How Many CE Hours Are Required for CA License Renewal?

It starts with a notification or a glance at your license. The expiration date is looming—maybe next month, maybe next week—and the panic sets in.

You know you need "Continuing Education," but the rules seem to change every time you check. Do you need the 9-hour survey or separate courses? Is implicit bias required this year? What happens if you take the wrong bundle?

If you are staring at a renewal deadline, stop guessing. Taking the wrong courses can result in a rejected application and a lapsed license—meaning you literally cannot practice real estate until your expired license is renewed.

Here is the no-fluff, compliance-grade breakdown of exactly how many hours you need and, more importantly, which hours count.

Fast Answer: How Many CE Hours Are Required?

The short answer: All California real estate licensees (salespersons and brokers) must complete 45 hours of DRE-approved Continuing Education to renew their license.

The critical nuance: You cannot just take "any" 45 hours. The DRE strictly regulates how those 45 hours are broken down based on three factors:

1. Your License Type (Salesperson vs. Broker)
2. Your Renewal Status (First-time renewal vs. Subsequent renewal)
3. Your Expiration Date (Whether your license expires on/after January 1, 2023, or you are renewing late after that date)

If you just buy the cheapest "45-hour bundle" without checking these factors, you risk taking courses that the DRE will not accept.

Bottom Line: Everyone needs 45 hours. But the composition of those hours changes depending on where you are in your career.

The 45-Hour Breakdown (Make It Simple)

To get your renewal approved, your 45 hours must be stacked correctly. The DRE divides CE into three specific buckets.

• Mandatory Subjects: These are the "core" legal topics (like Ethics and Agency). You cannot skip these.
• Consumer Protection: You must take a minimum of 18 hours in this category. These courses might cover technical skills like energy efficiency, land use, or valuation.
• Consumer Service: These are "elective" topics (like sales skills or marketing).

First Renewal vs. Subsequent Renewals (Where People Get Burned)

This is the #1 source of confusion. The DRE requires first-time renewers to take "separate" courses to ensure they truly learn the basics. Veterans get to choose to take either a "survey" course or each course individually.

Scenario A: First-Time Renewal (Salesperson)

If you are renewing your salesperson license for the very first time, you cannot take the 9-hour survey. You must complete 5 separate 3-hour courses for the mandatory topics.

Your 45-Hour Stack:

• Ethics (3 hours)
• Agency (3 hours)
• Fair Housing (3 hours, must include an interactive participatory component where you role-play as both a consumer and a real estate professional)
• Trust Fund Handling (3 hours)
• Risk Management (3 hours)
• Implicit Bias Training (2 hours)
• Consumer Protection (18 hours minimum)
• Remaining Hours (Consumer Protection or Consumer Service)

Scenario B: First-Time Renewal (Broker)

Brokers have a higher standard of duty. If you are renewing a broker license for the first time, you have an extra mandatory topic: Management & Supervision.

Your 45-Hour Stack:

• All 5 separate courses listed above
• PLUS: Management & Supervision (3 hours)
• Implicit Bias Training (2 hours)
• Consumer Protection (18 hours minimum)
• Remaining Hours (Consumer Protection or Consumer Service)

For a complete breakdown of every specific rule, bookmark our master California Real Estate License Renewal Guide.

Scenario C: Subsequent Renewals (All Licensees)

Once you have successfully renewed at least once, you graduate to "Subsequent Renewal" status. This applies to both salespersons and brokers.

Your 45-Hour Stack:

• Individual courses or Survey Course: You can choose to take some of coursework either as a bundle or choose to take the courses individually.
• Consumer Protection (18 hours minimum)
• Remaining Hours (Consumer Protection or Consumer Service)

Warning: If you are a first-timer and you accidentally take the "9-Hour Survey" because it was cheaper or faster, the DRE will reject your renewal. You must take the separate courses.

Do Brokers Have Different CE Requirements?

Yes, but primarily on that first renewal.

As mentioned above, brokers typically need to complete the Management & Supervision course as a standalone 3-hour requirement during their first renewal cycle. The DRE expects brokers to understand how to manage offices and supervise agents from day one.

On subsequent renewals, brokers and salespersons are in the same boat—both can take the survey course, which includes the Management & Supervision module.

For a deeper dive into broker-specific nuances, read Do Brokers Have Different CE Requirements in CA?.

What Counts Toward CE Hours (And What Doesn’t)

Not every real estate class you take counts toward your 45 hours.

