What Courses Count Toward CE in California?

The single biggest mistake I see agents make during renewal isn’t failing a test—it’s finishing 45 hours of education only to realize none of it counts.

Just because a class is about real estate doesn’t mean the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) accepts it for your license renewal. Your office sales training? Probably doesn’t count. That motivating weekend seminar? Likely doesn’t count.

If you rely on unapproved courses, you risk a lapse in your license status where you cannot legally conduct business.

Here is the no-nonsense guide to exactly what counts, what doesn’t, and how to verify your courses before you spend a dime.

The Fast Answer: What You Need to Know

• Only DRE-Approved Counts: If the provider doesn’t have a DRE Sponsor Number and the course doesn’t have a DRE Course Number, it does not exist in the eyes of the state.
• The Math Matters: You must complete your Mandatory Subjects first, then a minimum of 18 hours of Consumer Protection. Only the remaining hours can be Consumer Service or Consumer Protection.
• Interactive Rule: Your Fair Housing course must include an interactive participatory component where you role-play as both a consumer and a professional. A PDF-only read-through is not enough.
• Implicit Bias is Mandatory: For licenses expiring on or after Jan 1, 2023, you must complete an Implicit Bias training course.
• Verify First: Always check the course number in the DRE database before paying.
• Start Here: If you are unsure about the big picture, bookmark our California Real Estate License Renewal Guide for the complete roadmap.

What Does “DRE-Approved” Actually Mean?

For a course to count toward your Continuing Education (CE), it must meet two criteria:

1. It is offered by a DRE-approved Sponsor (a school or provider).
2. The specific course has been reviewed and assigned a DRE Course Number.

The DRE measures education in “clock hours.” When we say you need 45 hours, we mean 45 credit hours approved by the state—not necessarily 45 hours of sitting in a chair if you are a fast reader, but the content must match that volume.

Crucial: You must receive an official Completion Certificate featuring an 8-digit certificate number. You should retain these certificates for four years after your renewal in case you are audited.

The 60-Second Decision Tree: What Counts for You?

What you need depends entirely on where you are in your career.

1. Are you a Salesperson renewing for the FIRST time?

• What counts: You have a strict list. You need 5 separate three-hour courses in Ethics, Agency, Trust Funds, Fair Housing (with interactive role-play), and Risk Management.
• Plus: You need a 2-hour Implicit Bias course and a minimum of 18 hours of Consumer Protection.
• Warning: You cannot take the Survey Course yet. You must take separate, dedicated courses.

2. Are you a Broker renewing for the FIRST time?

• What counts: Same as the salesperson list above, but you also need a course in Management & Supervision. For a deep dive on this, read Do Brokers Have Different CE Requirements in CA?

3. Is this your SECOND or SUBSEQUENT renewal (Broker or Salesperson)?

• What counts: You have more flexibility. You can take a single Survey Course (which covers the mandatory subjects: Ethics, Agency, Trust Funds, Fair Housing, Risk Management, Management & Supervision, and Implicit Bias).
• Plus: You need a minimum of 18 hours of Consumer Protection.
• Remaining Hours: The rest of your 45 hours can be filled with either Consumer Protection or Consumer Service.
• To check the exact math on totals, check out How Many CE Hours Are Required for CA License Renewal?

The Three Buckets: Mandatory, Consumer Protection, and Consumer Service

To build a valid 45-hour package, you need to prioritize the categories in this order:

1. Mandatory Subjects

These are the non-negotiables. The state requires you to stay updated on the laws that protect the public.

• The List: Ethics, Agency, Fair Housing, Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, Management & Supervision, and Implicit Bias.
• The “Survey” Shortcut: If you are on a subsequent renewal, a 9-hour Survey Course counts as covering all these topics.
• Note: Not sure if the new bias rules apply to you? Read Does California Require Implicit Bias Training for Renewal?

2. Consumer Protection (The "Primary" Elective)

This category is the gold standard for electives.

• Requirement: You generally need a minimum of 18 hours in this category.
• Definition: Courses that help you protect the client’s interest.
• What Counts (Common Examples):

• Real Estate Valuation/Appraisal
• Property Management logic
• Green Real Estate/Energy Efficiency
• Real Estate Finance and Truth-in-Lending
• Landlord/Tenant Relationships

3. Consumer Service (The "Leftover" Elective)

This is the most confusing category. These are courses that improve your skills but don't necessarily protect the public legally.

