Navigating Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements
Real estate continuing education requirements vary widely by state. Everything from the number of CE credits to required courses to renewal cycle can differ from one state to another.
These requirements differ because they were established independently of one another by a state’s real estate commission. Commissions evaluate what their state’s real estate industry needs to thrive and then creates CE requirements aimed at keeping the industry healthy.
Different Types of Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements: What to Look For
When looking up your real estate CE requirements, there are a few things to keep an eye out for.
CE Hours
Just how many real estate continuing education courses are required varies by state. Texas, for example, requires 18 hours, while California requires 45 hours. Rhode Island requires 24 hours. West Virginia? 7 hours. All this to illustrate how widely these requirements vary by state.
Subject Area Requirements
In most states, the total hours must be fulfilled by taking a combination of required and elective course topics. For example, West Virigina requires its principal and executive brokers to complete a 3-hour broker course as part of its 7-hour requirement. The remaining 4 hours can be filled with any other approved courses. California separates its required 45 hours across 9 distinct categories, such as ethics, implicit bias training, and risk management.
Renewal Cycles
How often CE is required not only varies by state, but can even vary by category within a state. For example, Colorado requires 24 hours total that must be completed every three years. However, a big part of this requirement is the 4-hour Annual Commission Update due each year. This amounts to 12 hours across three years, with the remaining 12 hours free to complete on any topic within the three-year window.
Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements by State
To help navigate all these requirements, we recommend reviewing your state's requirement each year your license is up for renewal.
To make it easier, we have compiled a complete list of every state and US territory’s real estate CE requirements, and we update them each time we receive notifications of changes from the state commissions.
To view your requirements, click the state where you earned you license.
Real Estate CE: License Reciprocity & Portability
But wait there’s more! Real estate CE can transfer to other states, opening even more opportunities.
Certain states have adopted reciprocity and/or portability to help real estate professionals work in multiple states while reducing licensing requirements. From market expansion to a diversified portfolio, there are countless reasons why someone would earn licenses from more than one state. The variety of seasonal work offers is another popular reason some professionals take this route.
What is Real Estate Portability?
Real estate portability allows license holders to do business in another state without earning an additional license. It is ideal for jumping on timely business opportunities or conducting occasional business without the need for additional CE.
Learn more from our blog, What is Real Estate License Portability?
What is Real Estate Reciprocity?
Real estate reciprocity is an agreement between states that reduces requirements for licensed real estate agents to earn an additional state license. This is ideal for agents who live close to a state border since they can easily cross state lines.
Learn more from our blog, What is Real Estate License Reciprocity?
Turning CE into a Competitive Edge
Portability and Reciprocity are not the only way to earn a competitive advantage from real estate CE. Another often overlooked best practice is treating real estate CE courses as a professional development tool instead of just a requirement to fulfill.
The key to turning CE into a competitive advantage is making the most of the wide variety of real estate CE courses available from a provider like WebCE. Not only do CE courses offer the latest updates to regulations and best practices, but they also cater to different specialties and market trends. Broadening knowledge gives professionals confidence and clients value.
For example, our course Negotiating for a Win/Win explores the keys to successful negotiation for different personality types. Working with Senior Clients in Real Estate offers insights into the senior demographic’s needs and expectations. Our ethics course Adhering to a Higher Standard: The Code of Ethics is designed to meet the Code of Ethics training all National Association of REALTORS® must complete every three years.
Whichever direction you pursue, real estate CE classes can do more than meet requirements
Why Take Real Estate CE Classes with WebCE?
Sure, we might know a thing or three about real estate, but why take real estate CE courses from WebCE?
Wide Variety of Topics
Our diverse catalog covers a wide array of topics to help you meet every requirement. Whether it is mastering marketing strategies with Social Media with a K.I.S.S. or strengthening cybersecurity with Cybersecurity Best Practices for Real Estate Professionals, WebCE’s diverse catalog offers the latest insights into a range of real estate topics to keep professionals updated and competitive.
One-Stop Shop
Another competitive advantage many professionals pursue is earning another license in a different industry that overlaps into real estate, such as insurance or securities. WebCE’s insurance exam prep and securities exam prep offer convenient, self-paced entries into these lucrative industries.
In fact, several industries offer licenses or certifications that can offer a leg up on the competition. From accounting to financial planning and more, WebCE offers continuing education in several industries to help you maintain your credentials wherever your career takes you.
Award-Winning Support
Until your CE becomes routine, these requirements can seem overwhelming. Not to mention the need to stay updated on any changes to requirements a state’s real estate commission may make.
Whenever you need help navigating your requirements, our award-winning Support Services team can help at 877-488-9308.
We can help make sure you satisfy your requirements, recommend courses, and explain the renewal process after you complete your CE.
Once you are ready, visit WebCE’s Real Estate Continuing Education Course Catalog to get started on your CE journey!