1. It Must Be DRE-Approved If you took a weekend seminar on "Luxury Home Marketing" at a hotel, or watched a YouTube series on sales tactics, those likely do not count. Only courses from a DRE-approved sponsor (like ADHI Schools) are valid, and you’ll enter the 8-digit CE course number in eLicensing to prove it.

2. Interactive Fair Housing (The "Interactive" Rule) Since 2023, you cannot just read a PDF on Fair Housing. If your license expires on or after January 1, 2023 (or you are renewing late after that date), your 3-hour Fair Housing course must include an interactive participatory component where you role-play as both a consumer and a real estate professional.

• In-Person: This involves live role-play.
• Online: This usually involves scenario-based questions where you "act" as the buyer or agent in a digital simulation.

For a full list of valid course types, check out What Courses Count Toward CE in California?

Realistic Time Planning (Stop the Last-Minute Crunch)

I see this happen every month: an agent realizes their license expires in 48 hours and tries to "cram" all 45 hours in one weekend.

This is physically impossible.

Why? Because of the 15-Hour Rule. This isn’t just an ADHI policy—DRE regulations limit correspondence CE to 15 credit hours of final exams in any 24-hour period, which is why true last-minute cramming often fails. These testing periods commence after the maximum of 8 hours per day of study time.

• Day 1: Max 15 hours.
• Day 2: Max 15 hours.
• Day 3: Max 15 hours.

The Math: Including the study time, ADHI’s renewal package requires a minimum of just over 8 days to complete. This means if your license expires tomorrow and you haven’t started, you are going to expire.

My Advice: Start at least 30 days out. Do one course (3 hours) per evening. It’s stress-free, and you’ll actually retain the information rather than just clicking "Next" in a panic.

Common Mistakes That Delay Renewal

Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen thousands of renewals. Here are the most common reasons the DRE kicks them back:

1. Taking the "Subsequent" Package Too Early: First-time agents love the idea of a 9-hour survey. Don't do it. You need the separate courses.
2. Missing Implicit Bias: This is a newer requirement (effective 2023). If your bundle is old, check if it includes this. (Read more: Does California Require Implicit Bias Training for Renewal?)
3. Name Mismatch: If your CE certificate says "Bob Smith" but your license is under "Robert Smith," the eLicensing system might flag it. Ensure your profile matches your certificates.
4. Letting the license expire: You can renew during the two-year late renewal period, but you cannot perform licensed activity until the DRE renews you. To avoid any lapse, submit before your expiration date.
5. Assuming the "70/30 Exemption" Applies: Some agents think once they turn 70, they are exempt. You must be 70 AND have 30 years of continuous good standing. If you let your license lapse for a month 10 years ago, that clock might have reset.

To ensure you have the full checklist for this year, review California Real Estate License Renewal Requirements (2026).

Mini-Checklist: "Before You Hit Submit"

Before you log into eLicensing, ensure you have:

• 45 Hours Total on your certificates.
• Correct Mandatory Topics (Separate courses for 1st timers; Survey or individual courses for subsequent).
• Implicit Bias certificate (2 hours).
• Interactive Fair Housing certificate.
• At least 18 hours labeled "Consumer Protection."
• Course Numbers (8-digit) ready to type in.

FAQ: California CE Hour Requirements

Is it always 45 hours to renew a California real estate license? Yes. Whether you are a salesperson or a broker, and whether it is your first or tenth renewal, the total requirement is 45 hours. The only exception is for licensees who qualify for the "70/30 Exemption" (70 years old with 30 years of continuous good standing).

Do brokers need more CE hours than salespersons? No, brokers also need 45 hours. However, for their first renewal, brokers must include a specific 3-hour course on "Management & Supervision," whereas salespersons do not. On subsequent renewals, both licensees typically take the same 9-hour survey course.

What if I’m renewing late—do I need extra CE? Generally, no. You can renew late for up to two years after expiration, but you cannot practice while expired. If you don’t complete late renewal within that two-year window, your renewal rights are forfeited.

Does implicit bias training count toward the 45 hours? Yes. The 2-hour Implicit Bias training is part of the 45-hour total. It is a mandatory course, meaning you cannot skip it, but the time spent on it counts toward your total requirement.

Can I finish all 45 hours in one day? No. DRE regulations limit you to completing 15 credit hours of final exams per 24-hour period. This means the fastest you can theoretically complete the 45 hours is over 3 to 4 days after the study period has lapsed.