Alaska real estate CE and license renewal requirements

Alaska real estate licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years, and renewing requires 20 hours of continuing education, proof of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and a $170 fee for an active license. The Alaska Real Estate Commission enforces a strict no-grace-period policy, so any licensee who misses the deadline must complete a reinstatement process at $310 to resume practicing.

When does an Alaska real estate license expire?

All Alaska real estate licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of when the license was first issued. The Alaska Real Estate Commission Education page^[1] establishes this fixed biennial cycle for every licensee, with one exception: new licenses issued within 90 days of the expiration date carry over to the next biennium, giving those licensees nearly two full years before their first renewal.

Renewal forms are mailed at least 60 days before the expiration date. Licensees who received their original license within 12 months of the expiration date pay the full license fee at issuance, then pay a prorated renewal fee equal to half the current license fee at their first renewal.

The Commission's renewal form^[2] for the 2026-2028 cycle confirms that a license lapses after January 31, 2026.

Alaska real estate license renewal process

Renewing an Alaska real estate license requires submitting a completed renewal form, proof of CE completion, verification of E&O insurance, and the applicable fee to the Alaska Real Estate Commission before the expiration date. The salesperson license renewal form^[2] for the February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2028 licensing period lists the following fees:

Prorated fees apply to licensees first issued a license on or after February 1, 2025.

All licensees must submit proof of current E&O insurance with the renewal application. A broker may satisfy this requirement with coverage of at least $300,000 per wrongful act and $1,000,000 aggregate, provided all associated licensees are covered.

Submitting the renewal form constitutes an affidavit that the licensee has completed all required CE. The Commission advises licensees not to submit renewal before completing all CE hours, because the submission itself serves as the attestation of compliance.

Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks for correct and complete applications. Once processed, the renewed license is available for printing through the MY LICENSE self-service portal.

CE audits and recordkeeping

The Commission audits a percentage of license renewals each cycle. If selected, the licensee receives a letter requesting proof of E&O insurance and CE completion. Licensees must retain CE certificates and supporting documents for at least four years. CE certificates are not uploaded during renewal but must be produced if the renewal is selected for audit.

Alaska continuing education requirements for renewal

Alaska requires 20 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle: 8 hours of mandatory core coursework and 12 hours of electives. The Alaska Real Estate Commission^[1] designates the core curriculum as Designated Continuing Education (DCE) under 12 AAC 64.500(b)(1), covering current trends in real estate practices and changes in state, federal, and case law. The remaining 12 hours are Elective Continuing Education (ECE) under 12 AAC 64.500(a).

Required CE topics for the 2026-2028 renewal cycle

The four DCE topics for the 2026-2028 renewal cycle are Fraud Prevention: Wire Fraud and Deed Fraud (2 hours), Advertising, Social Media and AI Compliance (2 hours), Broker Supervision and Conflict Resolution (2 hours), and Required Licensee Disclosures (2 hours). All four are mandatory core topics totaling the 8 required DCE hours, as identified by the Commission on its Education page^[1].

The prior 2024-2026 cycle covered Fair Housing and Property Management, Environmental Issues and Land Use, Required Licensee Disclosures, and Counseling Consumers. The Commission updates the DCE topics each cycle to address emerging issues in real estate practice.

Can you take Alaska CE courses online?

Alaska permits licensees to fulfill all CE hours through approved online and correspondence courses, with no in-person attendance requirement.

The Commission also grants CE credit for courses attended out-of-state through nationally recognized providers. Licensees must submit form #08-4533, "Licensee Request for CE Credit," to request credit for such courses.

Post-licensing education for new Alaska licensees

New licensees must complete a post-licensing education requirement separate from the CE needed for renewal, with a deadline tied to their first year of licensure. This requirement has been in effect since February 1, 2008 under 12 AAC 64.064^[1].

Brokers have a separate post-licensing education requirement covering trust account management, office management, supervision, and risk management.

What happens if your Alaska license lapses

A licensee whose license has lapsed must submit a reinstatement application, employing broker information, copies of CE certificates, and verification of E&O insurance to the Alaska Real Estate Commission^[3]. The reinstatement fee is $310, broken down as $120 renewal fee, $50 recovery fund fee, and $140 reinstatement fee, as of January 31, 2026.

As of January 31, 2026, licensees who did not renew by that date are in lapsed status. It is illegal to conduct real estate activities on a lapsed license, and there is no grace period.

Reinstatement also requires proof of the same CE completion that regular renewal demands. The reinstatement form (#08-4950) can be initiated online through the MY LICENSE self-service portal.

Inactive license status in Alaska

A licensee may place their license in inactive status by disaffiliating from a broker, which suspends their ability to practice real estate while preserving the license. Inactive status lasts up to 24 months, and the license can be renewed in this status.

If inactive status exceeds 24 months, even by one day, the licensee must re-test and restart the entire licensing process from the beginning. For associate brokers and brokers who let inactive status go beyond 24 months, the license expires and they must start over with testing and pre-licensing education as a salesperson.

Referral status is different from inactive status: the licensee remains affiliated with a broker and an office, and the license stays active.

Planning ahead for your next renewal

Track your CE hours throughout the biennium rather than waiting until January. Keep digital copies of all CE certificates for at least four years, submit the renewal form only after all CE hours are complete, and verify your E&O insurance is current before the January 31 deadline.