How do you renew a real estate license?

You renew your real estate license with your state licensing commission before the expiration date printed on the license. Licenses run on 2-to-4-year cycles depending on the state, and renewal almost always requires completing continuing education first: 22.5 hours per two-year term in New York, 18 hours per two years in Texas, and 45 hours per four-year term in California. Late renewal is usually allowed for a limited period at a higher fee, but you cannot perform licensed activity until the renewal is complete.

Alabama real estate licenses must be renewed online through the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) website every two years. The penalty-free renewal deadline is August 31 of even-numbered years, and all licenses expire at midnight on September 30 of the final year of each license period. Active renewal requires 15 hours of continuing education, including a mandatory 3-hour Risk Management course plus electives, and licenses not renewed by September 30 are placed on inactive status on October 1.

Alaska real estate licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years, and licensees must renew on or before that date to continue practicing. Renewal requires completing 20 hours of continuing education (8 hours of designated core curriculum and 12 hours of electives), submitting proof of current errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and paying the renewal fee. The biennial renewal fee for an active license is $170 ($120 renewal fee plus $50 recovery fund fee), or $120 for an inactive license. Renewal forms are mailed at least 60 days before the expiration date, and processing takes 4 to 6 weeks for complete applications. There is no grace period to practice on a lapsed license.

Arizona real estate license renewal is processed through the ADRE Licensee Login after continuing education requirements are met and the renewal fee is paid. Licenses are issued for a two-year term, and renewal must occur on or before the last day of the month in which the license was originally issued. Salespersons and associate brokers must complete 24 hours of CE per cycle, while designated, self-employed, and delegated associate brokers must complete 30 hours including 9 hours of Broker Management Clinic; effective January 1, 2025, 1 hour each on Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water must be included within the existing total. Licensees must self-report CE completions through the Licensee Login, and ADRE accepts no more than 9 hours of education per day.

Arkansas real estate licenses must be renewed annually, with all licenses expiring on December 31. The deadline to renew without a penalty is September 30: salesperson renewal costs $60 and broker renewal costs $80 before that date, rising to $80 and $110 respectively after September 30. Active licensees must complete 7 hours of continuing education annually, and if an active license is not renewed by December 31, it automatically expires on January 1.

California real estate licenses are issued for a four-year period and must be renewed before the expiration date. Renewal can be submitted online through the eLicensing system or by mail, beginning up to 90 days before expiration. Salesperson on-time renewal costs $350, and broker on-time renewal costs $450; both require 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education. If renewed on time, the licensee may continue operating under the existing license after the expiration date until the renewed certificate is received or California Department of Real Estate (DRE) notifies them to cease.

Colorado real estate broker licenses renew on a three-year cycle, with online renewal opening 45 days before the expiration date and a 31-day grace period after expiration to submit renewal without penalty fees. The base rate renewal fee is $252, and all active brokers must complete 24 hours of continuing education per cycle: 12 hours from three different versions of the four-hour Annual Commission Update Course and 12 hours of electives. Continuing education must be completed before the December 31 expiration date, as the 31-day grace period applies only to the renewal fee, not to CE. If a license expires, the licensee has 3 years to submit a reinstatement application, with fees of $376.50 for reinstatement within 32 days to one year and $501 for reinstatement more than one year but less than three years.

Salesperson licenses expire on May 31 and broker licenses expire on November 30 of every even-numbered year. Renewal notices are emailed 30 to 45 days before expiration, and licensees can renew online through the Connecticut eLicensing system using a User ID and password or a Fast Track Renewal PIN. The salesperson renewal fee is $578.00 with a $57.00 late fee if not received by expiration; the broker renewal fee is $758.00 with a $75.00 late fee. Both require 12 hours of continuing education per two-year cycle (one 3-hour mandatory course plus 9 hours of electives), completed at least 3 months before the renewal deadline. Licensees with an inactive license are not eligible to renew and must have a sponsoring broker before the renewal cycle. The full renewal fee is required the first renewal cycle after license issuance.

