Becoming licensed is only the beginning of your professional education. Illinois real estate brokers may need to complete post-license education during their first renewal period and continuing education during later renewal cycles.
This guide explains how Illinois broker continuing education works, how requirements can differ based on your original license date, what types of courses may be required, how to track completed education, and what to review before renewing your license.
Continuing education, commonly called CE, is education completed by licensed real estate professionals to maintain their knowledge and satisfy applicable license renewal requirements.
For Illinois brokers, continuing education can help reinforce knowledge involving:
The exact education requirement that applies to you can depend on when your broker license was first issued and which renewal cycle you are entering.
Yes. Illinois brokers have education requirements associated with maintaining and renewing their licenses.
However, not every broker completes the same type of education during the same renewal cycle.
A newly licensed broker may be subject to post-license education, while an experienced broker entering a later renewal cycle generally completes continuing education.
This distinction is important because post-license education and regular continuing education are not interchangeable simply because both occur after initial licensing.
These two terms refer to different stages of a broker's professional education.
Post-license education generally applies during a new broker's first renewal period.
Illinois requires qualifying new brokers to complete 45 hours of post-license education during the applicable first renewal period.
After the first renewal stage, brokers generally move into the regular continuing education cycle.
For the 2026 broker renewal, qualifying brokers subject to regular CE generally needed 12 hours of continuing education.
Understanding which category applies to you is the first step in planning your education correctly.
Illinois broker education requirements can depend on the date your license was first issued.
Do not assume that another broker has the same requirement simply because you both hold the same license type.
For the 2026 renewal cycle, IDFPR separated brokers into different groups based on their original license issuance date.
That date helps determine whether the broker needs:
You can use the Illinois license lookup system to confirm your original date of licensure and current license status.
For the 2026 renewal cycle, brokers first issued a license before November 1, 2023 were generally required to complete 12 hours of continuing education.
The standard requirement consisted of:
The required education also included applicable sexual harassment prevention training.
Brokers should make sure their completed courses satisfy the requirements for the specific renewal period rather than simply accumulating education hours without checking the course category.
The Core continuing education course covers subjects that Illinois considers important for licensed real estate professionals.
The current Core curriculum may address areas involving:
Illinois updated the broker Core CE curriculum to a 6-hour Core course.
For applicable renewal cycles, brokers should make sure the course they complete is the Core curriculum recognized for that renewal period.
The 2026 renewal cycle included a transition provision for brokers who completed the previous 4-hour Core course between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
For qualifying brokers, that 4-hour Core course satisfied the Core requirement for the 2026 renewal.
Those brokers then needed 8 hours of elective continuing education rather than completing the newer 6-hour Core course again.
This is a good example of why brokers should check the rules for their specific renewal cycle instead of relying on a general statement that everyone needs the same course combination.
Illinois professional license holders are subject to sexual harassment prevention training requirements during applicable renewal cycles.
For brokers completing regular CE, the required training can count toward elective CE hours when completed through an approved education provider.
For brokers completing the 45-hour post-license curriculum, the required sexual harassment prevention training is included within that curriculum.
Brokers should verify that their education record reflects the applicable requirement before renewing.
For the 2026 renewal, brokers first issued a license between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2025 were generally subject to the new-broker education requirement rather than the regular 12-hour CE requirement.
Those brokers were required to complete:
45 hours of post-license education
The post-license curriculum includes the applicable sexual harassment prevention training requirement.
If this was your first renewal period, make sure you did not mistakenly complete only regular CE when post-license education applied to your license.
A broker license first issued on or after November 1, 2025 falls into the later renewal cycle.
For this group, IDFPR states that the license has an expiration date of:
April 30, 2028
These brokers must complete the applicable 45 hours of post-license education by April 30, 2028.
This means a newly licensed broker should check the expiration date printed or recorded for the license rather than assuming an earlier broker renewal deadline automatically applies.
For brokers who have moved beyond the initial post-license stage, Illinois generally uses a continuing education requirement for each applicable renewal cycle.
