New Hampshire Real Estate CE and License Renewal Requirements
New Hampshire real estate licenses must be renewed every two years, and active renewal requires completing continuing education (CE) through courses accredited by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission. The CE real estate requirements apply to both salespersons and brokers, with additional post-licensing obligations for first-time salesperson renewals. The Commission operates under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), which processes all renewals through its online licensing portal.
Continuing education certification in real estate refers to the accredited coursework that licensees must complete to renew an active license. In New Hampshire, the requirement is 15 hours per renewal cycle, consisting of a 3-hour mandatory core course plus 12 elective hours, all tracked through the CE Broker system. For first-time salesperson renewals, 12 hours of post-licensing education in specified topics replace the standard electives. NAR separately requires its members to complete Code of Ethics training and Fair Housing training every three years, but these are not part of state CE requirements.
New Hampshire real estate license renewal cycle
A New Hampshire real estate license is valid for two years from the date of issuance, with the expiration date tied to the original issuance date rather than a calendar date. The OPLC sends a renewal notification by email before the expiration date, giving licensees time to complete their CE and submit the renewal application. There is no grace period to practice after a license expires; if the renewal application, fee, and supporting documents are not filed by the expiration date, the license lapses immediately.
Licensees receive an email renewal notification 90 days before expiration and must renew online through the New Hampshire Online Licensing portal, using a registration code from the notification to create an account. The salesperson renewal fee is $99, the broker renewal fee is $121, and active renewal requires 15 hours of continuing education per cycle (one 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours). First-time salesperson renewals must also complete 12 hours of post-licensing education in addition to the core course. If a license has been expired less than 1 year, the licensee must reinstate online; if more than 1 year, the licensee must reapply online.
The New Hampshire salesperson renewal fee is $99, and the broker renewal fee is $121, paid to the OPLC. Licenses must be renewed every 2 years. Licensees receive an email renewal notification 90 days before expiration. Active renewal requires 15 hours of continuing education per cycle: a 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours. For first-time salesperson renewals, 12 hours of post-licensing education in specified topics are required in addition to the 3-hour core course. Inactive renewal requires only the 3-hour core course.
Continuing education hours required for New Hampshire renewal
Active renewal requires Commission-accredited continuing education covering topics set out under RSA 331-A:20[1]: property valuation, construction, contract and agency law, ethics, financing and investment, land use and zoning, property management, taxation, environmental issues, and supervision and office management. For standard renewals, a licensee may count an additional core course toward elective hours. All courses must be completed within the current license period.
Members of the National Association of REALTORS® must also complete Code of Ethics and Fair Housing training[2] every three years, which is separate from the state CE requirement.
New Hampshire requires 15 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle for active license renewal: one 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours. For a salesperson's first renewal, 12 hours of post-licensing education covering required topics (P&S Contracts, Ethical Behavior, Disclosure Forms, and Agency) must be completed in addition to the 3-hour core course. For inactive renewal, only the 3-hour core course is required.
Post-licensing education for first-time salesperson renewals
Salespersons renewing for the first time must complete 12 hours of post-licensing education in addition to the core course. This requirement took effect January 23, 2020, under N.H. Admin. Code section Rea 403.01. The four required post-licensing topics are purchase and sale (P&S) contracts, ethical behavior, disclosure forms, and agency.
Post-licensing courses must be completed live, either in a classroom or via real-time internet class, not through self-paced online modules. This live-delivery requirement distinguishes post-licensing from standard CE electives, which can be completed online.
The OPLC announced changes to salesperson first renewal requirements effective October 1, 2024. RSA 331-A:25, IX was amended to require the Commission to specify post-licensing topics for first-time renewals. The Commission plans rulemaking to implement this change; until then, any licensee who completes 12 accredited elective hours under RSA 331-A:20 is deemed compliant.
Taking continuing education online in New Hampshire
New Hampshire permits distance education for standard CE, with a timing device required on all online courses to prevent completion in less time than the approved credit hours. Post-licensing courses for first-time salesperson renewals are the exception and must be taken live, either in a classroom or through real-time internet class with webcam on.
Yes, you can complete standard continuing education courses online in New Hampshire with no limit on the number of online hours that may be taken remotely. However, post-licensing courses required for a salesperson's first renewal must be completed either in-class or through live internet sessions, not through self-paced online study. All continuing education is tracked through CE Broker, and courses must be accredited by the Real Estate Commission to receive credit.
