RealEstateU 45-Hour CE First Time Renewal Courses
Get the state-required CE credits 100% online.
Complete lessons at your pace, anywhere, from any device.
California Department of Real Estate Approved Continuing Education Courses
Enroll in our affordable CA CE first-time renewal courses today
Only $79
Try the full course risk-free for 30 days
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This state-approved course package includes everything you need for your first-time real estate license renewal.
List of courses included in the 45-hour package:
3 Ethics Hours - California Ethics
3 Agency Hours - California Agency
3 Fair Housing Hours - California Fair Housing
2 Implicit Bias Hours - California Implicit Bias Training
3 Risk Management Hours - California Risk Management
3 Trust Funds Hours - California Trust Fund Handling
18-Hour Consumer Protection Course
10-Hour Consumer Service Course
$79
You can pay in 4 installments with Klarna
Try RealEstateU for the next 30 days. Listen to our on-demand audio courses and go through the module quizzes. If for any reason you’re not satisfied and you’ve completed less than 50% of the program, simply let us know and we’ll rush you a refund. How’s that for fair?
All California real estate salespersons renewing their license for the first time must complete this 45-hour course before submitting their license renewal application.
Follow these steps:
Study the modules at your own pace – Access lessons on your desktop, tablet, or mobile device.
Take the quizzes and final exams – Complete all assessments to demonstrate your understanding.
Receive your certificates of completion – Once all exams are passed, your certificates are issued immediately.
Renew your license – Submit your certificate through your California DRE eLicensing account to complete your first-time license renewal.
Here’s a breakdown of the main costs:
45-Hour First-Time License Renewal Courses
Required for first-time renewal
Course offered by RealEstateU: $79
License Renewal Fee
On-time renewal fee: $350
Late renewal fee (within 2 years of expiration): $525
Total Estimated Cost
On-time renewal: $79 + $350 = $429
Late renewal: $79 + $525 = $604
Salespersons renewing their original California real estate license for the first time are required to complete 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education, which must include:
Yes! Our courses are state-approved, and the certificates meet the California Department of Real Estate’s requirements for first-time license renewal.
The California Department of Real Estate allows real estate agents to go through the 45-hour CA real estate continuing education courses online. It is beneficial as you can study at your own pace and convenience, even while on the go.
Several schools offer in-person and/or online courses. However, check out the real estate online courses in California offered by RealEstateU, which are the best in state.
Unlike some other schools, RealEstateU does not license courses from third parties. Additionally, you have the convenience of our online courses.
Finally, get affordably-priced courses, which are the cheapest in the industry.
Your first renewal is due within two years of your original license issue date. Complete the 45-Hour Continuing Education and submit your renewal through your DRE eLicensing account to stay active.
To renew your license through California DRE eLicensing:
Log in to your DRE eLicensing account at www.dre.ca.gov.
Select “Renew License” and choose your license type.
Confirm your personal information and license details.
Upload your certificate of completion for the 45-Hour Continuing Education Courses.
Pay the license renewal fee.
Submit your renewal application. You’ll receive confirmation once your renewal is processed.
A late renewal occurs when you do not renew your real estate license by the expiration date. Salespersons can still renew within two years after expiration by completing the required continuing education and paying the late renewal fee, which is higher than the on-time renewal fee. After two years, the license becomes inactive and may require additional steps to reactivate.
The RealEstateU CE offering for the California real estate salesperson first-time license renewal comprises of 12 online audio courses totaling 45 hours, which meets the California Department of Real Estate license renewal requirements.
The courses included are:
3 Ethics Hours - California Ethics
This course provides a clear, practical overview of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and how it applies in daily real estate practice. Students learn key duties to clients, the public, and other REALTORS®, including honesty, fair housing compliance, professional competence, and responsible communication. Real-world examples and case studies help reinforce ethical decision-making. This course satisfies the required ethics continuing education and supports a higher standard of professional conduct.
3 Agency Hours - California Agency
This course provides a focused review of California agency laws, fiduciary duties, and required disclosure practices. Students learn how agency relationships are formed, documented, and communicated using state-mandated forms and timing rules. Key duties—loyalty, disclosure, confidentiality, and reasonable care—are covered along with high-risk issues like dual agency and undisclosed compensation. This course satisfies the mandatory Agency CE requirement and helps licensees minimize liability through proper compliance.