For the 2026 broker renewal, qualifying brokers subject to regular CE generally needed:
12 total hours
This consisted of the required Core education and elective education.
The exact course mix can change when regulations or curricula change, so brokers should review the current CE fact sheet for the renewal cycle that applies to them.
Not all CE hours serve the same purpose.
Core education covers mandatory subjects established for Illinois real estate licensees.
Elective education gives brokers more flexibility to study approved topics relevant to their professional practice.
Elective subjects may vary by approved education provider and course availability.
When planning your CE, make sure you understand how many hours must come from Core education and how many may be satisfied with electives.
Fair housing is an important part of Illinois real estate education.
Current Illinois rules require broker and managing broker Core continuing education to include fair housing training as part of the applicable Core curriculum.
Fair housing knowledge is important because brokers work with consumers in housing-related transactions and must understand their professional responsibilities.
Do not treat fair housing training as a minor topic to memorize only for renewal purposes.
It is part of the legal and professional framework surrounding real estate practice.
Continuing education and post-license education used to satisfy Illinois real estate requirements should be completed through an IDFPR-approved real estate education provider when required by the applicable rules.
Before enrolling in a course, confirm:
Do not assume that a course qualifies simply because its title includes "real estate continuing education."
Approved education providers may offer continuing education through qualifying delivery methods, including online options where permitted.
Online education can be useful for brokers who need flexibility around:
However, the delivery method does not replace the approval requirement.
Make sure both the provider and course are appropriate for Illinois CE credit before enrolling.
Do not choose courses only because they are convenient or inexpensive.
First confirm that the course will satisfy the education category you actually need.
Consider:
Does the course qualify for Illinois real estate continuing education?
Is it Core, elective, post-license, or another course type?
How many approved hours will you receive?
Does the delivery method fit your schedule and learning preferences?
Will the course help improve knowledge relevant to your professional practice?
How and when will your completed education be reported?
A course can be interesting without necessarily satisfying the requirement you need for renewal.
Illinois provides a Continuing Education Lookup resource that brokers can use to review education reported for the applicable renewal period.
Checking your education record before the renewal deadline can help you identify problems early.
Review:
If you believe a completed course is missing, contact the appropriate education provider or follow the applicable IDFPR guidance rather than waiting until renewal day.
Even if completed education appears in an online lookup system, keep your own records.
Useful records may include:
IDFPR may require evidence demonstrating compliance with continuing education requirements.
Your own records provide documentation if a reporting or verification question arises.
Leaving education until the last few days can create unnecessary problems.
Potential issues include:
A better approach is to check your renewal requirements early in the cycle.
Then create a schedule for completing the required education well before the license renewal deadline.
Completing CE and renewing your license are related but separate responsibilities.
Education may need to be completed before you submit or certify compliance on your renewal application.
For the 2026 Illinois broker renewal, licensees were required to satisfy the applicable education requirement before renewing.
Each renewal applicant must certify compliance with the continuing education requirement on the renewal application.
Completing the education does not, by itself, automatically renew your license.
You still need to complete the applicable license renewal process.
During renewal, Illinois brokers may be required to certify that they have satisfied the education requirements that apply to them.
Certification means you are confirming your compliance as part of the renewal application.
This makes accurate recordkeeping important.
Before certifying, verify:
Do not certify completion if you have not actually satisfied the applicable requirements.
For the 2026 broker renewal, attorneys admitted to practice law under Illinois Supreme Court rules were identified as exempt from real estate CE requirements.
However, the renewal process still requires the appropriate certification on the renewal application.
Licensees who believe an exemption applies to them should review the current IDFPR instructions for the renewal period rather than assuming an exemption based on occupation alone.
Failing to complete applicable education before renewal can create licensing and compliance problems.
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to:
The specific process depends on the status of the license and how long it has been expired or inactive.
The simplest approach is to track your CE requirements early and complete them before the applicable deadline.
