California Continuing Education Requirements
California real estate Salespersons and Brokers must complete 45 hours of approved continuing education courses in the appropriate categories during the 4 years immediately preceding license renewal. Select the relevant link to view the requirements for your license type.
Please note, the requirements changed for licensees expiring after 12/31/2022 so please read carefully to ensure you are completing all the courses you need! These changes also apply to any licensee renewing on a late basis (within their 2-year right of renewal window) after 12/31/2022.
Salespersons Renewing for the First Time:
Completing courses in the following categories will satisfy the education requirements for any first-time California Salesperson renewal:
- Five separate 3-hour courses in the following subjects: Agency, Fair Housing (including an interactive requirement for licensees expiring after 12/31/2022), Trust Funds, Ethics, and Risk Management (AFTER); and
- A 2-hour course on Implicit Bias Training (only applicable for licensees expiring after 12/31/2022); and
- A minimum of 18 hours of Consumer Protection (CP) courses; and
- The remaining hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may consist of either Consumer Service (CS) or Consumer Protection (CP) courses.
Brokers Renewing for the First Time:
Completing courses in the following categories will satisfy the education requirements for any first-time California Broker renewal:
- Six separate 3-hour courses in the following subjects: Agency, Fair Housing (including an interactive requirement for licensees expiring after 12/31/2022), Trust Funds, Ethics, and Risk Management, and Management & Supervision (AFTER and M&S); and
- A 2-hour course on Implicit Bias Training (only applicable for licensees expiring after 12/31/2022); and
- A minimum of 18 hours of Consumer Protection (CP) courses; and
- The remaining hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may consist of either Consumer Service (CS) or Consumer Protection (CP) courses.
Salespersons and Brokers - Second & Subsequent Renewals:
Completing courses in the following categories will satisfy the education requirements for any second time or subsequent California Salesperson or Broker renewal:
- A 9-hour Survey (S) course covering the seven mandatory subjects: Agency, Fair Housing, Trust Funds, Ethics, Risk Management, Management & Supervision, and Implicit Bias Training; and
- A minimum of 18 hours of Consumer Protection (CP) courses; and
- The remaining hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may consist of either Consumer Service (CS) or Consumer Protection (CP) courses.
Expired license? Click here for additional information
Total Hours: 45
Final Exam: Yes
Mandatory Hours: Varies
Passing Score: 70%
Elective Hours: Varies
Max Final Exam Attempts: 2
Mandatory Topic(s): Varies
Seat Timer: No
Education Completed By: License Expiration Date
Additional Information:
License Expiration Date
You can find the expiration date for your license or whether this is your first renewal by using the California Department of Real Estate's License Information Database.
Expired License
If your license expired within the last 2 years, you have the same continuing education and renewal requirements as if the license had not expired. The one exception is that you will need to pay a higher Late Renewal fee to the California Department of Real Estate when renewing your license.
The cost for your continuing education courses from Empire Learning is the same regardless of whether your license is expired. You cannot perform any activities requiring a real estate license until your license has been renewed.
Regulatory Agency:
California Department of Real Estate
Phone: 877-373-4542
Website: www.dre.ca.gov
CE Requirements
Renewal Information:
After completing the continuing education, you may renew your license with the DRE anytime within 90 days of license expiration. Renew online using DRE eLicensing (learn to use eLicensing here) or by mail. You can use our completed course info list to see all the CE details you’ll need for your renewal in one place!
Mail-in renewal forms can be found here:
