours of required modules including fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: June 30 (even years)

Mississippi

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 16 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 8 hours of required courses including license law
  • License Renewal Deadline: December 31 (even years)

Missouri

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of core courses including Missouri license law
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Montana

  • Renewal Period: Every year
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of mandatory topics including ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: October 31

Nebraska

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 18 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of designated courses including license law
  • License Renewal Deadline: November 30 (even years)

Nevada

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 24 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of agency, 3 hours of contracts, 3 hours of law updates
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

New Hampshire

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 15 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

New Jersey

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of ethics and fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

New Mexico

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 36 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of ethics, 4 hours of New Mexico law
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

New York

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 22.5 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of fair housing, 2.5 hours of ethics, 1 hour of agency
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

North Carolina

  • Renewal Period: Every year
  • CE Hours Required: 8 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of update course, 4 hours of electives
  • License Renewal Deadline: June 30

North Dakota

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 9 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: November 15 (odd years)

Ohio

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 30 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 9 hours of core courses including 3 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Oklahoma

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 21 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of required courses including fair housing and disclosures
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Oregon

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 30 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of recent law changes, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Pennsylvania

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 14 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3.5 hours of required topics including fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: May 31 (even years)

Rhode Island

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 24 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of core topics including ethics and fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: April 30 (even years)

South Carolina

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 10 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of core courses including fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: June 30 (even years)

South Dakota

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 12 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of required topics including license law updates
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Tennessee

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 16 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of core courses including ethics and law
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Texas

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 18 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of legal updates, 3 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Utah

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 18 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 9 hours of core topics including 3 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Vermont

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 8 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of core courses including ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: May 31 (even years)

Virginia

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 16 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 8 hours of required courses including ethics and fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

Washington

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 30 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of core curriculum, 3 hours of fair housing
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

West Virginia

  • Renewal Period: Every year
  • CE Hours Required: 7 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 4 hours of required courses including ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: June 30

Wisconsin

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 18 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 6 hours of core courses including fair housing and ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: December 14 (even years)

Wyoming

  • Renewal Period: Every 3 years
  • CE Hours Required: 45 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 15 hours of mandatory courses including ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: Based on original license date

District of Columbia

  • Renewal Period: Every 2 years
  • CE Hours Required: 15 hours
  • Mandatory Topics: 3 hours of fair housing, 3 hours of ethics
  • License Renewal Deadline: February 28 (even years)