Illinois Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 12 Hours Every 2 Years
Requirements Overview
Illinois requires real estate brokers to complete 12 hours of continuing education each biennial renewal cycle. The 6-hour Core course covers license law, agency, brokerage agreements, disclosures, escrow, advertising, and fair housing. The remaining 6 elective hours must include a 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training course taken through an IDFPR-approved provider.
Managing brokers face a heavier requirement of 24 hours per cycle: the 12-hour Broker Management CE course plus the standard 6-hour Core and 6 hours of electives. Notably, the SHPT segment within the Broker Management course does not satisfy the separate SHPT renewal requirement — a standalone approved course is needed.
Brokers renew on even-numbered years with an April 30 deadline, while managing brokers renew on odd-numbered years. First-renewal brokers licensed between November 2023 and October 2025 must complete 45 hours of post-license education, which is a distinct program from standard CE.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum (License Law, Agency, Brokerage Agreements & Disclosures, Escrow, Advertising, Fair Housing) | 6 | Every renewal | Single core curriculum per Section 5-70(e) of the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Must be provided in classroom, live interactive webinar, or online distance education format. |
| Fair Housing | 2 | Every renewal | Minimum 2 credit hours within the 6-hour Core course. Must include discussion of recent HUD guidance and amendments to protected classes. |
| Sexual Harassment Prevention Training | 1 | Every renewal | May be counted towards elective hours if completed through an approved education provider. For post-license education (first renewal), the 1-hour SHPT is included in the 45-hour curriculum. |
| Broker Management CE Course | 12 | Every renewal | Required only for Managing Brokers. Covers law/rules updates, supervision of sponsored licensees, oversight of new brokers, business operations. The SHPT segment in this course does NOT satisfy the SHPT renewal requirement. |
First Renewal vs. Standard Renewal
Exemptions
- Attorney — Attorneys admitted to practice law pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court rule are exempt from CE requirements.Must still certify on the renewal application full compliance with CE requirements
- First Renewal Leasing Agent — Residential Leasing Agents first issued a license on or after May 1, 2024 are exempt from CE for their first renewal.Must still certify on the renewal application that they have completed the CE requirements
- First Renewal Managing Broker — Managing Brokers first issued a license on or after Feb 1, 2027 do not need to renew in 2027; licenses issued after this date expire April 30, 2029.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Illinois CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Illinois that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — No carry-over provision mentioned in official IDFPR CE fact sheets.
- Illinois uses the title 'Broker' instead of 'Agent' or 'Salesperson'. The standard real estate practitioner license is called 'Real Estate Broker'.
- Brokers renew on even-numbered years (deadline April 30). Managing Brokers renew on odd-numbered years (deadline April 30). Leasing Agents renew on even-numbered years (deadline July 31).
- Continuing Education earned for disciplinary purposes may not be used toward CE renewal requirements.
- A 4-hour Core course taken between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 satisfies the Core requirement for the 2026 broker renewal, but requires 8 hours of elective courses instead of 6.
- The Sexual Harassment Prevention Training segment within the 12-hour Broker Management CE course does NOT satisfy the SHPT renewal requirement. A separate approved SHPT course must be taken.
- Post-License Education (45 hours for first-renewal brokers) is a distinct requirement from standard CE and must be completed through approved post-license education providers.
Provider Requirements
CE must be completed through an IDFPR-approved Real Estate Education Provider. Lists available at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/dre/education/rececourselist.html
Tips for Illinois Real Estate Agents
- The Sexual Harassment Prevention Training in the Broker Management CE course does not count toward the SHPT renewal requirement — take a separate approved SHPT course.
- If you took the 4-hour Core between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, it satisfies the 2026 Core requirement but you will need 8 elective hours instead of 6.
- Illinois uses the title 'Broker' for what other states call an agent or salesperson — do not confuse it with a managing broker license.
- Attorneys admitted to practice under Illinois Supreme Court rules are exempt from CE but must still certify compliance on the renewal application.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Real Estate's official rules and continuing-education sources and recorded with the exact source excerpt. Last verified Mar 2026. Read how we compile and verify this data.