California Real Estate License Renewal: CE Requirements and Process

California real estate licenses are valid for four years from the date of issue and require 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education (CE) for each renewal cycle. The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) oversees both the renewal process and CE requirements, and licensees can renew online through the eLicensing system or by mail.

The DRE license renewal process

The renewal window opens 90 days before your license expires, and you have two options: the DRE's online eLicensing portal or a paper application by mail. The DRE emails a courtesy reminder approximately 90 days prior to expiration, but non-receipt of this notice does not relieve you of the responsibility to renew on time.

Online renewal through the DRE eLicensing system^[1] accepts VISA and MasterCard and covers salesperson, broker, and corporate officer licenses. The system will not let you start a transaction earlier than 90 days before your license expires, and a transaction is considered late at midnight on the expiration date even if it is still in progress. All CE requirements must be completed before you use eLicensing to renew. Any license changes entered during an eLicensing renewal transaction take effect the date the transaction is completed.

Mail renewal requires the appropriate application form, the CE Course Verification form (RE 251), and the applicable fee. Salespersons use form RE 209, brokers use form RE 208, and corporate officers use form RE 207. Under Business and Professions Code Section 10156.2^[2], if you submit a complete renewal application with the correct fee and CE evidence before the expiration date, you may continue operating under your existing license until the DRE issues the renewal certificate or notifies you to cease. DRE cease notices take effect five days after mailing.

Licenses in "Licensed NBA" (no broker affiliation) status can also be renewed through eLicensing. You cannot use eLicensing if your license is restricted or if you are a corporate officer renewing an expired corporation.

California real estate license renewal fees

Renewal fees increased effective July 1, 2024, the first statutory adjustment since 1997, according to the DRE fee schedule^[3]. All fees are nonrefundable under Business and Professions Code Section 10207, as stated on the DRE licensee fees page^[4].

The fee adjustments apply to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2024.

First-time renewal continuing education requirements

The first renewal of a California real estate license requires 45 clock hours of DRE-approved CE with mandatory individual courses in specific subjects and a minimum of 18 hours in consumer protection. CE is separate from the pre-licensing college-level courses required to sit for the licensing exam, and the two do not satisfy each other's requirements. The DRE continuing education requirements page^[5] specifies different mandatory course sets for salespersons and brokers.

Salesperson first renewal CE

A salesperson's first renewal requires the most structured CE package of any renewal cycle, with individual courses in specific mandatory subjects and an interactive fair housing component.

The fair housing course must include an interactive participatory component. A separate implicit bias course is also required. The remaining hours beyond the mandatory courses and the consumer protection minimum can cover either consumer service or consumer protection subjects.

Broker first renewal CE

A broker's first renewal adds one mandatory course, management and supervision, to the set of subjects required for a salesperson's first renewal.

The remaining structure mirrors the salesperson first renewal, including the fair housing course with interactive role-play, the implicit bias course, and the consumer protection minimum.

Subsequent renewal continuing education requirements

For second and subsequent renewals with a license expiration date on or after January 1, 2023, California consolidates the mandatory subjects into a single 9-hour survey course or equivalent individual courses. These changes stem from Senate Bill 263 and also apply to late renewals filed after that date.

The CE package must include either one 9-hour CE survey course covering all seven mandatory subjects (ethics, agency, trust fund handling, risk management, management and supervision, fair housing, and implicit bias training) or individual courses covering each of those seven subjects. The same consumer protection minimum applies, and the remaining hours can go toward consumer service or consumer protection. The DRE continuing education requirements page^[5] provides the full subject list.

Late renewal and expired California real estate licenses

If you miss the expiration date, California allows a two-year late renewal period to reinstate your license, but you cannot perform any activity requiring a real estate license until the renewal is complete. Your license expires at midnight on the expiration date, and any renewal submitted after that point is considered late, according to the DRE online renewal FAQ^[1].

Late renewal costs 150% of the on-time fee, as stated on the DRE real estate license FAQs page^[2]. All CE courses for a late renewal must be completed within four years of the date the late renewal application is filed, not four years from the original expiration date.

After the two-year late renewal period expires, you must requalify for licensure by passing the state licensing examination again. A conditionally suspended salesperson license may not be renewed on a late basis.

A "Licensed NBA" status, where no broker is affiliated, is not the same as an expired license. The license remains valid, and the licensee can take action through eLicensing to address the missing broker affiliation. An expired license, by contrast, requires late renewal with completed CE and the late fee.

CE exemptions and extensions

California provides two relief mechanisms for licensees facing CE requirements: a full exemption for long-tenured licensees and a 90-day extension for those who need more time to complete CE.

CE exemption for long-tenored licensees

Under Business and Professions Code Section 10170.8^[5], licensees who are 70 years of age or older and have been licensed in good standing for 30 continuous years or more are exempt from CE requirements. Once the DRE approves the exemption, it carries forward to all subsequent renewals, and the licensee can continue using eLicensing to renew. If the license falls out of good standing, the exemption is terminated.

90-day CE extension

Under Business and Professions Code Section 10171.2^[5], the DRE can grant a 90-day extension from the license expiration date for a licensee to furnish evidence of CE completion. The licensee must submit form RE 213 with the appropriate fee by US mail before the expiration date.

Finding and completing DRE-approved CE courses

Licensees can locate approved CE providers and courses through the DRE's online CE search tool^[6], which lists both online and in-person offerings.

Courses are organized into 10 subject categories: Agency, Consumer Protection, Ethics, Consumer Service, Fair Housing, 9-Hour Survey, Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, Management and Supervision, and Implicit Bias Training. The DRE's approval of listed courses is permissive only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement.

Providers do not send completion records directly to the DRE, so each licensee is responsible for maintaining proof of finished coursework for verification at renewal.

The California Association of REALTORS®^[7] provides one such package at no cost to its members.

NAR membership requirements separate from state CE

NAR imposes its own education obligations on a three-year cycle, separate from the DRE's CE requirement. These membership obligations apply only to NAR members, not to all California licensees.

Staying on track with your license renewal

Complete your CE well before the 90-day renewal window opens to avoid late fees and gaps in your ability to practice. You can take CE courses at any time during your four-year license period, so spreading them out avoids a last-minute rush. Check your license expiration date on the DRE website, verify your CE course completions, and submit your renewal through eLicensing or by mail before the expiration date. If you cannot complete CE in time, submit form RE 213 to request a 90-day extension before the license expires.