Delaware real estate licenses expire on April 30 of even-numbered years and must be renewed through the DELPROS online system. Active licensees must attest to completing 21 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle. A late renewal application can be filed up to 30 days after the expiration date with a late fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee, but it is illegal to practice during this period. If the license is not renewed within the 30-day late period, the licensee must apply for reinstatement.

Salespersons must renew by August 31 in odd-numbered years, and brokers and property managers must renew by February 28 in odd-numbered years. The renewal fee is $130 for salespersons and $170 for brokers and property managers, covering a two-year cycle, and a $50 late renewal fee applies for missed deadlines. Licensees must complete 15 hours of continuing education each cycle, including 3 hours each of DC Fair Housing, DC Ethics, DC Legislative Update, and Property Management, plus 3 hours of electives.

Florida real estate licenses must be renewed biennially by March 31 or September 30. First-time renewals require 45 hours of post-licensing education for sales associates or 60 hours for brokers, completed before the expiration date or the license becomes null and void. Subsequent renewals require 14 hours of continuing education (3 hours Core Law, 3 hours Ethics and Business Practices, and 8 hours specialty) and payment of the renewal fee, which is $64 for sales associates and $72 for brokers. Renewals can be completed online through the DBPR online services portal.

Georgia real estate licenses renew every 4 years, expiring on the last day of the licensee's birthday month, and licensees can renew up to 120 days in advance through the Commission's online system or by mail. The renewal fee is $125 by mail or $100 online, and active licensees must complete 36 hours of approved continuing education during each 4-year cycle, including at least 3 hours on license law. If education is not completed by the renewal deadline, the licensee should renew to inactive status to avoid a $100 late fee, then re-activate at no charge once courses are posted by submitting a Change Application. Brokers renewing on or after July 1, 2025 must also complete 18 of the 36 hours in broker-specific topics.

Hawaii real estate licenses must be renewed by November 30 of each even-numbered year, and all licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. Licensees must complete 20 hours of Commission-approved continuing education during the two-year period preceding renewal, consisting of 6 core hours (Core A and Core B, each 3 hours) and 14 elective hours. Renewal fees are $268 for salespersons and broker-salespersons, $298 for sole proprietor brokers, and $343 for broker entities. Licenses not renewed by the deadline automatically forfeit on January 1 of the following odd-numbered year.

Idaho real estate licenses must be renewed every 2 years, with the renewal period ending on the last day of the licensee's birth month. A license may be renewed up to 60 days prior to the expiration date, and as of January 1, 2026, the Individual Broker/Salesperson renewal fee is $0 under a Fee Holiday implemented by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Active renewals require 2 Idaho Commission Core courses plus 12 elective hours of continuing education, and a $25 late fee applies if renewing after expiration, with one year to renew before the license terminates.

Brokers renew online through the IDFPR Online Services Portal, paying a $200 renewal fee, by the April 30 deadline in even-numbered years. Established brokers must complete 12 hours of continuing education, consisting of a 6-hour Core course and 6 hours of electives, including at least 2 hours of fair housing training in the core and 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training in the electives. New brokers who received their initial license within the current cycle must instead complete 45 hours of post-license education, divided into three 15-hour courses, each with a 50-question final exam. All education must be completed through an IDFPR-approved provider.

Indiana broker licenses renew every 3 years for a $60 fee, with renewal notices sent approximately 90 days before expiration. A $50 late fee applies if the renewal is submitted after the expiration date. Brokers with an Active or Unassigned license status must complete 12 hours of continuing education each year from July 1 to June 30; excess hours do not carry forward. If the license status is Inactive or Referral, no CE is required to renew. CE certificates are not submitted during renewal; the Commission conducts random audits after the renewal period. Managing brokers must complete 4 of their 12 annual CE hours in managing broker topics.

