What are the easiest real estate continuing education options?

Continuing education is commonly completed through self-paced online courses, typically the cheapest and most flexible format. Costs generally run $100 to $300 per year depending on format and state, and requirements range from 12 to 36 hours per renewal period. Many states mandate specific topics within those hours, such as fair housing, legal updates, or ethics.

Alabama allows all 15 continuing education (CE) hours to be completed online through AREC-approved distance education providers, and there is no limit on the number of CE hours that may be taken online. Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) does not require a passing score on the final exam for CE courses, which removes a testing barrier for online completion. The online license renewal system opens in mid-June of the renewal year, with the penalty-free deadline on August 31 and the CE completion deadline on September 30 of even-numbered years.

Arkansas allows continuing education to be completed through classroom courses, online courses, or an AREC-approved Alternative Method of Instruction, and all distance education courses must be Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) certified. All 7 annual CE hours must come from AREC-approved providers. CE courses completed on or after October 1 may be used to renew a license for the upcoming two calendar years.

Connecticut allows several flexible CE options. Licensees may complete all 12 hours through self-paced online courses, which are permitted for continuing education unlike pre-licensing. As of February 2026, the mandatory 3-hour course is also approved for asynchronous online delivery, meaning it no longer requires a live or livestream format. Alternatively, licensees can skip coursework entirely by passing a 40-question Connecticut CE Examination through PSI during the CE cycle. Out-of-state courses may be submitted for equivalency credit toward elective hours only; the mandatory course has no equivalency.

Florida requires 14 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle: 3 hours Core Law, 3 hours Ethics and Business Practices, and 8 hours specialty education. The state approves multiple delivery formats, including online self-paced courses, live virtual classes, and in-person classroom sessions. Online CE is approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and licensees can complete renewals through the DBPR online services portal. CE course costs vary by provider and format.

Georgia allows licensees to complete continuing education through live classroom sessions, webinars, or fully online self-paced courses. The Georgia Real Estate Commission offers online courses for $10 each covering license law and other CE topics, providing an affordable option. Licensees may renew up to 120 days before their renewal date and can renew to inactive status if CE is not yet completed, then reactivate at no fee once courses are posted.

Hawaii permits all 20 continuing education (CE) hours to be completed online, with no limit on the number of online hours per cycle. CE courses are available in self-paced online, live webinar, and in-person formats, searchable through the REB's Education Provider and Course Search tool by course type, hours, date, title, island, and medium.

Idaho continuing education courses are offered through live classroom, remote delivery via Zoom, and self-paced online formats, all through Commission-certified providers. Live and remote delivery elective courses do not require a final exam to receive credit, while online courses require a final exam with a 70% or higher passing score. Online courses must be ARELLO certified to count for CE credit. There is no limit on the number of CE hours that may be completed online. The Core course requirement is the same across all formats: 2 different Idaho Commission Core courses per renewal cycle.

Indiana allows all 12 annual continuing education (CE) hours to be completed online through state-approved providers, with no limit on the number of hours taken online. Distance learning courses may exceed 8 hours per day, while classroom courses are capped at 8 hours per day with a minimum 2-hour course length. Members of the Indiana Association of REALTORS® receive a 12-hour CE package each year at no additional cost through the Real Estate Certification Program, and this package covers both broker and managing broker CE requirements.

Iowa allows several CE delivery options. Up to 24 of the 36 required hours may be completed through distance learning (online or home study), while at least 12 hours must be live instruction, which includes classroom or real-time video platforms such as Zoom. NAR-sponsored courses count toward the 24-hour elective requirement. Licensees may also take and pass the state and national licensing exam between July 1 and December 31 of the renewal year instead of completing CE. Up to 18 excess elective hours from the previous cycle may be carried forward, though mandatory Law Update and Ethics hours cannot.

Kansas licensees must complete 12 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle, including a 3-hour Kansas Required Core course and 9 hours of electives. Approved providers offer CE in multiple formats: in-person classroom, online self-paced courses (which require a passing score of 90% or better on exam or quiz questions), and live webinar courses (which require the student to be present and engaged on camera for the entire course). Kansas Real Estate Commission (KREC) maintains a directory of approved continuing education providers and courses.

Louisiana continuing education courses are available through LREC-certified vendors in both classroom and online formats, with no limit on the number of CE hours that may be completed online. Each course must be at least 2 hours long and must be open to all licensees regardless of broker affiliation. The annual 12-hour CE requirement includes mandatory course topic(s) specified by the Commission, with the remaining hours filled by electives.

Maine real estate continuing education is available in online or distance education, livestream, and in-person formats from Commission-approved providers. Distance education courses require a minimum exam score of 85% for completion. Active associate brokers, brokers, and designated brokers must complete 21 clock hours of approved CE per 2-year renewal cycle, including the 3-hour mandatory core course. Excess CE hours cannot be carried over to the next renewal cycle.