3 Fair Housing Hours - California Fair Housing
This mandatory DRE-approved course provides a focused review of federal and California fair housing laws, including expanded state protections such as source of income, gender identity, immigration status, and age. The course includes the required interactive participatory component, where students engage in role-play as both the consumer and the real estate professional to practice identifying and preventing discriminatory behavior. Key topics include protected classes, common violations, risk areas, and the serious penalties for non-compliance.
2 Implicit Bias Hours - California Implicit Bias Training
This mandatory course explains how implicit, explicit, and systemic biases affect real estate consumers and opportunities in the housing market. It reviews the history of redlining, discrimination, and the homeownership gap, and provides practical steps licensees can take to recognize and reduce their own biases in daily practice.
3 Risk Management Hours - California Risk Management
This mandatory course teaches licensees how to reduce legal exposure in real estate practice by identifying and preventing common errors and omissions. It covers the three major areas of liability—contract, tort, and statutory—and applies them to high-risk topics such as agency disclosure, fair housing compliance, environmental hazards, and antitrust issues. Students learn practical procedures, documentation standards, and best practices to minimize risk and maintain DRE compliance.
3 Trust Funds Hours - California Trust Fund Handling
This course covers the legal requirements for receiving, holding, and accounting for client trust funds in California. Students learn proper trust account setup, recordkeeping, reconciliations, and how to avoid commingling and other violations. Designed to help licensees stay compliant and prevent common DRE enforcement issues.
18H Consumer Protection
This course examines the laws, standards, and professional practices that protect consumers in California’s real estate and financial marketplace. Students learn how regulatory agencies use education to safeguard the public through technical competency, fraud prevention, ethical conduct, and non-discriminatory practices. Topics include high-risk areas such as financial reporting integrity, fraud detection, fair housing compliance, implicit bias, suitability standards, and regulatory oversight across DRE, CDI, DFPI, and CBA frameworks. Designed to help licensees reduce consumer harm, strengthen ethical judgment, and meet the state’s extensive consumer protection requirements.
10H Consumer Service Course
This course strengthens the professional skills real estate licensees need to deliver higher-quality client service and operate more effectively in the California market. Students learn how Consumer Service fits into the DRE’s CE structure, along with practical strategies in communication, business technology, market specialization, and client-focused transaction practices. Designed to enhance performance beyond basic compliance, this course helps licensees improve service delivery, streamline operations, and increase overall professionalism.
CA DRE Disclaimer Statement
This course is approved for continuing education/prelicensing education credit by the California Department of Real Estate. However, this approval does not constitute an endorsement of the views or opinions which are expressed by the course sponsor, instructors, authors, or lecturers.
Course Structure
The course begins with an Orientation chapter that provides an introduction to the material covered in each course.
Each course is divided into modules, each containing a series of audio lectures to guide you through the course material.
At the end of each module, there is a 10-question multiple-choice quiz. To pass the quiz, you need to answer at least 70% of the questions correctly.
Once you complete all chapters, you will progress to the course final exam.
Attendance Policy
Students must attend 100% of the approved course hours to be eligible to receive DRE continuing education course credit.
Course Final Exam
The final exam for each course is administered online and comprises of 15 multiple-choice questions. The final exam questions are randomly drawn from a final exam question bank.
To pass, students must correctly answer at least 11 questions (70%).
There is a time limit of 30 minutes, one minute per question. The exam is open-book, allowing you to reference any textbook, course notes, or glossary during the exam.
Refund Policy
RealEstateU provides a 30-day refund period starting from the date of purchase. However, a refund will be granted only if the student has not completed over 50% of the course. For further details, kindly refer to the Terms and Conditions.
Online Evaluation Statement
To evaluate a course and its instructor, you may visit the California Department of Real Estate (CalDRE) website at www.dre.ca.gov. To access the evaluation form, simply type in "RE 318A" in the search box located at the upper right corner of the home page.
Course Provider Complaint Statement
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) website at www.dre.ca.gov has a complaint form for course providers. Enter "RE 340" in the search field in the top right corner of the homepage to access this form. There is also a "RE 340A" informational form for course provider concerns.