Iowa real estate licenses are issued for three-year terms and expire on December 31 of the renewal year. To renew to active status, salespersons and brokers must complete 36 hours of continuing education: 8 hours of Law Update, 4 hours of Ethics, and 24 hours of Commission-approved electives, all finished by December 31 and before submitting the renewal application. A maximum of 24 hours may be taken by distance learning, and at least 12 hours must be live instruction, which includes Zoom. There is no 30-day grace period for CE completion, and renewal applications are submitted electronically through the "My Iowa PLB" portal with fees of $125 for salespersons and $170 for brokers. Up to 18 excess elective hours may be carried over to the next renewal cycle.

Kansas real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. To renew to active status, you must complete 12 hours of continuing education, including at least 3 hours in the Kansas Required Core course, and pay the renewal fee of $125 for salespersons or $175 for brokers. A $100 late fee applies to renewals submitted after the expiration date, and an expired license must be renewed within 6 months of expiration or it will be forfeited. Renewal to inactive status does not require CE, but the hours must be completed before returning to active status.

All Kentucky real estate licensees must renew biennially by March 31 of each even-numbered year, either online through the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC) eServices portal or by submitting Form 208 by mail with payment. Active licensees must purchase errors and omissions (E&O) insurance before renewing, and the renewal fee is $130 for active status or $120 for inactive status. Failure to renew before March 31 results in license cancellation and a late renewal fee of $200.

The timely renewal period runs from August 1 to September 30 each year, and renewal is completed through the MyLREC Portal. All active licensees must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education, including any Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) mandatory course topics, by December 31. Licensees may submit renewal before finishing CE, but the education requirement must be met by December 31 to avoid fine citations. Current licensees do not need to complete a new fingerprint-based criminal history review to renew.

Active associate broker and broker licenses must be renewed biennially on the anniversary of the original license. Renewal requires a $100 fee and completion of 21 hours of Commission-approved continuing education, including a 3-hour mandatory core course. You may renew up to 60 days before the expiration date. If you miss the deadline, you have 90 calendar days to renew with an additional $50 late fee, but you may not conduct business while the license is expired. After 90 days, the license cannot be renewed and you must pass the Maine Law exam and submit a new license application.

Maryland real estate licenses are granted for a two-year term beginning on the date of issuance, and renewal requires completing 15 hours of continuing education at least 30 days prior to the renewal date. The renewal fees are $78 for salespersons, $123 for associate brokers, and $191 for brokers, effective April 27, 2026. Licensees can renew online through the Maryland Real Estate Commission's electronic licensing system. Broker renewal applicants must also submit a full credit report, including the public record section, that is no older than six months.

Massachusetts real estate licenses must be renewed every two years on the licensee's birthday through the state's eLIPSE online platform. To renew as active, licensees must complete 12 hours of Board-approved continuing education and upload a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) authorization form. The salesperson renewal fee is $103 and the broker renewal fee is $142; a $57 late fee applies per license if renewal is received after the expiration date. The renewal window opens 90 days before the license expiration date.

To renew a Michigan real estate license, complete 18 hours of continuing education within the 3-year cycle, then log into MiPLUS to submit the renewal application and pay the fee. Salesperson renewal costs $78 and broker renewal costs $108. A 60-day late renewal period applies after expiration with an additional $20 late fee. Licensees must retain CE documentation for at least 4 years, as Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) randomly audits compliance.

Minnesota real estate licenses are valid for up to two years and must be renewed by June 30 of the expiration year. The associated broker must submit the renewal application for a salesperson through the PULSE portal at pulseportal.com; a salesperson does not submit the renewal themselves. The renewal fee for a salesperson is $70 ($40 base + $20 recovery fund + $10 technology surcharge), and the renewal fee for a broker is $130 ($100 base + $20 recovery fund + $10 technology surcharge). Renewal processing takes approximately 7 business days after a complete application is submitted.

Mississippi real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. Active licensees must complete 16 hours of approved continuing education per renewal cycle, including 8 mandatory hours (2 hours license law, 2 hours contract law, 4 hours agency law) and 8 elective hours. As of August 2026, the renewal fee is $100 per renewal period for both brokers and salespersons; effective October 1, 2026, the fee increases to $150 for brokers and $120 for salespersons. A 100% late renewal penalty applies within the grace period. The first renewal of a permanent license is exempt from the CE requirement for licensees who completed the post-license course. Renewals can be processed through the MREC online portal.

Missouri requires 12 hours of MREC-approved continuing education every two years, with at least 3 hours in a CORE course; for the 2026-2028 renewal period, the CORE course must cover Fair Housing. Salesperson licenses expire September 30 and broker licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years, with renewals processed through the MOPRO online system. The salesperson renewal fee is $65, and a delinquent fee of $50 per month applies to late renewals, up to a maximum of $200. A license expired more than two years becomes void, requiring the individual to requalify as a new applicant.

All Montana real estate licenses expire on October 31 each year, and the renewal window opens 60 days prior. Active licensees must complete 12 hours of Board-approved continuing education every licensing year (November 1 through October 31). Salesperson renewal costs $80 for an active license or $40 for an inactive license; broker renewal costs $90 for active or $45 for inactive. Renewal can be filed online through the Montana eBiz portal or by mail, and mail-in renewals must be postmarked by October 31.

Nebraska real estate licenses must be renewed every 2 years after the initial calendar-year term. Renew before November 30 to avoid late fees; renewals submitted after December 1 incur a $25 late penalty per month or fraction thereof, with the late renewal option expiring June 30 of the ensuing year. Active licensees must have continuing education (18 hours every 2 years) completed and errors and omissions insurance verified before renewing on active status. Inactive licenses must also be renewed and are subject to the same deadlines.

Nevada real estate licenses can be renewed online starting 45 days before the expiration date, and there is no grace period for late renewal. First-time renewals require post-licensing education completed through live instruction within the first 12 months of licensure. Subsequent renewals require 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years, with at least 18 hours through live instruction. The salesperson renewal fee is $195 and the broker or broker-salesperson renewal fee is $235, both submitted on Form 580.

Licensees receive an email renewal notification 90 days before expiration and must renew online through the New Hampshire Online Licensing portal, using a registration code from the notification to create an account. The salesperson renewal fee is $99, the broker renewal fee is $121, and active renewal requires 15 hours of continuing education per cycle (one 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours). First-time salesperson renewals must also complete 12 hours of post-licensing education in addition to the core course. If a license has been expired less than 1 year, the licensee must reinstate online; if more than 1 year, the licensee must reapply online.

To renew a New Jersey real estate license, you must complete 12 continuing education credits, submit an individual online Qualifying Questionnaire, and pay the renewal fee through the NJ Online Licensing Services portal. For the 2025-2027 license cycle, all CE credits must be completed by April 30, 2027, and the renewal deadline is June 30, 2027. The salesperson renewal fee is $100, the broker renewal fee is $200, and a $200 late fee applies if CE is not finished by the April 30 deadline.

You must renew your New Mexico real estate license every 3 years on or before the last day of the month following your birth month, through the NM-PLUS online portal. The on-time renewal fee is $270 plus a $30 recovery fee, totaling $300. Associate brokers must complete 36 hours of continuing education per cycle, and qualifying brokers must complete 42 hours, including the annual 4-hour core course, a 4-hour ethics course, and commission meeting attendance for qualifying brokers.

All New York real estate licenses must be renewed online through the eAccessNY portal. You can begin renewal up to 3 months before your license expiration date, and the Department of State sends an email and postcard reminder at that time. To renew, you must complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education, and salespersons and associate brokers must have a sponsoring broker to be eligible for renewal. The license term is 2 years, and the renewal fee is $65 for salespersons and $185 for brokers.

