Vermont real estate license renewal and CE requirements

Vermont real estate license renewal requires every licensee to complete continuing education (CE) and submit an online renewal application through the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) before the license expires. Salespersons must complete 16 hours of CE and renew by May 31 of even-numbered years; brokers must complete 24 hours and renew by March 31 of even-numbered years. The renewal fee is $220 for both license types, and every licensee must complete a 4-hour mandatory course designated by the Vermont Real Estate Commission each cycle.

Vermont real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines

Vermont real estate licenses are valid for two years and must be renewed before expiration. Under Rule 3.1(a) of the Vermont Administrative Rules^[1], licenses renew on a fixed biennial schedule. Salesperson licenses expire on May 31 of even-numbered years, and broker licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years, per the OPR fee and date schedule^[2] updated July 1, 2025.

Renewal applications open approximately six weeks before the expiration date through the OPR Online Services System, per the Vermont salesperson renewal instructions^[3]. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days, per the OPR FAQs^[4]. The OPR sends courtesy email reminders to the licensee's email of record once renewal opens, but failure to receive a reminder does not excuse the obligation to maintain continuous licensure.

The renewal fee is $220 for both salesperson and broker licenses, per the OPR fee schedule^[2] effective July 1, 2025. Real estate company main office and branch office licenses each carry a $400 renewal fee. The renewal fee is non-refundable and does not include the cost of CE courses, which vary by provider.

90-day initial licensing policy

Initial licenses issued 90 days or fewer before the profession's renewal date are automatically extended through the next full two-year period. Licenses issued 91 or more days before the renewal date must renew for the upcoming cycle. This policy, described in the OPR fee schedule^[2], prevents new licensees from paying a full renewal fee shortly after initial licensure.

Continuing education requirements for Vermont real estate licensees

CE for real estate agents in Vermont follows a biennial cycle: salespersons must complete 16 hours, and brokers must complete 24 hours. Under 26 V.S.A. § 2293^[5], 4 of those hours must address legislation and other topics designated by the Commission for each renewal period. The remaining hours are elective: 12 for salespersons and 20 for brokers.

CE credits for real estate renewal must come from courses approved by the Vermont Real Estate Commission. The administrative rules^[1] (Rule 5.2(b)) require that licensees complete CE during the two-year period immediately preceding renewal. Licensees may petition the Commission for individual approval of a course no later than 90 days before the renewal deadline.

NAR Code of Ethics and Fair Housing requirements follow a separate three-year cycle (next due December 31, 2027) and are NAR membership obligations, not Vermont license renewal requirements, per the Vermont Association of REALTORS®^[6].

The Vermont Mandatory Course for 2024-2026

The Commission-designated course for the 2024-2026 renewal cycle covers Vermont-specific law, practice, and regulatory updates across three parts. The OPR mandatory course outline^[7] specifies the content and hour allocation for each part.

The course content changes each renewal cycle, so licensees must take the version designated for the current period even if they completed a prior cycle's course.

Post-licensure education for new salespersons

New salespersons must complete 8 hours of post-licensure education within 90 days of receiving their initial license, in addition to the standard CE required for renewal. Under 26 V.S.A. § 2293(2)^[5], this instruction covers topics specified by the Commission related to the salesperson's practice after licensure.

The OPR post-licensure education requirements^[8] state that a licensee may not take multiple courses in the same topic for post-licensure credit. The OPR site lists approved post-licensure course providers, which include Vermont REALTORS® and other state-approved schools.

Post-licensure education does not apply to salespersons who endorse into Vermont from another jurisdiction, per the OPR FAQs^[4].

First renewal exemptions and special cases

Licensees who have held a license for under two years and are renewing for the first time do not need to complete the standard CE requirement for that first renewal. The OPR FAQs^[4] state this exemption for both salespersons and brokers.

First-time salesperson renewals must still upload proof of completing the required post-licensure education, even though no CE is required for that renewal. The OPR FAQs^[4] state this requirement explicitly.

New brokers renewing for the first time are not required to complete CE for that first renewal, per the Vermont broker renewal instructions^[9]. For the 2024-2026 cycle, this applied to brokers licensed April 1, 2024 or later, per the Vermont Association of REALTORS®^[6].

Endorsement licensees who transferred from another state do not need to complete CE for their first Vermont renewal, per the OPR FAQs^[4].

Online continuing education options in Vermont

Vermont licensees seeking the best online real estate continuing education options can choose from OPR-approved providers offering courses in both online and in-person formats. Vermont REALTORS® offers courses statewide through its online school and partnerships with approved education providers, and several independent providers offer self-paced and live virtual sessions for the mandatory course and elective topics.

Late renewal penalties and license reinstatement

Vermont imposes tiered late renewal penalties under 3 V.S.A. § 127(d), effective June 20, 2023. Renewing within 30 days of expiration costs a flat $100 penalty. Renewing more than 30 days after expiration costs an amount equal to the renewal fee plus $40 for every additional month or fraction of a month, with the total penalty capped at $1,500, per 3 V.S.A. § 127(d). This penalty is separate from the renewal fee itself.

This penalty structure applies to licenses expired for not more than one biennial period (two years). The administrative rules^[1] (Rule 3.2(a)) allow reinstatement of licenses expired for less than five years, provided the licensee pays the renewal fee and late penalty and submits proof of required CE or post-licensure education taken within the previous 24 months. After five years, the licensee must reapply under initial licensure requirements.

Inactive status and reactivation

A licensee may request inactive status before the license expires by paying a fee to transfer the license to inactive status, per Rule 3.1(a)^[1]. No continuing education is required to become inactive. If a licensee does not request inactive status before expiration, the license is designated as expired.

To reactivate an inactive license during the same renewal period, the licensee must pay the reinstatement fee, renewal fee, and provide proof of CE or post-licensure education completion, per Rule 3.2(b)^[1]. The CE proof window mirrors the reinstatement requirement described in the late renewal section.

CE audits and recordkeeping

The Vermont Real Estate Commission conducts CE audits of randomly selected licensees, per Rule 5.3^[1]. Late-renewing licensees and those previously found deficient may also be audited. Licensees must keep their own CE course completion certificates, as the Vermont Association of REALTORS®^[6] states that individual licensees are responsible for tracking their CE records.

Evidence of completed CE or post-licensure education must be provided with the license renewal application. Licensees who cannot produce proof during an audit may face disciplinary action.

The Vermont Energy Goals requirement

All Vermont real estate licensees must view a Vermont Energy Goals slideshow during the online renewal process on the OPR site. The Vermont Association of REALTORS®^[6] states that this slideshow is not a CE course, does not provide CE credit, and requires no separate registration or proof upload. Viewing it within the renewal system satisfies the requirement.

Some education providers offer a separate, optional Vermont Energy Goals CE course for licensees who want in-depth coverage, but this optional course is distinct from the required slideshow and carries separate CE credit.

Next steps for Vermont license renewal

Confirm your license expiration date on the OPR Find a Professional^[10] page, then check whether you need the mandatory course for the current cycle. Complete your CE hours through OPR-approved providers, keep your completion certificates, and submit your renewal application through the OPR Online Services System before your deadline. If your license has already expired, calculate your late penalty and reinstate as soon as possible to avoid losing your license entirely after five years.