Complete your Illinois Real Estate continuing education for Just $149 — 100% online at your own pace

Brokers renewing an established license must complete 12 hours of CE per renewal cycle, consisting of a 6-hour core course (including at least 2 hours of fair housing training) and 6 hours of electives (including 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training). New brokers who received their initial license within the renewal period must complete 45 hours of post-license education (three 15-hour courses, each with a 50-question final exam) instead of standard CE for their first renewal. No more than 12 hours of CE may be completed in one calendar day.

Illinois broker licenses expire on April 30 of even-numbered years. The renewal window opens 90 days before the expiration date. To renew, brokers must complete 12 hours of continuing education (6 hours core including at least 2 hours of fair housing training, and 6 hours elective including 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training) and pay a $200 renewal fee through IDFPR's Online Services Portal. New brokers completing their first renewal must instead complete 45 hours of post-license education, which satisfies the CE requirement for the initial license term. CE may not be taken more than 12 hours in a single calendar day.

Do real estate licenses expire in Illinois? You must make an application for the reinstatement of your broker license. You'll need to make sure you have a designated managing broker, update your continuing education, and pay any required fees. The fees will be paid to the IDFPR using a check or money order. The fee is $200.

How to keep real estate license active in Illinois? An active license allows you to transact real estate for others and earn a commission for your efforts. An inactive license says that you have met the state's licensing requirements, but you are not currently authorized to earn a commission for assisting with real estate transactions. To reactivate an inactive broker license, you will need to go to the online services portal. Follow the directions and make sure you indicate a managing broker. Depending on how long you have been on inactive status, you may need to submit a paper application for the reinstatement of your broker license. Log in to the online services portal to place your license on inactive status. If you leave your license on inactive status for five years or longer, you may need to submit a restoring application and additional documentation.

The broker license renewal fee paid to IDFPR is $200 per renewal cycle, with a $75 late fee if the license has been expired for no more than 2 years. Brokers must also complete 12 hours of continuing education through an IDFPR-approved provider: 6 hours of core CE (including at least 2 hours of fair housing training) and 6 hours of elective CE (including 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training), with course costs varying by provider. New brokers completing their first renewal must instead complete 45 hours of post-license education (three 15-hour courses), which satisfies the CE requirement for the initial license term.

Illinois broker licenses expire on April 30 of even-numbered years, and managing broker licenses expire on April 30 of odd-numbered years. The renewal window opens 90 days before the expiration date for most licenses, though an initial broker license has a 180-day renewal period. A licensee who receives an initial license during the first renewal period does not pay the initial renewal fee and receives a license expiring on the second renewal deadline.

NAR requires its members to complete ethics training every three years as a condition of membership. This requirement is separate from the state-mandated continuing education that Illinois brokers and managing brokers must complete for license renewal. NAR also offers voluntary continuing education programs and professional designations through its institutes, societies, and councils.

You can complete your courses at your own pace with 6 months of access included after enrollment. If you need additional time you can obtain an extension for a small additional fee.