Iowa Real Estate License Renewal Requirements

Who Needs to Renew Their Iowa Real Estate License?

All active Iowa salespersons and brokers must renew their licenses by December 31 every three years.

What Are the Iowa Real Estate Continuing Education (CE) Requirements?

Iowa licensees must complete 36 hours of continuing education every three years. This includes 8 hours in Law Update and 4 hours in Ethics. The remaining hours may be taken in any elective or approved course topic. A maximum of 24 hours of the required 36 hours may be completed online. There are no requirements as to which course or courses are taken via live instruction.

Inactive licensees are not required to complete continuing education in order to renew.

Empire Learning offers 24-hour packages for Iowa licensees.

When Is Iowa Real Estate Continuing Education Due?

All continuing education must be completed by December 31 of the renewal year. For those renewing licenses that expire on December 31, 2026, your renewal cycle consists of the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 and the continuing education must be completed prior to renewing your license online before December 31, 2026.

How Can I Check the Status of My Iowa Real Estate License?

You can check your license status and expiration date at any time through My Iowa PBL (Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau) portal.

How Can I Complete My Iowa Real Estate Continuing Education?

Up to 24 hours of continuing education may be completed online. At least 12 hours of continuing education must be completed live via classroom or through a webinar. All CE courses must be approved by IREC. .

What if my license is expired?

View Iowa CE Courses

Are There Any Specific Requirements for Iowa Regarding Continuing Education?

Yes. Each three-year cycle requires 8 hours in Law Update and 4 hours in Ethics that must be completed during the current three-year renewal cycle. You may carry over up to 18 unused elective hours from the previous cycle.

The following courses are also deemed acceptable for CE credit in Iowa:

CE courses completed for CE credits in another state whose real estate regulator has approved the course for that state for renewal credit. The course must not contain content specific to that state.
Courses sponsored by NAR or its affiliates.

What is Required For the First License Renewal as a Salesperson or Broker in Iowa?

Newly licensed salespersons and brokers must complete the standard 36 hours of CE for all license renewals and cannot use prelicense courses taken to qualify for the new license as CE credit.

Broker prelicense courses taken by a salesperson may be applied as CE for renewal of the salesperson license and also may be used as prelicense credit to qualify for a broker’s license.

How Do I Know Empire Learning is an Approved Provider in Iowa?

Verify IREC provider approval on the Iowa Professional Licensing Search Course page. Enter Empire Learning in the Course Provider Name field. You can also visit the Iowa Real Estate Commission’s CE requirements page for links to the list of courses currently approved by IREC and the Education Provider List. Empire Learning is an IREC-approved provider.

How Does Iowa Verify My CE Completion?

Providers do not report course completions directly to the state. Licensees are responsible for submitting proof of completion to the Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau at the time of renewal.

What Happens if I Renew My License and Do Not Complete the Continuing Education?

For licensees who do not complete the continuing education prior to the license expiration date, you will have to renew to inactive status or allow the license to expire.

Regulatory Agency

Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing: Iowa Real Estate Commission
Phone: (515) 725-9022
Email: realestatecommission@iowa.gov

Renewal Information

Renew online through the My Iowa PBL up to 45 days before the license expiration date. You must log in and submit renewal fees electronically. You may renew to active status, renewal to inactive status, or allow the license to lapse.