All North Carolina real estate licenses expire on June 30 each year, and the annual renewal fee is $50. Licensees must renew online between May 15 and June 30 per Commission Rule 58A.0503; no checks or phone payments are accepted. To renew on active status, licensees must complete 8 hours of continuing education by June 10 each year, consisting of a 4-hour General Update course (or BICUP for BIC-eligible brokers) and a 4-hour Commission-approved elective. New licensees who obtained their license by examination or reinstatement are exempt from CE during their initial license year but must satisfy the 8-hour requirement before their second renewal.

All active and inactive North Dakota real estate licensees must renew online by November 15 each year. Renewal fees are $125 for salespersons, $150 for brokers and broker associates, and $200 for firms. Late fees accumulate at $100 per month per license beginning November 16, and licenses not renewed by January 15 are cancelled. Resident licensees must complete 12 hours of continuing education per CE cycle to renew as active.

Oklahoma real estate licenses renew every three years through the online License Portal, with renewal access opening 60 days before the expiration date. Active licensees must complete all required continuing education by the renewal date; inactive licensees must still renew but have no CE requirement. If a license has lapsed for less than one year, renewal is possible through the License Portal with additional late fees. Lapsed licenses between one and three years require a reinstatement application with additional fees, an exam, and a background check. Lapsed licenses beyond three years require a new application for licensure.

Active license renewal requires completing 30 hours of continuing education and paying a $300 fee through eLicense, starting the first day of the month the license expires. Inactive renewal requires no continuing education and costs $150. If the license is not renewed before expiration, there is a one-year late renewal window: late active renewal costs $450 ($300 + $150 late fee), and late inactive renewal costs $300 ($150 + $150 late fee). After one year past expiration, the license becomes lapsed.

All Pennsylvania real estate licenses must be renewed online through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) website. Licenses expire May 31 of every even-numbered year, and the Commission emails renewal notices approximately 60 days before the deadline. Standard licensees must complete 14 hours of Commission-approved continuing education during each 2-year period, and renewal fees range from $96 for salespersons and Associate Brokers to $126 for other broker license types. There is no grace period for renewals.

Rhode Island real estate licenses must be renewed every two years, with salesperson renewal costing $130 and broker or corporate renewal costing $170, payable to the RI General Treasurer. Non-exempt licensees must complete 24 hours of DBR-approved continuing education, including at least 9 core hours with 3 hours in Fair Housing, within the 2-year licensing period. A late reinstatement fee of $100 applies if the license is renewed after its expiration date, and the renewal application requires current errors and omissions (E&O) insurance information and a taxpayer status affidavit.

South Carolina real estate licenses must be renewed every two years by June 30, with the renewal window opening April 1. Active associates and brokers must complete 10 hours of continuing education (4 hours mandatory core plus 6 hours elective) before submitting renewal, while Broker-in-Charge licensees need 10 hours (4-hour BIC course, 4-hour core, and 2 hours elective). Renewal fees are $45 for associates, $55 for brokers and property managers, $75 per office for BIC/PMIC, and $50 for timeshare salespersons. Criminal background checks are required every third renewal cycle.

South Dakota real estate licenses renew every 2 years, with renewal applications due by November 30 and online applications available starting October 1. Active licensees must complete 24 hours of continuing education (at least 12 in required subject areas) by December 31 and provide proof of errors and omissions insurance. The renewal fee is $125 for broker associates, and late fees accrue at $20 per month after the November 30 deadline. If you do not complete renewal by June 30, you must repeat the entire licensing process, including prelicensing education and exams.

Tennessee licensees renew online through the CORE system at core.tn.gov. Each renewal requires 16 hours of continuing education (a 6-hour TREC Core course plus 10 elective hours) and a $75 fee, on a two-year cycle. If a license has expired but is within 60 days of the expiration date, the licensee can still renew through CORE. Late renewals incur $50 per month for the first 120 days and $100 per month for days 121 through 365; licenses expired more than one year require retesting or completion of a 30-hour T.R.A.C.E. course to reinstate.

Sales agents must renew their license every two years through the REALM Portal online, and TREC sends a renewal notice about 90 days before the expiration date. For subsequent renewals, 18 hours of approved continuing education are required: 4 hours Legal Update I, 4 hours Legal Update II, 3 hours Contract-Related coursework, and 7 hours of elective CE. First-time renewals require 90 hours of Sales Agent Apprentice Education (SAE) plus 8 hours of Legal Update I and II, bringing qualifying education to 270 hours in total. If CE is not complete at the time of active renewal, a $200 CE deferral fee provides an additional 60 days to complete the requirement before the license is placed on inactive status.

Utah real estate licenses are valid for a two-year period and must be renewed online through the My License One system using a UtahID account. Active licensees must complete 18 hours of continuing education each cycle, including at least 9 core hours with a 3-hour Division-approved mandatory course, and all CE must be completed by the 15th of the renewal month. The renewal window opens 45 days before the license expiration date, and the sales agent on-time renewal fee totals $102 ($60 renewal, $32 fingerprint processing, and $10 RAP Back). First-time renewals require a 12-hour New Agent Course in place of the standard core and elective hours.

Vermont real estate licenses renew on a fixed biennial schedule: salespersons by May 31 of even years and brokers by March 31 of even years. Renewal applications open approximately six weeks before expiration and are submitted through OPR's Online Services System. Salespersons must complete 16 hours of continuing education (CE) including a 4-hour mandatory course, and brokers must complete 24 hours of CE including a 4-hour mandatory course. First-time renewing salespersons must also show proof of 8 hours of post-licensure education completed within 90 days of initial licensure.

Virginia real estate licenses are valid for two years, with a renewal fee of $100 for salespersons and $120 for brokers. New salespersons must complete 30 hours of post-license education within one year of licensure instead of continuing education, while subsequent renewals require 16 hours of continuing education for salespersons or 24 hours for brokers. The Board provides a 30-day grace period after the expiration date for renewal without a reinstatement fee, but an expired license cannot be used to practice real estate. Renewals can be completed online through DPOR's Online Services or Quick Pay, by returning the mailed renewal card with payment, or by submitting a Credit Card Payment Form by mail or fax.

Brokers and managing brokers must renew every 2 years and can renew up to 120 days before the license expires. Active renewal requires continuing education: 30 hours for managing brokers and subsequent broker renewals, or 90 hours for a broker's first active renewal. Renewal can be completed online through SecureAccess Washington (SAW), and the on-time renewal fee is $233 for brokers and $330 for managing brokers. Fingerprint-based background check results must also be renewed every 6 years.

West Virginia real estate licenses expire on June 30 every year, and the online renewal portal opens on May 1. Salespersons pay a $75 renewal fee; brokers and associate brokers pay $150. Every active licensee must complete 7 hours of Commission-approved continuing education during the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) preceding renewal. Brokers and associate brokers must include 3 of those 7 hours in broker-level curriculum, a requirement that began in fiscal year 2024. The Commission tracks CE through CE Broker, and licensees who are current in that system automatically pass audits.

To renew a Wisconsin real estate license, licensees must complete 18 hours of approved continuing education (12 hours of mandatory courses and 6 hours of elective courses) and submit renewal through the DSPS LicensE online portal or by paper form with the Form #2920 Continuing Education Addendum. The renewal deadline is December 14 of each even-numbered year. Salespersons who receive their initial license after October 1 of an even-numbered year are exempt from CE for that one renewal cycle only, while brokers have no CE exemptions and must complete CE at every renewal.

Wyoming real estate licenses must be renewed every three years by December 31 of the expiration year, with a renewal fee of $350 for both salesperson and broker licenses. Salespersons and associate brokers must complete 45 hours of continuing education (24 required + 21 elective) per cycle, and responsible brokers must complete 53 hours (24 required + 21 elective + 8 Wyoming Broker Management). A late renewal window runs from January 1 to March 1 with an additional $75 late fee; licenses not renewed by March 1 are cancelled. Renewal can be submitted online through the Wyoming Real Estate Commission portal.