Massachusetts allows all 12 continuing education hours to be completed online through Board-authorized schools. Online CE courses must be time-based with a minimum of 2 hours each, and self-assessment quizzes do not require correct answers to advance. CE course costs vary by provider.

Michigan places no limit on the number of continuing education hours that may be taken online, and courses are available through CE Marketplace, the tracking system operated by Michigan REALTORS®. Each 3-year license cycle requires 18 hours total: 6 hours of legal education (2 per year on laws, rules, and court cases), 3 hours of fair housing (1 per year), and 9 elective hours. CE credits do not roll over to the following licensing cycle, and licensees must retain CE documentation for at least 4 years.

Online and on-demand continuing education courses offer the most flexible option for Minnesota licensees. Approved providers and courses can be found on the Pulse Portal at pulseportal.com, where offerings are listed by instruction method, including "Internet/Self Study/Online" and "Classroom." Minnesota allows a maximum of 8 hours of CE credit per calendar day, and some trade associations offer on-demand classes at no charge. No course may be repeated for credit within the same licensing period, and extra hours do not carry over to the next period.

Mississippi allows all 16 required CE hours to be completed through approved online distance learning courses, with no limit on the number of hours taken online. There is no final exam passing requirement for CE courses, and courses are offered in minimum two-hour segments. The mandatory subjects are 2 hours each of License Law and Contract Law and 4 hours of Agency Law, with 8 elective hours that can be taken on any approved topic. Approved providers are listed on the MREC website, and courses may be completed at the licensee's own pace within the provider's access window.

Missouri requires 12 hours of MREC-approved continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle, with at least 3 hours in a CORE course; the remaining 9 hours may be core or elective credit. CE may be completed in person or online through MREC-approved providers, and online self-paced on-demand courses offer scheduling flexibility. For the 2026-2028 renewal period, the required CORE course topic is Fair Housing.

Montana allows all 12 annual continuing education hours to be completed online through Board-approved providers, with no limit on the number of hours taken online. For salespersons and non-supervising brokers, all 12 hours are elective with no mandatory topic requirements, which gives licensees flexibility in course selection. Courses approved through Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) are accepted for Montana CE credit. Supervising brokers must complete 4 of their 12 hours in supervising broker topics, with the remaining 8 as electives.

Nebraska allows continuing education to be completed online with no limits on the number of hours taken through distance education. Online CE courses must be completed within 1 year of enrollment. The Nebraska Real Estate Commission's approved-education list includes providers offering self-paced online CE courses, with individual 3-hour courses available at various price points. Licensees should select courses from the state's approved provider list to ensure credit, and duplicate CE content is generally prohibited within 4 years.

Nevada allows up to 18 of the 36 required continuing education (CE) hours to be completed as self-paced internet courses, while the remaining 18 hours must be taken through live instruction, either in person or via approved live-streaming formats. Approved CE providers offer packages that combine online self-paced courses with live sessions. First-renewal post-licensing education, however, must be completed entirely through live instruction and is not available online.

New Hampshire licensees may complete standard continuing education online with no limit on the number of online hours, making self-paced online CE the most flexible delivery option. The 15-hour CE requirement consists of a 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours, and elective topics include property valuation, ethics, financing and investment, and property management. One exception applies: post-licensing courses required for first-time salesperson renewal must be completed in-class or via internet live-class, not through self-paced online study. All CE is tracked through CE Broker.

Online self-paced continuing education courses are available from approved providers, with most online CE courses priced at approximately $10.50 each. Some providers also offer free online CE courses. Students typically have 90 days from enrollment to complete an online course, and course providers report credits to the PSI tracking system that the New Jersey Real Estate Commission uses to monitor compliance.

New York accepts continuing education courses for credit on the basis of attendance only, so no state-mandated final exam is required (19 NYCRR §177.4(a)). The Department of State may approve computer-based and distance-learning courses, allowing licensees to complete the required 22.5 hours of CE online without attending in-person sessions. All CE must be completed through a DOS-approved real estate school.

All 12 hours of North Dakota continuing education can be completed online. For the 2025-2026 CE cycle, there are no mandatory topic hours, so licensees may choose any combination of elective topics that best suits their needs. There is no limit on the number of CE hours that can be taken in a single day, and no grace period exists for completing required CE.

Ohio law allows licensees to complete all 30 hours of continuing education online through approved providers, including the 9 hours of mandatory core courses (Canons of Ethics, Core Law, and Civil Rights). The Ohio Housing Finance Agency offers free online CE, including a 1-hour elective course on its Homeownership Programs. Providers offer online, livestream, and in-person classroom formats.

