The process of renewing a real estate license in California is governed by the Department of Real Estate (DRE). Licensees must proactively manage this process to ensure their authority to conduct transactions remains uninterrupted. Renewal requires careful attention to deadlines and educational mandates, ensuring practitioners maintain a current understanding of real estate law and ethical standards.
Determining Your Renewal Status and Deadline
A California real estate license operates on a four-year cycle, expiring exactly four years from its original issue date. Licensees can verify the precise expiration date using the DRE’s public license lookup tool. The renewal process can begin up to 90 days before this expiration date, providing ample time to complete all necessary steps.
Renewal requirements differ between the initial renewal and all subsequent renewals. The first renewal requires a unique set of continuing education topics that build upon pre-licensing education. After the first renewal, the licensee follows a standard set of requirements for all future four-year cycles. To practice, a license must be renewed to maintain active status; an unrenewed license is considered inactive and prohibits all licensed real estate activity.
Mandatory Continuing Education Requirements
All California real estate licensees, whether salesperson or broker, must complete 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education (CE) for each four-year renewal cycle. These hours must be completed before the license expiration date and obtained from a DRE-approved provider. The courses are divided into mandatory subjects and elective hours, with a minimum of 18 hours required in the Consumer Protection category.
The initial renewal mandates that required topics be taken as separate courses. Salespersons must complete specific three-hour courses in Agency, Ethics, Trust Fund Handling, and Risk Management. They must also complete a three-hour Fair Housing course, which includes an interactive participatory component, and a two-hour course on Implicit Bias Training. Brokers completing their first renewal must take all the salesperson courses plus an additional three-hour course in Management and Supervision.
For the second and all subsequent renewals, the structure for mandatory subjects is more flexible. Licensees can satisfy the primary requirements by completing a single nine-hour CE survey course. This comprehensive course covers all seven mandatory subjects. Alternatively, a licensee may choose to take individual courses for all seven subjects.
Mandatory Subjects for Subsequent Renewals
- Agency
- Ethics
- Trust Fund Handling
- Risk Management
- Management and Supervision
- Fair Housing
- Implicit Bias Training
The remaining hours needed to reach the 45-hour total are fulfilled through Consumer Protection and Consumer Service courses. The DRE maintains standards for course delivery, including limits on the number of hours credited within a 24-hour period for self-study programs. Licensees are not required to submit CE certificates with the application, but they must retain the documentation for at least four years for audit purposes.
The Official Renewal Application Process
The DRE encourages licensees to submit their renewal application through the secure, online eLicensing system for expedited processing. This digital platform allows licensees to manage their application, input course completion details, and pay required fees. The system requires the licensee to enter the course number and completion date for all 45 hours of continuing education.
The eLicensing portal is accessible up to 90 days before the license expires. Using the online method allows for immediate verification of CE completion and updates the license status in the DRE’s public records faster than the paper process. Confirmation of a successful online renewal is generally instantaneous, though the official updated license document may take time to be issued.
Those using a paper application must complete and submit specific DRE forms to the department’s physical office. Salespersons submit Form RE 209, and brokers use Form RE 208. Both must include Form RE 251, the Continuing Education Course Verification form, detailing the 45 hours of completed CE. Paper applications are subject to longer processing times, which may result in a temporary lapse in active license status if submitted close to the expiration date.
Understanding Renewal Fees and Payment Schedules
Submitting the renewal application requires paying a fee to the DRE based on the license type. The standard, on-time renewal fee for a salesperson is $350, and for a broker, it is $450. These fees must accompany the application, regardless of whether the renewal is submitted through the eLicensing system or by mail.
Failure to renew the license by the expiration date triggers a late renewal penalty assessed on top of the standard cost. A salesperson renewing late must pay $525, which includes a $175 penalty. The late renewal fee for a broker is $675, incorporating a $225 penalty. The eLicensing system accepts credit card payments, while paper submissions must be paid by check or money order payable to the DRE.
What Happens If Your License Expires
Missing the four-year renewal deadline results in the license immediately expiring, carrying legal and professional consequences. An expired license means the licensee is no longer authorized to perform any activities requiring a real estate license, such as listing property or representing clients. Conducting licensed activity with an expired license is a violation that can lead to DRE disciplinary action.
California law provides a two-year grace period following the expiration date during which the license can still be renewed late. To reinstate the license within this 24-month window, the licensee must complete all 45 hours of CE and submit the application with the higher late renewal fee. The license remains expired and inactive during the entire grace period, and the licensee cannot resume work until the DRE processes the renewal and the status is officially active.
Failing to renew within the two-year grace period results in the license being permanently terminated. The former licensee loses the right to renew and must start the entire process over as a new applicant. This requires retaking the state real estate examination and fulfilling all current pre-licensing education requirements before reapplying for an original license.
Maintaining Compliance and Avoiding Future Pitfalls
Long-term license compliance is achieved through proactive record-keeping and diligent administrative adherence. Licensees should maintain meticulous records of all CE course completion certificates, even if not submitted with the online application. Organizing these documents ensures that necessary information, such as course numbers and dates, is readily available for input into the eLicensing system or for a potential DRE audit.
Setting calendar reminders well in advance of the four-year deadline minimizes the risk of late fees or a lapse in practice authority. Licensees should promptly update any changes to personal information, such as address or name, directly with the DRE. Maintaining current contact information guarantees the timely receipt of official renewal notices. Periodically checking the license status and expiration date using DRE’s online resources provides verification and control over the renewal timeline.