If a broker does not complete renewal within the applicable renewal period, a different process may be required to return the license to active status.
Depending on the circumstances, this can involve reinstatement or restoration requirements.
Education requirements may also apply before reinstating or restoring the license.
If your license has already expired, do not assume that completing an ordinary online renewal is still available.
Review the current IDFPR instructions for your license status.
CE is required for licensing purposes, but useful education can also support professional development.
A broker may use approved education to strengthen knowledge involving:
The strongest approach is to choose courses that satisfy your licensing requirements while also improving knowledge you can use in professional practice.
Use this checklist before your next broker renewal:
First-renewal brokers can have different education requirements from experienced brokers.
Confirm which Core curriculum applies to your renewal cycle.
Verify the provider and course before paying or completing the education.
Twelve hours of random education may not satisfy a requirement that specifically calls for Core and elective hours.
Make sure applicable mandated training is included in your education plan.
Give yourself enough time to resolve missing credits or reporting problems.
Maintain your own evidence of compliance.
The easiest way to manage continuing education is to make it part of your regular professional schedule.
At the beginning of your renewal period:
This approach reduces the risk of discovering an education problem immediately before your license expires.
Real estate education should not stop after the licensing examination.
As your career develops, continuing education helps you stay engaged with important concepts, changing requirements, and professional responsibilities.
Illinois Broker Academy provides education and learning resources for people entering and progressing through the Illinois real estate profession.
Whether you are preparing for initial licensing or planning future professional education, understanding the education requirements that apply to your license can help you stay organized.
If you are a newly licensed broker:
Illinois Broker Post-License Education
If you need to renew your broker license:
Illinois Broker License Renewal
If you are still preparing for initial licensure:
If you want to review your licensing journey:
Become an Illinois Real Estate Broker
If you are ready for structured education:
For the 2026 renewal cycle, qualifying brokers subject to regular continuing education generally needed 12 total hours. The requirement consisted of Core and elective education. Brokers should check the requirements for their specific renewal cycle because the required course mix can change.
New brokers generally complete the applicable 45 hours of post-license education during their first renewal period rather than the regular CE requirement that applies during later renewal cycles.
For the 2026 renewal cycle, the standard Core requirement was a 6-hour Core CE course for qualifying brokers. A transition rule applied to certain brokers who had already completed the previous 4-hour Core course during the specified period.
For the standard 2026 broker renewal requirement, brokers subject to regular CE generally completed 6 elective hours in addition to the 6-hour Core course. A different elective total applied to qualifying brokers covered by the transition rule for the earlier 4-hour Core course.
Illinois professional license holders are subject to applicable sexual harassment prevention training requirements. For qualifying real estate CE, the training may count toward elective hours when completed through an approved education provider. The post-license curriculum also incorporates the applicable requirement.
Yes. The current Illinois Core CE framework includes fair housing training as part of the required Core curriculum.
Education used to satisfy Illinois CE requirements should be completed through an appropriate IDFPR-approved real estate education provider and approved course.
Approved providers may offer qualifying education through permitted online or other delivery formats. Verify the provider, course approval, credit hours, and course category before enrolling.
IDFPR provides a Continuing Education Lookup that brokers can use to review reported CE for the applicable renewal period. Licensees should also retain their own course completion records.
Yes. IDFPR may require evidence of continuing education compliance, so brokers should retain completion certificates and other education records even when credits appear in the online CE Lookup.
Failure to satisfy applicable education requirements can create renewal or licensing issues. Depending on the license status and timing, additional education, reinstatement, restoration, or other steps may be required.
No. Completing CE satisfies an education requirement, but the broker must still complete the applicable license renewal process and certify compliance as required.
For licenses first issued on or after November 1, 2025, IDFPR's current guidance states that the license expires April 30, 2028 and the applicable 45 hours of post-license education must be completed by that date.
Brokers can review current IDFPR continuing education information and approved education providers. Those looking for structured Illinois real estate education can also explore Illinois Broker Academy for available educational resources.
zdvdv