Oklahoma continuing education can be completed entirely online, and the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission places no limits on the number of CE hours that may be taken online. Resident Sales Associates and Broker Associates must complete 30 hours per 3-year cycle (13 hours of required coursework plus 17 hours of electives), while Resident Brokers must complete 30 hours including a 15-hour Broker in Charge course. Approved providers offer self-paced online packages covering all required topics.

Oregon allows continuing education to be completed through online distance education courses. Online CE courses are self-paced, and some providers do not require a final exam. Licensees must enter their completed CE course information into eLicense and keep certificates of attendance for 3 years after the renewal date.

Pennsylvania requires 14 hours of Commission-approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle, and courses are available through approved education providers in online, livestream, and in-person formats. First-time renewing salespersons must complete a 7-hour General Module plus a 7-hour Residential or Commercial Module. For subsequent renewals, the 14 hours must include specific mandatory topics, such as 2 hours of Fair Housing and 3 hours of Agency Relationships for the 2024-2026 cycle, with the remaining hours as electives.

South Carolina requires 10 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle for active associates and brokers (4 hours mandatory core plus 6 hours elective), due during the April-to-June renewal window. The SC Real Estate Commission approves CE courses delivered both online and in-person, and all CE must be SCREC-approved after the 2022-2024 renewal period. Providers report completions directly to CE Broker within 14 calendar days, and all SC licensees are eligible for a free basic CE Broker account. Up to 4 hours of elective courses may be carried forward to the next renewal period.

South Dakota licensees can complete continuing education through three delivery formats approved by the SD Real Estate Commission: classroom courses, distance learning (internet-based), and independent study. Broker associates and brokers must complete 24 hours of CE every two years, with at least 12 hours in required subject areas such as real estate contracts, license law, fair housing, and ethics. Course costs and schedules vary by provider and format, and the commission publishes a list of approved CE courses on its website.

Tennessee allows all 16 continuing education hours to be completed online through TREC-approved providers, with no limits on the number of hours taken online. A final exam is not required to receive CE credit in Tennessee, and the mandatory 6-hour Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) Core Course does not require an exam. Elective topics include agency, contracts, license law and rules, fair housing, ethics, property management, and closing procedures.

Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) approves continuing education courses in three delivery formats: online, correspondence, and classroom. The TREC website provides a searchable database of approved CE courses where licensees can filter by delivery method and provider. Texas REALTORS® and local REALTOR® associations also offer CE courses in person and online. The 18-hour CE requirement for each two-year renewal cycle (4 hours Legal Update I, 4 hours Legal Update II, 3 hours Contract-Related, and 7 hours elective) can be met through any approved delivery format.

Utah allows continuing education to be completed entirely online through any Division-approved provider, with no restriction on the number of hours taken through distance education. The Utah Division of Real Estate provides an official online course search tool where licensees can browse approved CE courses by category, provider name, and credit hours. Courses may be a mix of core and elective topics, and a licensee can only receive credit for each course once per renewal cycle.

Vermont allows all continuing education hours to be completed online, with no limit on the number of online hours. Per H.305 (2023), synchronous virtual CE courses that are live or interactive (not pre-recorded) qualify as live, in-person training. Approved providers and courses can be found through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation's online course search. The 4-hour mandatory course for the 2024-2026 renewal cycle covers disciplinary actions, legislative changes, hot topics, and practice items.

The brief does not support identifying specific continuing education options as "easiest," as that would require evaluating and comparing education providers. Washington licensees can complete all continuing education hours through self-paced online courses, and the state's approved-education list is available through the DOL's online course search portal. Required CE varies by renewal type: 30 hours for standard renewals (including a 3-hour Core course and 3 hours of Fair Housing) and 90 hours for a broker's first active renewal.

Online and on-demand continuing education courses are available from Commission-approved providers, with no limit on the number of CE hours that may be completed online. CE Broker serves as the official tracking system, and the commission provides licensees with a free Basic Account. Licensees may not repeat the same course for two consecutive renewal periods.

Continuing education courses are available in multiple formats, including online on-demand video, self-study booklets, live classroom sessions, and virtual courses, all of which must be preapproved by the Wisconsin Real Estate Examining Board. Online and self-study formats allow licensees to complete the required 18 hours at their own pace within the biennium. Course approval applications must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the first date a course is offered.

Wyoming allows all continuing education hours, including mandatory courses, to be taken online with no limit on the number of online hours. Online, livestream, and classroom formats are all permitted as long as the course is approved by the Wyoming Real Estate Commission. Some local boards of REALTORS® offer required CE courses at no additional charge to their members. Approved providers submit rosters to the commission electronically, often daily, so completed credits appear in the licensee's online account.