Illinois real estate license renewal: CE requirements, deadlines, and fees

Illinois real estate license renewal requires brokers and managing brokers to complete continuing education (CE) and pay a renewal fee to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) every two years. Brokers renew on April 30 of even-numbered years; managing brokers renew on April 30 of odd-numbered years. New brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education during their first license term instead of standard CE. The specific hours, fees, and deadlines depend on license type and when the licensee was first licensed.

Illinois real estate license renewal cycles and deadlines

Illinois real estate licenses operate on fixed two-year cycles that vary by license type. Brokers and residential leasing agents renew in even-numbered years; managing brokers renew in odd-numbered years. Under Section 5-50(a) of the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000^[1], a license may be renewed within 90 days preceding the expiration date by completing required CE and paying the renewal fee.

The next broker renewal deadline is April 30, 2026. The next managing broker renewal deadline is April 30, 2027. The IDFPR online renewal portal^[2] opens approximately 2 to 3 months before each expiration date.

The renewal period for an initial broker license is longer than for established licenses. The Illinois Administrative Code, Title 68, Part 1450^[3] defines the renewal period for an initial broker license as 180 days prior to expiration, compared with 90 days for all other licenses. Brokers who receive their initial license within 180 days of the renewal deadline have until the second renewal deadline to complete their post-license education.

The license renewal process through IDFPR

The renewal process takes place through IDFPR's online portal, where licensees certify CE compliance and submit payment before the license expiration date. The portal lists broker, managing broker, and residential leasing agent among the professions available for online renewal.

Under Section 5-80 of the License Act^[1], each renewal applicant must certify CE compliance on the renewal application and retain evidence of completion. IDFPR does not require certificates to be uploaded during online renewal but may request them through random audits.

After submitting renewal, allow 2 to 4 business days for the license status to update in the IDFPR system. If the online portal does not allow renewal after the window closes, the licensee must request a reinstatement application from IDFPR.

Broker continuing education requirements

Established brokers must complete 12 hours of CE per renewal cycle to maintain an active license, consisting of a 6-hour core course and 6 hours of elective courses. The IDFPR 2026 CE Fact Sheet^[4] details this breakdown for the cycle ending April 30, 2026.

The core curriculum covers subjects that may include advertising, agency, disclosures, escrow, fair housing, residential leasing agent management, and license law, as stated in Section 5-70(e) of the License Act^[1]. The core must include at least 2 hours of fair housing training. The elective portion must include 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training.

A 4-hour core course completed between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 satisfies the core requirement for the 2026 renewal, but the licensee must then complete 8 hours of electives instead of the standard 6. Starting July 1, 2025, only 6-hour core courses are accepted.

Residential leasing agents must complete 8 hours of CE per renewal cycle, increased from 6 hours under SB 1872 (Public Act 101-357)^[5], signed in August 2019.

Post-license education for new brokers

New brokers must complete post-license education during their first license term in place of standard CE.

For the 2026 renewal, IDFPR establishes three categories based on when the broker was first licensed:

Brokers who receive their initial license within the 180 days preceding the first renewal deadline have until the second renewal deadline to complete the requirement, per Section 5-50(b)^[1].

Managing broker continuing education requirements

Managing brokers face the highest CE requirement among Illinois real estate license types. The IDFPR 2027 CE Fact Sheet for Managing Broker Renewal^[6] specifies the breakdown for the cycle ending April 30, 2027.

The Broker Management CE course covers brokerage administration and supervision. The elective portion must include sexual harassment prevention training. A 4-hour core course completed prior to July 1, 2025 is accepted for the 2027 renewal, as noted on the IDFPR 2025 Managing Broker Renewal Application^[7]. Starting July 1, 2025, only the full-length core course is accepted.

Managing brokers first licensed between February 1, 2025 and January 31, 2027 have a reduced requirement: the base CE only, without the Broker Management course. Their pre-license coursework satisfies the Broker Management requirement for the initial term, per Section 5-70(l)^[1].

Managing brokers first licensed on or after February 1, 2027 do not need to renew in 2027; their license expires April 30, 2029.

Renewal fees and late penalties

The broker license renewal fee is $200, and the managing broker renewal fee is $250, as established by Illinois Administrative Code, Title 68, Section 1450.130^[8], effective January 1, 2024. All fees are non-refundable.

The sponsorship transfer processing fee is $35, per Section 1450.130^[8]. A licensee who receives an initial license during the first renewal period is not required to pay the initial renewal fee.

Expired license renewal and restoration

A license expired for no more than 2 years can be renewed by paying the renewal fee plus the $75 late fee and completing all required CE. Under Section 5-50(c) of the License Act^[1], a license expired more than 2 years but less than 5 years requires a Restoration Application, with the restoration fee equal to the sum of all lapsed renewal and late fees.

A license expired more than 5 years cannot be restored. The former licensee must meet all requirements for a new license, including pre-licensing education and the state exam.

CE delivery formats and approved providers

Coursework must come from a provider on IDFPR's approved education provider list. Under the Illinois Administrative Code, Title 68, Section 1450.100^[3], a credit hour means a minimum of 50 minutes of instruction delivered in a classroom, by interactive webinar, online distance education, correspondence, or home study.

No more than 12 hours of CE may be completed in a single calendar day, per Section 5-70(j) of the License Act^[1].

CE exemptions and special provisions

Attorneys admitted to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court are exempt from CE requirements but must certify compliance on the renewal application, as stated in the IDFPR CE Fact Sheet^[4].

Members of the armed services who served during the pre-renewal period are also exempt from CE, as noted on the IDFPR Managing Broker Renewal Application^[7].

A licensee who receives an initial license during the 90 days before the renewal date is not required to complete CE for that initial renewal, per Section 5-70(d)^[1].

Illinois allows out-of-state CE credit under Section 5-75 of the License Act^[1]. IDFPR may approve CE obtained in another state if the course would qualify under Section 5-70. The fee for requesting out-of-state CE credit is $50 per course, per Section 1450.130^[8].

Tracking and certifying your CE credits

Licensees can confirm that completed courses have been reported to IDFPR using the CE Lookup tool on the department's website. Checking this before the renewal deadline ensures all coursework appears in the system.

Original CE certificates should be kept on file and made available if IDFPR conducts an audit. Failure to produce documentation may result in license discipline.

Renewing without a sponsoring broker

Brokers can renew without a sponsoring broker, but the license will be placed in Inactive status. All CE or post-license education requirements must still be met even if the license is inactive, as confirmed on the IDFPR Managing Broker Renewal Application^[7].

A sponsorship change during renewal requires the sponsorship transfer processing fee in addition to the renewal fee, per Section 1450.130^[8].

Next steps

Check your license expiration date and CE status through the IDFPR portal, then complete any outstanding education through an IDFPR-approved provider before your renewal window opens. Brokers facing the April 30, 2026 deadline should verify their CE category (standard CE or post-license education) based on their initial licensure date and complete the required hours well before the deadline to avoid late penalties.