Idaho real estate CE requirements and license renewal

Idaho real estate licensees renew every two years and must complete continuing education (CE) to maintain active status. The renewal cycle ends on the last day of the licensee's birth month, and active renewal requires two Idaho Commission Core courses plus 12 elective hours of CE. Real estate continuing education in Idaho is regulated under Idaho Code §54-2023^[1] and administered by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses^[2] (DOPL).

Idaho real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines

The Idaho real estate license operates on a two-year renewal schedule tied to each licensee's birth month, with an online renewal process through DOPL.

To renew, licensees log in to the DOPL Online Services portal^[2] and follow the renewal prompts. All continuing education must be completed before the renewal date. Providers must report course completions to the Commission within 5 business days of course completion, according to the DOPL Real Estate Commission FAQs^[3].

Continuing education requirements for active renewal

Idaho structures its CE requirements around whether a licensee is renewing for the first time or has already met post-license education obligations. The first salesperson renewal has a distinct requirement, while all subsequent renewals follow the same standard for both salespersons and brokers.

First-time salesperson renewal

Salespersons renewing on active status for the first time must complete two Idaho Commission Core courses plus 12 hours of post-license education, according to DOPL's education page for licensees^[4]. The post-license requirement consists of:

• Post License Fundamentals: 8 hours
• One 4-hour elective module, chosen from:
• Post License Pricing, Marketing, and Advertising
• Post License Professionalism, Negotiation, and Closing
• Post License Introduction to Commercial Real Estate

Post-license education replaces the 12 elective hours required for subsequent renewals.

Subsequent salesperson and broker renewal

After completing post-license education, the standard CE requirement applies to all subsequent active renewals for both salespersons and brokers.

Idaho Commission Core courses

The Idaho Real Estate Commission develops a new Core course each year, effective July 1, covering changes in law, case law, and emerging topics. Each Core course may contain up to 4 classroom hours of instruction, as defined under Idaho Code §54-2023^[1], though actual lengths vary by year. For the 2024-2025 cycle, each Core course is 3.5 hours, making the total CE seat time approximately 19 hours. REALTOR® Association ethics courses do not satisfy the Core course requirement.

Duplicate course restriction

Under Idaho Code §54-2023^[1], no CE credit is awarded for any core course or course curriculum for which a licensee has already received credit in the same license period.

Renewal fees and the Fee Holiday

As of January 1, 2026, the Idaho Real Estate Commission^[2] implemented a Fee Holiday that sets the individual broker and salesperson renewal fee to $0. The Fee Holiday was instituted to reduce an excess cash balance in the Real Estate Commission fund and applies to salesperson, broker, brokerage, and branch office renewals.

The late renewal penalty remains $25. Other fees during the Fee Holiday include:

The cash balance will be reviewed after one year to determine whether renewal fees will be reinstated. Initial license application fees, such as the $135 individual broker/salesperson application fee, are not waived.

Late renewal, expiration, and license termination

Idaho allows a one-year grace period after a license expires, during which the licensee may renew by paying the renewal fee plus the late penalty, according to the DOPL Real Estate Commission FAQs^[3]. After one year, the license terminates and cannot be renewed. A licensee with a terminated license must start over as a new applicant, including retaking pre-licensing education and the licensing exam.

Inactive status renewal and reactivation

Licenses on inactive status may be renewed indefinitely without completing continuing education, according to DOPL's education page for licensees^[4]. No education is required at the time of inactive renewal.

To reactivate an inactive license, the licensee must complete the same continuing education required for active renewal. If reactivation occurs within the same renewal period in which the license was placed on inactive status, no additional CE is required. All salespersons must complete post-license education before changing from inactive to active for the first time after initial licensing.

Online continuing education rules in Idaho

Online CE courses in Idaho must meet exam and attendance standards that differ from live and remote delivery formats.

Live and remote delivery elective courses do not require a final exam, according to DOPL's education page for licensees^[4].

CE course formats, providers, and certification

Idaho's continuing education system operates through Commission-certified providers offering courses in several delivery formats.

Professional designation courses accepted for CE credit include ABR, ALC, CAPS, CCIM, CIPS, CRB, CRS, GRI (any state), GREEN, PMN, SRS, and SRES, according to DOPL's education courses page^[5].

Course certification requirements

Every CE course in Idaho must pass Commission certification before it carries credit.

Course content must fit within approved CE topic areas defined in Idaho Rule 402.

Finding certified CE providers

Licensees must select courses from Idaho certified providers to receive CE credit.

Tracking CE credits and special credit opportunities

Idaho licensees can monitor their continuing education compliance through the state's online licensing system and may earn credit through several non-traditional pathways.

Two additional pathways exist for earning CE credit:

• Commission meeting attendance: Licensees may earn up to 4 hours of CE credit per renewal period for attending a regularly scheduled Idaho Real Estate Commission meeting, according to the DOPL Real Estate Commission FAQs^[3].
• Out-of-jurisdiction credit: Licensees who complete CE courses in other jurisdictions may request credit by submitting documentation to the Commission. These requests can take up to 60 days to process. There is no charge for a Request for CE Credit, according to the Idaho Real Estate Commission fee schedule^[2].

Next steps for Idaho licensees

Verify your renewal date and CE status through the DOPL Online Services portal before your license expires. Complete the required core courses and elective hours through an Idaho certified provider, and confirm your provider has reported your completions to the Commission. Renew online during the early renewal window to avoid the late penalty.