Nebraska Real Estate License Renewal and CE Requirements
Nebraska real estate licensees must renew on a two-year cycle and complete continuing education (CE) each cycle to keep their license active. The Nebraska Real Estate Commission (NREC) sets renewal deadlines, fees, and education requirements for all license types, with specific rules for new licensees, inactive status, and special practice areas.
Nebraska real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines
Initial Nebraska real estate licenses are issued for a calendar year and expire December 31 of the year issued. Subsequent renewals cover a two-year period, with the renewal year depending on when the license was first issued. According to the NREC renewal procedures[1], the Commission sends renewal notices via mail and email in October to all licensees due to expire that year.
All renewals are submitted online through the NREC Licensee Portal. Active licensees cannot complete the renewal form until CE requirements are met and errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is verified. Inactive licensees face the same renewal deadlines and must also submit on time.
Licensees who obtain their initial license in November or December must still renew by December 31 of that year, but late fees for that first renewal begin accruing in January rather than December.
Nebraska real estate licenses must be renewed every 2 years after the initial calendar-year term. Renew before November 30 to avoid late fees; renewals submitted after December 1 incur a $25 late penalty per month or fraction thereof, with the late renewal option expiring June 30 of the ensuing year. Active licensees must have continuing education (18 hours every 2 years) completed and errors and omissions insurance verified before renewing on active status. Inactive licenses must also be renewed and are subject to the same deadlines.
Renewal fees for Nebraska real estate licenses
The NREC fee schedule[2] sets the two-year renewal fee at $180 for salespersons and $220 for brokers. These fees apply to the 2026-2027 renewal cycle, reflecting the first increase since 2014.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Salesperson renewal (2-year) | $180 |
| Broker renewal (2-year) | $220 |
| Late renewal penalty | $25 per month or fraction thereof |
| Transfer fee (active/inactive) | $50 |
| Reinstatement fee | $150 |
| Branch renewal | $50 |
| Certificate of Licensure | $25 |
| Returned check processing | $30 |
Fees are not prorated.
Continuing education hours required for renewal
Nebraska mandates continuing education for active licensees each renewal cycle to maintain an active license. The requirement applies equally to salespersons and brokers, with exemptions for new licensees and accommodations for non-residents.
Active licensees in Nebraska must complete 18 clock hours of continuing education every 2 years. At least 12 of those hours must be in Commission-approved continuing education, and of those 12 hours, at least 6 must be in designated subject matter courses marked with an "R". Up to 6 hours may be Commission-approved training toward the 18-hour total. New licensees who renew during the same calendar year in which the license was issued are exempt from CE for the first renewal cycle.
The continuing education requirement is the same for brokers as for salespersons in Nebraska: 18 clock hours every 2 years. At least 12 of the 18 hours must be in Commission-approved continuing education, with at least 6 of those hours in designated "R" subject matter courses. Up to 6 hours may be Commission-approved training.
Continuing education in Nebraska requires active licensees to complete 18 clock hours every 2 years as part of each renewal cycle. At least 12 of the 18 hours must be in Commission-approved continuing education, and of those 12 hours, at least 6 must be in designated subject matter courses marked with an "R". New licensees who renew during the same calendar year in which the license was issued are exempt from CE for the first renewal cycle.
Licensees issued in the current calendar year do not owe CE at their first renewal, per the NREC continuing education requirements[3].
Non-resident and cross-discipline CE compliance
Non-resident licensees may satisfy Nebraska's CE requirement by affirming they have met the CE requirement in their resident jurisdiction. Licensees may also apply appraisal CE approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Appraiser Board, or mandatory continuing legal education approved by the Nebraska Supreme Court, toward their CE requirement if the subject matter meets Title 299 requirements.
Designated subject matter 'R' courses, electives, and broker-approved training
The NREC marks certain courses with an "R" in the course identification number to designate them as required subject matter for a renewal cycle. At least 6 of the 12 approved CE hours must come from "R" courses. The remaining approved CE hours are electives, and up to 6 hours may be Commission-approved training, which covers professionally relevant topics that do not qualify as CE.
CE activities satisfy the broker-approved training requirement, but broker-approved training does not satisfy the CE requirement. Nebraska prohibits duplicate CE elective content within a 4-year period, determined by the course content number. "R" courses are an exception: they may be repeated in subsequent CE periods but not within the same two-year cycle.
Completing continuing education online in Nebraska
Nebraska permits all CE hours to be earned through online distance education without a cap on the total. Online courses must be finished within 1 year of enrollment, and final exams require a minimum score of 75%.
