How long can a real estate license remain inactive?

It varies by state, and some states set no fixed limit as long as you keep renewing. Texas allows a license to be renewed in inactive status indefinitely, with no continuing education required, though no brokerage activity is allowed while inactive. Maryland, by contrast, requires retesting once a license has been inactive or expired for more than 3 years.

An Alabama real estate license can remain on inactive status as long as it is renewed every two years, since both active and inactive licenses must be renewed to remain current. If a license is not renewed by September 30 of the final year of the license period, it moves to inactive status on October 1, and the licensee has a one-year window to renew and reactivate. After that one-year period, the license is terminated, and the individual must complete all prelicense education and examination requirements as if never licensed.

An Arizona real estate license can remain in inactive status for up to 15 years without the licensee being associated with a broker, provided the licensee continues to renew the license. To return to eligible or active status from inactive, the licensee must bring all continuing education requirements up to date. Eligible status indicates the licensee has met all CE requirements and is ready to be hired by an employing broker. This status was previously known as inactive in older terminology, but ADRE now uses eligible to refer to a license that is current on CE and ready for broker association, while inactive refers to the 15-year maintenance period.

A California real estate license can be renewed on a late basis for up to two years following the expiration date. During this late renewal period, the licensee cannot perform activities requiring a real estate license. Late renewal fees are 150% of on-time fees, and all continuing education courses must be completed within 4 years of the date the late renewal application is filed. After the two-year late renewal period expires, the licensee must submit a new application, requalify by meeting all statutory requirements, and pass the examination again.

A Colorado real estate license can remain inactive indefinitely, but if it has been inactive for longer than three years (36 months), the licensee must complete either the state portion of the Colorado Broker's Exam or 72 hours of specified education (48 hours in Colorado Contracts and Regulations plus 24 hours in Real Estate Closings) to reactivate. If a license is allowed to expire, the licensee has 3 years from the date of expiration to submit a reinstatement application. Reinstatement returns the license to an inactive status, and an additional form is required to reactivate to active status.

A Connecticut real estate license that has lapsed may be reinstated at the DCP's discretion if it has been expired for less than three years, after which reinstatement is no longer available and the individual must apply as a new licensee with full pre-licensing education and re-examination. Salespersons with an inactive license are not eligible to renew and must secure a sponsoring broker before the renewal cycle to avoid a lapse. The DCP also offers retiree status, though no work requiring licensing, including referrals, may be performed in that status.

DC allows a real estate license to remain inactive for several years before the licensee must repeat the full licensing process to return to active status. The inactive status fee is $130 for salespersons and $210 for associate brokers, real estate brokers, and property managers. Reinstatement fees for an expired license are the same: $130 for salespersons and $210 for brokers.

A Florida real estate license can remain inactive for up to 2 years before it becomes null and void. If inactive for less than 12 months, the licensee can reactivate by completing 14 hours of continuing education. If inactive for more than 12 months but less than 24 months, the licensee must complete 28 hours of CE including core law requirements. After 2 years of inactivity, the licensee must reapply as a new applicant and retake the state licensing exam.

A Georgia real estate license can remain on inactive status indefinitely as long as renewal fees are kept current. An inactive licensee may not perform real estate brokerage activity except on property owned solely by the inactive licensee. To reactivate after an extended period of inactivity, the licensee must have completed the continuing education that would have been required if the license had been on active status, or requalify as an original applicant. A lapsed license, where renewal fees were not paid, follows different rules: it can be reinstated within 2 years by paying fees and completing CE; between 2 and 5 years, the licensee must retake the prelicense course; after 5 years, the person must requalify as an original applicant.

An Illinois real estate license becomes inactive immediately when a licensee's sponsorship terminates, and the licensee cannot practice until a new sponsorship is registered. The license can be renewed in inactive status as long as CE requirements are met. If a license expires, it can be renewed within 2 years by paying the renewal fee plus a $75 late fee and completing CE. A license expired more than 2 years but less than 5 years may be restored through an application, payment of all lapsed renewal and late fees, CE completion, and proof of fitness. A license expired more than 5 years requires meeting all requirements for a new license.

