California Real Estate Education Requirements
Continuing Education

California mandates that students may not complete more than 8 hours of study time a day, and 15 hours of final exams in a 24 hour period. Courses will be tracked with a seat time, which must be met in order to complete the course.

For second and subsequent renewals, all real estate brokers and salespersons must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:

• Either 12 hours of continuing education courses in the following subjects: (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing) OR one six-hour (survey) course that covers the four mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund Handling, and Fair Housing);
• One three-hour course in Risk Management; and
• At least 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and  The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service (ways licensees can work better or make more money) or consumer protection courses.

Brokers Renewing for the First Time

Real estate brokers renewing an original license for the first time must complete 45 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing education consisting of:

• • Five separate three-hour courses in each of the following subjects: Ethics, Agency, Fair Housing, Trust Fund Handling, and Risk Management;
  • A minimum of 18 clock hours of consumer protection courses; and
  • The remaining clock hours required to complete the 45 hours of continuing education may be related to either consumer service or consumer protection courses.

Salespersons Renewing for the First Time

15 clock hours of DRE-approved continuing edcuation which must include each of the following:

• A three hour course in Ethics, a three hour course in Agency, a three hour course in Fair Housing, a three hour course in Trust Fund Handling, and a three hour course in Risk Management.

Licenses are issued for a four-year period and should be renewed prior to the expiration date listed on the license. As a reminder, the DRE mails a renewal form to the licensee's mailing address of record approximately 90 days prior to the license expiration date. The form is sent as a courtesy only and non-receipt of the form does not relieve the licensee from the responsibility of renewing the license.

You should consult the official state California Real Estate Commission website for full details of California real estate continuing education requirements.