Illinois Real Estate CE Courses (2026)
To renew your Real Estate license in Illinois you need to satisfy the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate's continuing education (CE) requirement — about 12 hours per 2-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.
What Illinois requires for Real Estate renewal
| CE hours required | 12 hours per cycle |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | 24 months |
| CE tracking system | IDFPR CE Lookup (online-dfpr.micropact.com); no third-party tracker like CE Broker |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate |
For a non-first renewal of a Broker license, 12 hours of CE are required per 2-year cycle: a 6-hour Core course (which now must include 2 hours of Fair Housing) plus 6 hours of electives that must include 1 hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (a 4-hour Core taken between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 still satisfies Core but then requires 8 elective hours). First-renewal brokers do NOT take the 12-hour CE; instead they must complete 45 hours of Post-License Education (three 15-hour courses, including the required 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training) before renewing. Attorneys admitted to the Illinois bar are exempt from CE but must still certify compliance. CE/Post-License must be completed through IDFPR-approved Real Estate Education Providers.
Full Real Estate renewal guide for Illinois (deadlines, fees & CE) →
Illinois Real Estate CE course providers
- The CE Shop
State-approved real estate CE packages built around each state's required topics.
- Kaplan Real Estate Education
CE courses, exam prep, and required law/ethics updates across most states.
- McKissock Learning
Large real estate CE library with state-specific renewal packages.
- Colibri Real Estate
Online CE and post-licensing education accepted in many states.
Illinois Real Estate CE courses: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do I need to renew my Real Estate license in Illinois?
Illinois requires about 12 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. For a non-first renewal of a Broker license, 12 hours of CE are required per 2-year cycle: a 6-hour Core course (which now must include 2 hours of Fair Housing) plus 6 hours of electives that must include 1 hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (a 4-hour Core taken between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 still satisfies Core but then requires 8 elective hours). First-renewal brokers do NOT take the 12-hour CE; instead they must complete 45 hours of Post-License Education (three 15-hour courses, including the required 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training) before renewing. Attorneys admitted to the Illinois bar are exempt from CE but must still certify compliance. CE/Post-License must be completed through IDFPR-approved Real Estate Education Providers.
Do online Real Estate CE courses count in Illinois?
Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate and the completion is reported through IDFPR CE Lookup (online-dfpr.micropact.com); no third-party tracker like CE Broker. Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.
Where do I report my Illinois Real Estate CE?
Illinois uses IDFPR CE Lookup (online-dfpr.micropact.com); no third-party tracker like CE Broker to track Real Estate continuing education. Make sure your completions post there before you renew.
Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate. Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.