An Indiana real estate broker license can remain in Inactive status indefinitely as long as the licensee continues to renew it every 3 years and pays the $60 renewal fee, and inactive licensees are not required to complete continuing education to renew. If the license expires rather than remaining inactive, reinstatement requirements escalate: licenses expired 3 or more years require 36 hours of CE and retaking the state exam, while licenses expired 9 or more years require completing the full 90-hour pre-licensing course and retaking both the national and state exams.

An inactive Louisiana real estate license can remain inactive indefinitely as long as the licensee renews it annually by December 31. The inactive renewal fee is $35 per year for both salespersons and brokers. Inactive licensees are exempt from the 12-hour annual continuing education requirement but cannot conduct real estate transactions, and all licensees who fail to renew by December 31 forfeit their renewal rights and must reapply as initial applicants.

A Maine real estate license can remain inactive, but reinstatement requirements increase with the duration of inactivity. Inactive up to 2 years requires 21 continuing education (CE) hours including the current core course; 2 to 4 years requires 28 hours; 4 to 6 years requires 36 hours; and 6 or more years requires passing the Maine Law exam with a minimum grade of 75% and submitting a new license application. There is no CE requirement while inactive, but the $100 biennial renewal fee still applies.

A Maryland real estate license can remain on inactive status for up to three years from the date it was placed on inactive. If you want to be active right away, you must immediately affiliate with a broker. A license that is inactive or expired for more than three years requires retesting before it can be reinstated. You must also complete continuing education to renew even while on inactive status.

A Massachusetts real estate license can remain inactive as long as the licensee continues to pay the renewal fee each cycle. An inactive licensee cannot work as a real estate agent but may receive referral fees from an active broker. To reactivate an inactive license, the licensee must complete 12 hours of continuing education and submit a License Reactivation Form to the Board, which takes 4 to 6 weeks to process. If a license has been expired for more than two years, the licensee must go through a formal reinstatement process rather than a simple reactivation.

A Michigan real estate salesperson license can remain in "No Employer" status until its expiration date when not affiliated with a broker. After expiration, a 60-day late renewal period applies with a $20 late fee. If the license is not renewed within that window, the licensee has up to 3 years to reapply, during which 6 continuing education hours per year lapsed are required. After 3 years of expiration, the licensee must retake the licensing exam, complete prelicensure education again, or complete CE catch-up.

A Minnesota real estate license can remain inactive for up to 2 years with a relatively straightforward reinstatement process. If the license has been inactive for less than 2 years and the renewal deadline has not passed, the licensee must complete outstanding CE and pay a $20 reactivation fee. If the license has been inactive for more than 2 years, the licensee must complete prelicense education, retake and pass both the state and national portions of the licensing exam, and reapply for the license. State law does not provide grace periods for missing renewal deadlines.

A Missouri real estate license that has been expired for less than 2 years can be renewed by paying the renewal fee, delinquent fees, and providing proof of continuing education. If the license remains expired for more than 2 years, it becomes void and the individual must requalify as a new applicant, including retaking pre-licensing education and the licensing exam. Continuing education is not required while on inactive status, but completing the 24-hour Missouri Real Estate Practice Course is required to reactivate the license.

An inactive Nevada real estate license can remain inactive as long as it is renewed by its expiration date, and no continuing education is required to renew an inactive license. If the license expires, the licensee has up to 12 months from the renewal date to pay the renewal fee plus a late penalty before the license is permanently closed and requires reapplication as a new applicant. Inactive licenses can be renewed online, but a licensee changing from inactive to active status must renew in person rather than online.

A New Jersey real estate license can remain inactive for up to two years from its expiration date. Reinstatement is available during this window, with fees of $150 for salespersons and $250 for brokers. If the license is not reinstated within two years, the licensee must repeat the entire licensing process, including retaking and passing the state exam.

A New Mexico real estate license can be renewed with a late fee of $810 up to one year after the expiration date. If the licensee fails to renew within that one-year window, the license becomes inactive and the licensee must satisfy all prelicensing requirements again, including 90 hours of education and both portions of the licensing exam. Inactive licensees who maintain their license must still meet the same continuing education requirements as active licensees, including the annual core course.