• The Rule: Consumer Service hours only count after you have satisfied your Mandatory subjects and your 18 hours of Consumer Protection. You can fill the remaining gap with these.
• What Counts (Common Examples):

• Real Estate Marketing
• Negotiation Skills
• Computer Applications/Tech for Real Estate
• General Sales Skills

My Advice: Stick to Mandatory + Consumer Protection. It’s the safest path to ensure you never accidentally short yourself on the required protection hours.

What Does NOT Count (Don’t Waste Your Money)

I have seen agents spend hundreds of dollars and weekends of time on things that count for zero hours toward renewal.

• Training from your Broker: Unless your brokerage is an official DRE-approved CE sponsor and issued you a course number and certificate, that Tuesday morning sales training does not count.
• Motivational Seminars: Tony Robbins is great, but the DRE doesn’t care. Personal development is not CE.
• Pre-License Courses: You cannot retake “Real Estate Principles” and have it count for CE. Pre-license and Continuing Ed are two different legal buckets.
• Out-of-State CE: Licensed in Nevada too? Your Nevada CE usually does not count for California unless that specific provider registered that specific course with the California DRE.
• Expired Courses: If you took a CE course 5 years ago, you cannot use it for this renewal. It must be completed within your current four-year license term.

How to Verify a Course Counts (Step-by-Step)

Don’t trust the marketing on a website. Trust the database.

1. Get the Course Number: Ask the school for the 8-digit DRE course number.
2. Go to the Source: Visit the DRE’s Approved Continuing Education Courses lookup (on the DRE website).
3. Search: Enter the course number or the provider name.
4. Check the Status: Ensure the status is “Active.”
5. Check the Category: Make sure the category (e.g., Consumer Protection) matches what you need to fill your gap.

Verification Checklist:

• Is the sponsor approved?
• Is the course status "Active"?
• Does the course category match my renewal requirements?
• Will I receive a certificate with an 8-digit number immediately upon completion?

Real-World Scenarios: Where Agents Get Stuck

The “Cheap Bundle” Trap Agent Mark found a $30 renewal package online. He finished it in a weekend. When he uploaded it to eLicensing, he was rejected. Why? The bundle was old. The Fair Housing course lacked the required interactive participatory component (role-playing as both consumer and professional), and it was missing the Implicit Bias module entirely.

• Lesson: Cheap often means outdated. Ensure the package is current for 2026 standards.

The “I Thought My Designation Counted” Trap Agent Sarah took a grueling 3-day course to get a luxury home designation. She assumed 24 hours of class time meant 24 hours of CE. It turned out the provider never registered the course with the California DRE. She got a nice pin for her lapel, but zero CE credits.

• Lesson: Never assume. Check the DRE database.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do webinars count for CE? Yes, BUT only if the webinar provider is DRE-approved and they have a method to verify your attendance (like monitoring your login time or requiring exit quizzes). Live DRE-approved webinars are a valid way to knock out hours.

Can I repeat the same course every renewal? Generally, the DRE allows you to repeat courses in subsequent renewal cycles, provided the course material is still current and approved.

What is the difference between Consumer Protection and Consumer Service? Consumer Protection courses teach you how to protect the client (laws, disclosure, financing). Consumer Service courses teach you how to do your job better (marketing, computer skills). You must have at least 18 hours of Protection; Service hours only count toward the remaining balance.

How do I know if my Fair Housing course is “Interactive”? The course description should explicitly state it includes an "Interactive Participatory Component." The DRE requires this to include role-play as both a consumer and a real estate professional. If you just read a PDF and take a final exam, it likely does not meet the requirement.

What happens if my license expires before I renew? If you submit your renewal application and fees on time (before midnight of your expiration date), you can generally continue operating under B&P Code 10156.2 while the DRE processes it. However, if you are late, you enter a two-year grace period where you can still renew, but you cannot perform any licensed activity until your license is officially renewed.

What if I finish my CE early? That is great. You can upload your courses to the DRE eLicensing system up to 90 days before your expiration date. Do not wait until the last night.

Don’t Risk Your License

Renewing your license is not the time to experiment with unverified courses. The DRE audits renewals, and mistakes can delay your ability to work.

Make sure every hour counts. Stick to approved sponsors, verify your certificates, and get it done early so you can get back to selling.

• Next Step: Ready to see the full roadmap? Go to our California Real Estate License Renewal Guide to get started.