Washington, D.C. real estate CE requirements and license renewal
Washington, D.C. real estate licensees must complete 15 hours of continuing education and pay a renewal fee every two years to maintain an active license. Salespersons renew by August 31 of odd-numbered years, while brokers and property managers renew by February 28 of odd-numbered years. The DC Real Estate Commission (DCREC) sets CE real estate requirements, approves education providers, and collects renewal fees through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP).
When DC real estate licenses expire and must be renewed
DC real estate licenses expire on a two-year cycle, with different deadlines for salespersons and brokers. Salesperson licenses expire on August 31 in odd-numbered years. Broker, associate broker, and property manager licenses expire on February 28 in odd-numbered years. The DC Real Estate Commission[1] publishes these dates and the current cycle's CE requirements on its website.
The current cycle is labeled "2023-2025 Real Estate Renewal Cycle CE Requirements," confirming the biennial schedule for all license types.
DC real estate license renewal process
Renewing a DC real estate license requires completing the required CE hours from a DCREC-approved provider, paying the applicable renewal fee, and submitting the renewal through DLCP before the expiration date. The DC Real Estate Commission fee schedule[1] lists all renewal-related costs.
Salespersons must renew by August 31 in odd-numbered years, and brokers and property managers must renew by February 28 in odd-numbered years. The renewal fee is $130 for salespersons and $170 for brokers and property managers, covering a two-year cycle, and a $50 late renewal fee applies for missed deadlines. Licensees must complete 15 hours of continuing education each cycle, including 3 hours each of DC Fair Housing, DC Ethics, DC Legislative Update, and Property Management, plus 3 hours of electives.
DC continuing education requirements for salesperson renewal
DC salespersons have specific CE obligations at each renewal. The 2023-2025 Real Estate Renewal Cycle CE Requirements[2] document from DLCP defines the hour allocation for the current cycle.
DC requires 15 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle. The 15 hours consist of 12 mandatory hours (3 hours DC Fair Housing, 3 hours DC Ethics, 3 hours DC Legislative Update, and 3 hours Property Management) plus 3 hours of electives. Newly licensed salespersons, brokers, and property managers are exempt from CE for the remainder of the licensing cycle in which their license was first issued.
Broker continuing education requirements
Broker licensees face their own CE obligations at renewal. The DC Real Estate Commission[1] sets the broker curriculum, which covers Fair Housing, Ethics, and Legislative Update along with additional required topics.
DC brokers must complete 15 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle, all of which are mandatory. The 15 hours consist of 3 hours DC Fair Housing, 3 hours DC Ethics, 3 hours DC Legislative Update, 3 hours Property Management, and 3 hours DC Broker Supervision. Brokers renew by February 28 of odd-numbered years.
Taking DC real estate CE courses online and in person
DC continuing education courses are available both online and in person from DCREC-approved providers. Online self-paced CE packages are generally less expensive than live webinars or in-person classes, and many licensees prefer online classes for real estate license renewal because they allow flexible scheduling. Course providers deliver content through web-based platforms accessible 24/7.
Yes, DC Real Estate Commission-approved continuing education providers offer online courses. The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR), the primary education provider for DC, offers on-demand online courses including required classes, elective classes, and a 15-hour renewal package. The DC Real Estate Commission publishes its list of approved CE providers on the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection website.
Finding approved DC continuing education providers
The DC Real Estate Commission certifies which education providers may issue CE credit. The approved CE providers roster[3] is available on the DLCP website and updated periodically. Only courses from these approved providers satisfy DC renewal requirements.
The DC Real Estate Commission publishes a list of approved continuing education providers on its website. CE courses are available in both online and in-person formats from these approved providers, covering the mandatory topics of DC Fair Housing, DC Ethics, DC Legislative Update, and Property Management, plus elective hours. Local REALTOR® associations in the DC area also offer approved CE courses, including the required DC Fair Housing course and 15-hour renewal packages.
CE certification and credit reporting
DC treats continuing education certification as the documented completion of required CE hours from approved providers, verified at renewal. Licensees must retain course completion certificates and ensure their provider reports credits to DCREC.
DC requires real estate licensees to complete 15 hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle from DCREC-approved providers. For salespersons, the 15 hours consist of 12 mandatory hours (3 hours DC Fair Housing, 3 hours DC Ethics, 3 hours DC Legislative Update, and 3 hours Property Management) plus 3 hours of electives. Newly licensed salespersons, brokers, and property managers are exempt from CE requirements for the remainder of the licensing cycle in which their license was first issued, but CE credits taken during that exempt period do not roll over to the next cycle.
Late renewal, inactive status, and license reinstatement
Missing a renewal deadline triggers additional fees and may require a reinstatement process. A $60 Real Estate Guaranty and Education Fund contribution is included in the licensee fees at every renewal. The following fee schedule from the DC Real Estate Commission[1] outlines the costs:
| Service | Salesperson | Broker/Property Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Standard renewal | $130 | $170 |
| Late renewal penalty | $50 | $50 |
| Reinstated license | $130 | $210 |
| Inactive status | $130 | $210 |
| Duplicate license | $30 | $30 |
| Verification of records | $30 | $30 |
| Status change/transfer | $30 | $30 |
The $50 late renewal penalty applies in addition to the standard renewal fee. All fees are non-refundable under D.C. Code § 47-2853.10.
First renewal: post-licensing education and CE exemptions
DC handles first-time licensees differently from experienced licensees at renewal. The DC Real Estate Commission[1] does not impose a separate post-licensing education requirement on new licensees.
DC does not require separate post-licensing education beyond its standard continuing education (CE) requirements. Newly licensed salespersons, brokers, and property managers are exempt from CE for the remainder of the licensing cycle in which their license was first issued, but must renew when that first cycle ends. After the first renewal, licensees must complete 15 hours of CE every 2-year renewal cycle, including mandatory 3-hour courses in Fair Housing, Ethics, Legislative Update, and Property Management, plus 3 hours of electives.
Next steps
Start your CE coursework well before your renewal deadline to avoid late penalties and reinstatement costs. Verify your required hours and topic breakdown on the DC Real Estate Commission page[1] and select a DCREC-approved provider from the approved CE providers list[3].
Sources
- DC DLCP — Real Estate CommissionGovernmentAugust 2026
- DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) — 2023-2025 Real Estate Renewal Cycle CE RequirementsEducationAugust 2026
- DC DLCP — Approved CE ProvidersGovernmentAugust 2026