A New York real estate license remains inactive until a sponsoring broker authorizes the application through eAccessNY, at which point the Department of State generates and mails the license. If a license expires, the licensee has two years from the expiration date to renew by completing continuing education and paying the renewal fee. After that two-year window, the licensee must meet current education requirements and pass the state written exam again to obtain a new license.

A NC real estate license can remain on inactive status indefinitely as long as the annual renewal fee is paid on time each year. While on inactive status, the licensee may not perform any brokerage activities or collect brokerage fees, including referral fees. To return to active status, the licensee must complete any required education and file a License Activation/Affiliation form (REC 2.08) with a Broker-in-Charge.

An Ohio real estate license can remain in inactive status as long as the licensee continues to renew every 3 years by submitting renewal information, 30 hours of continuing education (CE), and the renewal fee. Inactive licensees under age 70 must complete the same 30 hours of CE as active licensees. The reactivation fee is $34.

An Oklahoma real estate license can remain on inactive status indefinitely, as long as the licensee renews it every three years. Inactive licensees are in good standing with the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission but cannot perform real estate transactions. Continuing education is not required while inactive, but any CE not completed on the most recent inactive renewal must be finished before returning to active status.

You can maintain an inactive Oregon real estate license indefinitely by renewing it each cycle and paying the $150 inactive renewal fee, which requires no continuing education. If you fail to renew before the expiration date, you have one year to renew late by paying an additional $150 late fee. After one year past expiration, the license becomes lapsed, and you must start over as a new applicant.

A Pennsylvania real estate license can remain inactive for up to 5 years from the date of inactivity or expiration. Within that 5-year window, the licensee can reactivate by submitting a reactivation application with 14 hours of continuing education and paying the reactivation fee. Continuing education used for reactivation cannot also count toward renewal in the same renewal period, meaning an additional 14 hours would be needed before the next renewal. If a license has been inactive or expired for 5 years or more, the licensee must retake and pass the licensing examination before reactivation.

A South Carolina real estate license can remain on inactive status indefinitely, as long as the licensee renews it by each expiration date. Inactive licensees are not required to complete continuing education but must still renew their licenses, and they are prohibited from practicing real estate brokerage, including referrals. If an inactive license is not renewed by its expiration date, it lapses, and the licensee has 24 months from the date of expiration to complete reinstatement before the license is canceled.

Tennessee uses the term "retired" for licenses not in active use. A retired license can remain retired indefinitely as long as the licensee pays the $75 renewal fee every 2 years; no CE, E&O insurance, or firm affiliation is required while retired. If a license expires without being formally retired, it can be renewed through CORE within 60 days of the expiration date with late fees. Licenses expired more than 1 year require retesting and reapplication, or completion of a 30-hour T.R.A.C.E. course in lieu of retesting. Reactivation from retired status costs $25 and requires proof of E&O insurance, firm affiliation, and 16 hours of CE.

A Texas real estate license can remain on inactive status as long as it is renewed every two years, and no specific deadline exists to affiliate with a sponsoring broker. Inactive renewal does not require continuing education, but the license holder cannot engage in real estate brokerage activity. To move to active status, the agent must secure a sponsoring broker and complete a sponsorship request through TREC's REALM Portal. If the license expires, it can be renewed on inactive status up to 6 months after the expiration date; after 6 months and up to 2 years, a reinstatement application is required, and after 2 years the applicant must reapply and pass the examination.

A Utah real estate license can remain in inactive status indefinitely as long as it is renewed every two-year cycle. Inactive licensees do not need to complete continuing education to renew, but they must complete 18 hours of CE before activating the license, including a 12-hour New Agent Course if activating for the first time. If a license expires and is not renewed within 12 months, the Division treats it as a new application and the individual must meet all original licensing requirements again.

An inactive license must still be renewed every two years by paying the same renewal fee, but no continuing education is required while inactive. The license can remain on inactive status as long as renewals are maintained, though it cannot be used to practice real estate. If a license expires and is not reinstated within two years, reinstatement is no longer possible and the individual must reapply as a new applicant.

A Washington real estate license can remain inactive indefinitely as long as the licensee submits a renewal application every 2 years and keeps the fingerprint-based background check current, which must be renewed every 6 years. Inactive licenses do not require continuing education to renew. Reactivating an inactive license may require completing additional coursework, particularly if the license has been inactive for an extended period.