Vermont Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 16 Hours Every 2 Years
Requirements Overview
The Vermont Real Estate Commission sets different CE requirements by license type: salespersons need 16 hours per biennial cycle (deadline May 31), while brokers need 24 hours (deadline March 31). Both must complete a 4-hour Vermont Mandatory Course covering legislation and Commission-designated topics that change each cycle. Salespersons fill the remaining 12 hours with electives; brokers fill the remaining 20 hours.
During the online renewal process, all licensees must also review the Vermont Energy Goals presentation — a slide deck reviewed and confirmed within the OPR system. It carries no CE credit but is a mandatory step to complete renewal.
New licensees must complete 8 hours of post-licensure education within 90 days of license issuance, separate from CE. First-renewal salespersons not licensed for the full 2-year cycle have a reduced 12-hour requirement (8-hour post-licensure + 4-hour Mandatory Course). Per H.305 (2023), synchronous virtual CE qualifies as live in-person training.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont Mandatory Course | 4 | Every renewal | Commission-specified course addressing legislation and topics determined by the VT Real Estate Commission. Required for all licensees. Available live and on-demand. |
| Vermont Energy Goals Presentation | 0 | Every renewal | Required during the online renewal process but does NOT provide CE credit. Licensee reviews slides and confirms completion within the OPR renewal system. |
First Renewal vs. Standard Renewal
Exemptions
- First Renewal (Partial Cycle) — Salespersons not licensed for the full 2-year cycle are not required to complete the full 16 hours. Must complete 8-hour post-licensure + 4-hour Mandatory Course.
- New Broker (Recent Licensure) — Brokers who received their license after April 1 of the prior renewal year are not required to complete the full 24 hours of CE.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Vermont CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Vermont that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — No carryover provisions found in Vermont real estate CE rules.
- Vermont has different CE requirements for salespersons (16 hrs) and brokers (24 hrs).
- Brokers and salespersons have different renewal deadlines: brokers by March 31, salespersons by May 31.
- The Vermont Energy Goals presentation is required during renewal but provides no CE credit.
- New licensees must complete 8 hours of post-licensure education within 90 days of license issuance.
- Per H.305 (2023), synchronous virtual CE qualifies as live, in-person training.
- The 4-hour Mandatory Course content changes each renewal cycle (e.g., 2024-2026 outline).
Provider Requirements
Courses must be approved by the Vermont Real Estate Commission. The Commission maintains an approved education provider list and searchable course database.
Tips for Vermont Real Estate Agents
- Brokers have both a higher hour requirement (24 vs 16) and an earlier deadline (March 31 vs May 31) — plan accordingly to avoid a crunch.
- The Vermont Energy Goals presentation is required for renewal but provides no CE credit — complete it as part of your renewal process, not your CE planning.
- Synchronous virtual courses count as live training under H.305, giving you classroom-equivalent credit without traveling to in-person sessions.
- New licensees have just 90 days to complete 8 hours of post-licensure education — schedule these courses immediately after receiving your license.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Vermont Real Estate Commission'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.