New Hampshire licensees may complete standard continuing education online with no limit on the number of online hours, making self-paced online CE the most flexible delivery option. The 15-hour CE requirement consists of a 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours, and elective topics include property valuation, ethics, financing and investment, and property management. One exception applies: post-licensing courses required for first-time salesperson renewal must be completed in-class or via internet live-class, not through self-paced online study. All CE is tracked through CE Broker.
Where to find approved continuing education courses
CE Broker became the Commission's official CE tracking platform in March 2025. Course sessions must be 2 to 3 hours in length to qualify for credit.
The NH Real Estate Commission tracks all approved continuing education through CE Broker, where licensees can find and track accredited courses. The Commission's education and training page lists approved providers for core courses, elective courses, and post-licensing courses. Courses must be accredited by the Commission to receive credit, and all approved education is accessible through CE Broker.
Broker continuing education requirements
Brokers must complete the same continuing education requirement as salespersons per renewal cycle. There are no additional CE hours required at the broker tier. The broker renewal fee is $121, compared to $99 for salespersons.
New Hampshire requires the same 15 hours of continuing education for broker license renewal as for salesperson renewal: one 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours per renewal cycle for active status. For inactive renewal, only the 3-hour core course is required. All continuing education is tracked through CE Broker, and courses must be accredited by the Real Estate Commission.
Renewal fees for New Hampshire real estate licenses
The OPLC fee schedule[3] sets renewal fees by license type:
| License type | Renewal fee | Reinstatement fee | Amendment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesperson | $99 | $99 | $20 |
| Broker | $121 | $121 | $20 |
| Firm | $121 | $121 | $20 |
Payment is accepted via Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express through the online licensing portal. In February 2026, the OPLC transitioned to a new Salesforce-based licensing database, and all renewals are now processed through this portal. First-time online renewers must create an account using a registration code from their renewal notification.
What happens if your New Hampshire real estate license expires
A New Hampshire real estate license lapses immediately if the renewal application, fee, and supporting documents are not filed by the expiration date. There is no grace period to practice real estate after expiration, but a reinstatement window exists for up to 1 year, after which full reapplication is required.
In New Hampshire, a real estate license expires two years from the date of issuance, and licensees must complete 15 hours of continuing education (a 3-hour core course plus 12 elective hours) to renew in active status; inactive renewals require only the 3-hour core course. If a licensee fails to renew before the expiration date, the license lapses and is no longer eligible for standard renewal. Reinstatement is available within one year of expiration through the OPLC online portal; after one year, the applicant must reapply online and complete all initial licensing requirements. Additional continuing education coursework may be required for reinstatement, with the extent depending on the length of the lapse.
Per the OPLC applications page[4], licenses expired less than 1 year may be reinstated online; licenses expired more than 1 year require a new online application.
Reinstating an expired New Hampshire real estate license
The reinstatement requirements depend on how long the license has been expired. Longer lapses carry progressively heavier education and documentation obligations.
| Time expired | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | Reinstatement fee plus 9 additional CE hours beyond the standard renewal requirement |
| 6 months to 1 year | 40-hour pre-licensing course, reinstatement fee, and written explanation demonstrating good cause |
| More than 1 year | Full reapplication with all initial licensing requirements |
Inactive license status in New Hampshire
A licensee may elect inactive status by completing the core CE course, submitting a renewal application with the renewal fee, and selecting inactive status before the expiration date. Inactive licensees may not engage in any real estate activities, including receiving referral fees or any other form of compensation.
To return to active status, an inactive licensee must complete the full CE requirement and submit an activation request. The OPLC only deactivates a salesperson's license if requested by the licensee or ordered by the Commission; it does not happen automatically when a salesperson leaves a broker. An unaffiliated salesperson's status displays as "Active-Restricted" on the licensee lookup.
Planning your next renewal cycle
Track your expiration date from your original license issuance, not from a calendar year, and complete your CE before the deadline to avoid reinstatement costs and penalties. Use the CE Broker system to monitor your progress throughout the cycle, and watch for the email notification from the OPLC. First-time salesperson renewers should plan ahead for post-licensing education, which must be completed live and cannot be done through self-paced online courses. If you also hold a Massachusetts license, note that mass real estate license renewal cycles and CE requirements differ from New Hampshire's renewal structure.
Sources
- NH OPLC — Real Estate Education RequirementsGovernmentMay 2026
- NAR — Continuing Education RequirementsGovernmentMay 2026
- NH OPLC — Real Estate License FeesGovernmentMay 2026
- NH OPLC — Real Estate License ApplicationsGovernmentAugust 2026