Yes. The Nebraska Real Estate Commission places no limits on the number of continuing education hours that can be taken online. Online courses must be completed within 1 year of the enrollment date. Active licensees must complete 18 clock hours every 2 years, with at least 12 hours in Commission-approved continuing education (including at least 6 hours in designated "R" subject matter courses).
Nebraska allows continuing education to be completed online with no limits on the number of hours taken through distance education. Online CE courses must be completed within 1 year of enrollment. The Nebraska Real Estate Commission's approved-education list includes providers offering self-paced online CE courses, with individual 3-hour courses available at various price points. Licensees should select courses from the state's approved provider list to ensure credit, and duplicate CE content is generally prohibited within 4 years.
Approved CE providers and tracking your credits
The NREC education page[4] links to requirements for pre-license, post-license, continuing education, and specialized training.
Continuing education courses are available through NREC-approved providers in classroom, online, and home study formats. The Nebraska Real Estate Commission maintains an approved provider and course list on its website, updated after each Commission meeting. There is no limit on the number of hours that may be taken online, though each online course must be completed within 1 year of enrollment.
The Nebraska Real Estate Commission approves continuing education providers and individual courses, and maintains an approved provider and course list on its website that is updated after each Commission meeting. Of the 18 CE hours required every 2 years, at least 12 must be in Commission-approved CE activities, with at least 6 of those in designated "R" subject matter courses. Courses may be taken in classroom, online, or home study formats, with no limit on the number of online hours, though each online course must be completed within 1 year of enrollment.
Before attempting to renew, active licensees should confirm that their CE hours are reported to the NREC. The renewal system blocks active renewals until CE requirements are met.
The Nebraska Real Estate Commission provides an online Licensee Portal where licensees can manage their licenses, including tracking continuing education compliance. Active licensees must have their continuing education requirements met before the system allows them to complete the renewal form, and the Commission verifies completion as part of the renewal process. The NREC also publishes a FAQ section for licensees covering education obligations and portal usage.
Post-license education for new licensees
New Nebraska licensees must complete a Commission-approved post-license course covering practical skills including contract completion, listing agreements, and client fund handling, according to the NREC post-license requirements[5].
All new Nebraska licensees must complete 12 hours of Commission-approved post-license education (Course #7000) within 180 days of license issuance, covering topics such as completing contracts, listing agreements, and handling client funds. If a licensee fails to complete the post-license education within the 180-day deadline, the Commission places the license on inactive status until satisfactory evidence of completion is received. Completion evidence is valid for 4 years from the date of completion and may be used for any license application.
Completion evidence stays valid for 4 years. Missing the deadline results in the license being placed on inactive status until the course is finished. Reactivation details are covered in the late renewal section below.
Late renewal, inactive status, and reinstatement
Licensees who miss the November 30 deadline can still renew late by paying the renewal fee plus $25 per month or fraction thereof, beginning December 1. The late renewal window closes at 5:00 p.m. CDT on June 30. After that date, the licensee must retake and pass the licensing examination.
Inactive licenses must be renewed on the same schedule but do not require CE. A license can remain inactive for a maximum of 3 continuous years before reinstatement requires meeting the examination requirement of an original applicant, according to the NREC application process[6].
To reactivate an inactive license, the licensee must complete 12 hours of CE with at least 6 hours in designated subject areas, plus pay the $50 transfer fee.
Additional CE requirements for property managers and team leaders
Licensees who provide or supervise property management must complete 3 hours of approved property management coursework each two-year renewal period. These courses carry a "PM" or "RPM" designation in the course ID.
Team members, team leaders, and supervising designated brokers must complete 3 hours of approved team or team leadership education within 180 days of team designation or creation. This training must be completed at least once every 4 years.
Next steps
Log in to the NREC Licensee Portal[7] to check your renewal date and CE status. If your renewal is due this year, complete your CE hours early, verify your E&O insurance is on file, and submit your renewal online before the deadline. Licensees on inactive status should confirm they are within the allowed inactive period and complete the required CE before requesting reactivation.
Sources
- Nebraska REC — License Renewal ProceduresGovernmentAugust 2026
- Nebraska REC — Licensing FeesGovernmentAugust 2026
- Nebraska REC — CE InfoGovernmentAugust 2026
- Nebraska REC — Pre-License EducationGovernmentAugust 2026
- Nebraska REC — Post-License RequirementsGovernmentAugust 2026
- Nebraska REC — Application ProcessGovernmentAugust 2026
- Nebraska REC — License Renewal OverviewGovernmentAugust 2026