Arizona real estate continuing education and license renewal requirements

Arizona real estate licenses are valid for two years, and renewal requires completing continuing education (CE) and paying a fee through the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) online portal. Salespersons complete 24 hours of CE per cycle; brokers in supervisory roles complete additional hours including Broker Management Clinic courses. Effective January 1, 2025, three new mandatory one-hour topics (Firewise, Deed Fraud, and Arizona Water) reshape the CE hour breakdown for every licensee renewing on or after that date, without increasing the total hour requirement.

When to renew your Arizona real estate license

Arizona real estate licenses are issued for a two-year term, and renewal must occur on or before the last day of the month in which the license was originally issued. According to the ADRE licensing page^[1], renewals cover a subsequent two-year period, so a licensee whose original license was issued on March 15 renews by March 31 of the appropriate year.

The ADRE allows CE courses to be submitted at any time during the two-year renewal period, so coursework can be spread across the cycle rather than completed all at once. Licensees can begin the renewal process before the expiration date.

Completing your license renewal

Renewal is processed through the ADRE Licensee Login^[2] after CE requirements are met and the renewal fee is paid. The official renewal application form is LI-243, available as a PDF download from the ADRE website^[3].

The ADRE fee schedule^[4] lists the following renewal fees:

During renewal, applicants must review contact information, complete a Disciplinary Actions Disclosure (form LI-214 or LI-244), and confirm broker sponsorship. The ADRE Licensing Division^[5] requires licensees to disclose any criminal conviction or disciplinary action within 10 business days. Proof of legal presence in the United States is required if it has not already been submitted to the ADRE.

Salesperson continuing education requirements

The salesperson CE requirement centers on mandatory topic categories plus three new topics added in 2025 that address fire safety, deed fraud prevention, and Arizona water rights.

Source: ADRE Education Division^[6]

The ADRE system blocks renewal if a required CE category is deficient, even when total hours are sufficient. Surplus hours in a mandatory category automatically flow into the Elective category. Licensees may not repeat the same course number during a renewal period.

Broker continuing education requirements

Broker CE adds Broker Management Clinic (BMC) courses to the topic categories required of salespersons. The BMC satisfies the Commissioner's Standards requirement, so no separate Commissioner's Standards course is needed beyond the BMC. The BMC consists of three courses: BMC #1, BMC #2, and BMC #3.

Source: ADRE Education Division^[6]

Before the 2025 changes, the broker general portion was larger; the three new mandatory topics reduced it to accommodate the new requirements. A broker pre-licensing course can be submitted for CE credit through a Continuing Education Waiver Request Form, per the ADRE Education Division^[6].

New 2025 mandatory CE topics in Arizona

The ADRE added three mandatory CE topics effective January 1, 2025, without increasing the total CE hour requirement for any license type. The three topics address fire safety in real estate (Firewise), fraudulent transaction prevention (Deed Fraud), and Arizona water rights (Arizona Water).

"Beginning January 1, 2025, as part of your required real estate license renewal CE hours, you must complete one (1) hour of CE on each of the following: Firewise: Education on fire safety and prevention in real estate. Deed Fraud: Training on identifying and preventing fraudulent real estate transactions. Arizona Water: Information on Arizona water rights and related real estate considerations." — ADRE Education Division^[6]

Before January 1, 2025, the salesperson CE structure included fewer mandatory topics and a larger elective allowance. The three new mandatory hours are carved from what was previously flexible elective time, reducing the elective portion.

First-renewal CE rules for new Arizona salespersons

Arizona does not impose a separate post-license education requirement for first-time salesperson renewal. The first renewal follows the standard 24-hour CE requirement. Under Arizona Administrative Code R4-28-402(A)(4)^[7], a first-time renewing salesperson may apply up to 6 hours of the pre-licensing 6-hour Contract Writing course toward the 24-hour CE total if the course was taken within one year before the original licensure date. The Contract Writing course provides 3 hours of Contract Law credit and 3 hours of Real Estate Legal Issues credit, leaving 18 additional CE hours to complete.

Without the Contract Writing credit, the full 24 hours must be completed from CE courses taken during the renewal cycle.

How to report and track your CE credits

The ADRE does not receive CE course completions directly from schools. Licensees must self-report their CE through the online portal.

The ADRE limits CE completion to a maximum of 9 hours per 24-hour period, according to the ADRE Education Division^[6]. The online system tracks submitted hours by category and flags any deficiency before renewal. Licensees can log in at any time during the renewal cycle to review their CE progress and confirm which mandatory categories still need hours.

Late renewal and reinstatement

A license that is not renewed by the expiration date can still be renewed late for a higher fee. Late renewal fees are $125 for salespersons and $245 for brokers, per the ADRE fee schedule^[4]. During the late renewal period, the licensee cannot practice real estate.

If the license is not renewed within the late renewal window, the licensee must reapply for a new license, which may include retaking the licensing exam. A reinstatement fee of $5, set by A.R.S. §32-2131, applies to both salespersons and brokers.

Active, eligible, and inactive license statuses

Arizona licenses carry one of three statuses that determine whether CE is required and whether the licensee can practice real estate.

Active licensees are associated with a broker and can practice. They must complete all CE requirements and pay renewal fees on schedule.

Eligible licensees are available for hire by an employing broker.

"Eligible: This status indicates that a licensee has met all continuing education (CE) requirements and is eligible to be hired by an employing broker." — ADRE Licensing Division^[5]

An eligible license can remain in that status indefinitely as long as CE is kept up to date and renewal fees are paid on schedule.

Inactive licensees can maintain their license without broker association.

"Inactive: This is a distinct status allowing a licensee to maintain their license for up to 15 years without being associated with a broker, provided they continue to renew their license. However, to return to 'Eligible' or 'Active' status, the licensee must bring their CE requirements up to date." — ADRE Licensing Division^[5]

Inactive licensees must renew their license and pay renewal fees but are not required to complete CE until returning to eligible or active status.

Taking Arizona real estate CE courses online

Only courses approved by the ADRE Education Division are eligible for CE credit in Arizona. The ADRE reviews and approves schools, courses, and instructors for both pre-licensing and CE offerings.

Free options exist for the three new 2025 mandatory topics. The Arizona Association of REALTORS® online education page^[8] lists free computer-based Firewise, Water, and Deed Fraud CE classes that fulfill the ADRE's 2025 renewal requirements.

NAR Code of Ethics and ADRE CE: what counts and what does not

The NAR Code of Ethics training is not an ADRE licensing requirement and does not count toward Arizona CE hours. According to the ADRE Education Division^[6], Code of Ethics is a membership condition that local associations may impose, not a state CE requirement. The AAR online education page^[8] confirms that the NAR online Code of Ethics class is not eligible for CE credit in Arizona.

The National Association of REALTORS®^[9] imposes its own training obligations on members, separate from the ADRE's CE requirement for license renewal.

Next steps for your Arizona license renewal

Log into the ADRE Licensee Login^[2] to verify your renewal date and review which CE categories you have completed. Identify any deficient mandatory categories, since the ADRE system blocks renewal when a category is short even if total hours are sufficient. Enroll in ADRE-approved CE courses and submit each course completion through the Licensee Login as you finish it. Renew before the last day of the month in which your license was issued to avoid late fees.