Real estate CE requirements for Rhode Island license renewal

Rhode Island requires real estate license renewal every two years, with non-exempt licensees completing 24 hours of Department of Business Regulation (DBR)-approved real estate CE during each renewal cycle. The renewal deadline depends on when the license was first issued, and the same continuing education requirements apply to both salespersons and brokers.

Rhode Island real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines

Rhode Island operates a two-tier renewal system based on license issuance date. Under Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2.9^[1], licenses issued before January 1, 2020 renew on May 1 of each even-numbered year, while licenses issued after January 1, 2020 renew on the anniversary of the issuance date every two years.

For pre-2020 licensees, the current renewal cycle began May 1, 2026 and runs through April 30, 2028, according to the RI Association of REALTORS® education page^[2]. A previous version of the deadline listed by some sources as April 30, 2026 reflected the prior cycle and has been superseded.

Post-2020 licensees renew on their own anniversary timeline. The DBR salesperson application^[3] states that "all licenses expire every two (2) calendar years on the anniversary date it was issued."

The renewal application also requires a tax attestation pursuant to RIGL Chapter 5-76^[4], disclosure of any criminal convictions or license denials, suspensions, or revocations since the last renewal, current agency affiliation information, and an errors and omissions (E&O) insurance certificate. Renewals can be submitted through the DBR's eLicensing portal; technical questions can be directed to dbr.elicensing@dbr.ri.gov or (401) 462-9513.

Continuing education hours required for renewal

Non-exempt Rhode Island licensees must complete 24 hours of DBR-approved CE per renewal cycle, submitting certificates of completion with the renewal application. The DBR renewal application^[4] (rev. January 2024) and Regulation 230-RICR-30-20-2^[5] establish these requirements.

CE credits for real estate renewal must be taken within the current licensing period; courses completed outside the cycle do not count. The RI REALTORS® renewal FAQs^[6] note that some national online schools may use the term "mandatory" instead of "core," but the DBR treats these as equivalent designations.

The Fair Housing CE requirement in Rhode Island

Rhode Island mandates a minimum of 3 hours of Fair Housing instruction within the core CE requirement, effective January 1, 2022. The Greater Providence Board of REALTORS®^[7] identifies this as a "new requirement as of 1/1/2022," and the DBR renewal application^[4] confirms that Fair Housing hours count within the core total.

This mandate increased the core CE requirement above the previous minimum. Some third-party course providers still reference the older core figure, which does not reflect current DBR rules. The change stems from P.L. 2021, ch. 211 and ch. 322^[6], which amended Rhode Island's real estate education statutes.

The RI Association of REALTORS® designates core hours on its course descriptions and certificates, making it straightforward to track whether a given course satisfies the core or elective portion of the requirement.

Are broker CE requirements different from salesperson CE

No. Broker and salesperson CE requirements are identical in Rhode Island. The RI Association of REALTORS® broker licensing page^[8] confirms that "CE renewal requirements are the same for Broker and Sales Licenses."

This means broker continuing education follows the same cycle, hour total, core minimum, and Fair Housing mandate as salesperson CE. Brokers who also hold a broker-tier license renewal simply pay a different renewal fee ($170 vs. $130 for salespersons) but face no additional education obligations beyond the standard requirement.

CE exemptions in Rhode Island

Four categories of Rhode Island licensees are exempt from the continuing education requirement. The DBR renewal application^[4] lists the following exemptions:

• Licenses issued before December 12, 1984
• Massachusetts and Connecticut reciprocal licensees
• Florida mutual recognition agreement residents
• Attorneys admitted to practice law, per RIGL 5-20.5-4(d)^[4]

Exempt licensees must still file the renewal application and pay the renewal fee on schedule. They do not need to submit CE certificates with their renewal. Massachusetts reciprocal licensees are exempt from Rhode Island CE, though their mass real estate license renewal requirements still apply in their home state. Connecticut reciprocal licensees face the same arrangement: exempt from Rhode Island CE, but subject to Connecticut's home-state renewal rules.

Where to take approved CE courses in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's DBR publishes a list of approved providers^[9] for renewal coursework.

The list includes both national online schools and Rhode Island-based organizations. The RI Association of REALTORS®, Greater Providence Board of REALTORS®, and Northern RI Board of REALTORS® all offer CE classes for real estate licensees locally. Several national online providers also appear on the DBR list. Anyone can take CE courses with the RI Association of REALTORS®, though non-member rates apply.

Can Rhode Island CE courses be completed online

Yes, Rhode Island permits online completion of continuing education. The RI Association of REALTORS®^[2] provides eLearning options, and multiple national providers on the DBR list offer fully online CE packages.

Online CE follows the same approval and hour-credit rules as classroom courses. The DBR does not impose a separate live-instruction floor for continuing education, so licensees can satisfy their entire requirement through online providers on the approved list.

Late renewal, reinstatement, and lapsed licenses

Rhode Island does not offer a grace period for expired real estate licenses. The DBR renewal application^[4] governs the reinstatement process.

The renewal application requires disclosure of any criminal convictions and license actions that occurred since the last renewal, regardless of whether the renewal is on time or late.

Renewal notices are typically sent approximately 60 days before the deadline. Licensees can check their current license status through the DBR Licensee Lookup Tool on the DBR real estate licensing page^[5].

Additional training obligations for NAR members in Rhode Island

NAR members in Rhode Island have additional training obligations set by the National Association of REALTORS®^[10] that operate separately from the state DBR mandate.

For Rhode Island members, completing a RI REALTORS® Fair Housing course can satisfy both the state Fair Housing CE requirement and the NAR Fair Housing cycle simultaneously. This overlap means a single course can fulfill two separate obligations, reducing the total course load for members who plan ahead.

CE carry-over and course repetition rules

Excess CE hours beyond the required total do not carry over to the next renewal cycle in Rhode Island. However, excess core hours beyond the minimum core requirement do count toward the total hours needed, according to the RI REALTORS® renewal FAQs^[6].

Retaking the same course number does not earn additional CE credit. The RI Association of REALTORS® broker licensing page^[8] notes that "retaking the same course number does not count toward additional CEs." Licensees should verify that each course they take has a unique course number to avoid wasting time on non-credit coursework.

Next steps for your renewal

Check your license issuance date to determine your renewal deadline, then verify your CE progress in the DBR's eLicensing portal. If you need hours, consult the DBR approved school list^[9] and enroll in approved courses that include the required core and Fair Housing content. Submit your renewal application with all CE certificates, tax attestation, and fee payment before your deadline to avoid the late reinstatement penalty.

For questions about renewal or CE requirements, contact the DBR at DBR.REInquiry@dbr.ri.gov or (401) 462-9500. The RI Association of REALTORS® Professional Development team can be reached at professionaldevelopment@rirealtors.org or (401) 432-6903.