Real Estate License Renewal: The Complete Guide to State Requirements, CE Credits, and More
WebCE Staff
By
January 26, 2026
Renewing a real estate license on time is essential for staying legally active and protecting your career. Whether you are a real estate agent, broker, or referral agent, a missed renewal deadline can interrupt your ability to practice, trigger additional fees, or even require reinstatement through your state’s real estate commission or professional regulation office.
At the center of the real estate license renewal process is continuing education (CE). This advanced learning helps real estate professionals stay current on laws, fair housing requirements, and industry best practices while maintaining compliance with state licensing services.
National trends highlight just how important it is for real estate professionals to renew on time. In California alone, there were approximately 87,062 active brokers and about 217,400 active sales agents in 2025. The year prior, roughly 76% of expiring salesperson licenses and about 91% of broker licenses were successfully renewed — clear evidence that most licensees prioritize staying compliant and understand the high cost of letting a license lapse.
This guide explains continuing education for real estate, renewal deadlines, fees, online renewal portals, and state-by-state highlights so you can renew with confidence.
The Basics: Real Estate License Renewals
Before navigating state-specific rules, it helps to revisit the basics. Every real estate license has a defined license term and expiration date. To remain active, licensees must complete required CE credits, submit a renewal application, and pay applicable renewal fees by the renewal deadline set by their real estate commission or board.
Getting back to these fundamentals makes the renewal process smoother and reduces the risk of penalties or license status issues.
Online vs In-Person Renewal
Most states now require or strongly encourage online renewal through state licensing portals. Benefits of online renewal include:
Faster processing and instant submission
Automatic verification of continuing education credit
Secure online payment of renewal fees
Immediate confirmation or email receipts
In-person or mail-in renewal options may still apply in limited cases, such as reinstatement after expiration or specific disciplinary situations. Always check your state’s renewal information for exceptions.
Core Renewal Requirements
While details vary by state, most renewal requirements include:
A valid, active real estate license
Completion of the state’s continuing education requirement
Payment of the renewal fee
Background check or fingerprint updates (in some states)
Disclosure of legal or disciplinary matters
Ongoing learning is part of professional development for real estate professionals, which supports both compliance and long-term career growth.
Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate
Most states require real estate licensees to complete CE every two to four years as a condition of license renewal. While the purpose of continuing education is consistent nationwide — maintaining professional competence and legal compliance — the number of required CE credits, approved course types, and topic areas can vary significantly by state.
Across jurisdictions, CE typically covers a mix of core and elective subjects designed to keep real estate professionals current and informed. Common CE topic areas include:
Law updates
Ethics and professional conduct
Fair housing topic areas
Elective real estate courses
State requirements illustrate how rules differ in practice, for example:
In California, real estate license renewal requires 45 hours of CE every four years, including mandatory coursework in ethics and fair housing.
Texas requires 18 hours of CE every two years, including contract-related coursework and elective hours.
Florida real estate licensees must complete 14 hours of CE every two years, including core topics and electives approved by the state.
Tip: State systems often experience higher traffic as renewal deadlines approach. Stay competitive by choosing the top approved CE courses early to avoid system delays near renewal deadlines.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Renew a Real Estate License Online
Renewing your real estate license online follows a clear, structured process that most states use to streamline compliance. The steps explain what to expect, making the renewal process more efficient and helping you avoid common setbacks.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Log in to your state’s licensing portal to verify your license status and expiration date.
Step 2: Complete Continuing Education Requirements
Complete the required CE hours for your state and make sure you understand how credit reporting works. In some states, approved providers submit your CE credits taken to your state, but in others, you must report your own credits when renewing or retain your certificates in case of an audit. Keeping accurate records ensures a smooth renewal process and avoids potential compliance issues.
Step 3: Submit the Renewal Application
Apply through your state’s portal.
Step 4: Pay Renewal Fees
Renewal fees vary by license type and state. Salesperson renewal fees are typically lower than broker renewal fees.
Step 5: Confirm Renewal Status
Most portals provide digital confirmation.
Tip: Save your confirmation email or screenshot as proof of timely renewal.
State-by-State Renewal Highlights
Below are high-level renewal requirements for common states. Always confirm details with official board information.
California
Late renewal available with additional fees
CE: 45 hours every four years
New York
CE: 22.5 hours every two years
Texas
CE: 18 hours every two years, including Legal Update I & II
Florida
CE: 14 hours every two years
Colorado
CE: 24 hours every three years
Ohio
CE: 30 hours every three years
Kansas
CE: 12 hours per cycle
Maine
CE: 21 hours
Indiana
CE: 12 hours annually
Oregon
CE: 30 hours every two years
South Carolina
CE: 10 hours every two years
Renewal After Expiration or Lapse
If your license expiration date passes, many states allow late renewal within a grace period. Typically, reinstatement requires:
Completion of all overdue CE
Payment of late renewal or reinstatement fees
Submission of updated renewal applications
Tip: Mark CE and renewal deadlines in your calendar to avoid additional fees.
How to Avoid Missed Deadlines, Penalties, or Lapses
Avoiding renewal issues starts with building license management into your regular business routine. One of the simplest and most effective steps is setting multiple reminders 60 to 90 days before your license expiration date so you have enough time to complete CE, resolve any licensing issues, and submit your renewal application without rushing.
Completing CE early is especially helpful when you are actively planning your real estate business and mapping out busy seasons, transactions, and client commitments. By scheduling CE during slower periods, you reduce the risk of last-minute delays and ensure your renewal process does not interfere with revenue-generating activities.
Staying engaged in the industry can further reduce the risk of missed deadlines. Attending networking and professional development events helps real estate professionals stay current on regulatory changes, renewal requirements, and best practices.
Renew With Confidence: Complete Your Continuing Education Online With WebCE
Timely real estate license renewal starts with completing CE early. WebCE helps licensees stay on track with online real estate courses and optional renewal reminder emails so deadlines are never missed.
Staying compliant protects your ability to serve clients, maintain earning potential, and build a long-term career in real estate. Explore WebCE’s real estate continuing education courses and renew with confidence.