Real Estate License Renewal in Illinois (2026)

Real Estate license renewal in Illinois is handled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate, which requires Real Estate Agent (Salesperson)s to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Illinois Real Estate renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	Broker licenses (Illinois' entry-level salesperson-equivalent) expire on a biennial cycle, with renewal due by April 30 of each even-numbered year (most recently April 30, 2026). Licenses must be renewed before expiration to remain active.
CE hours required	12 hours
Renewal fee	$200.00
Online renewal	Yes
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

Go to the official Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate. automated research workflow (official illinois real estate commission), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for Real Estates in Illinois

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.

Need approved hours? Compare Illinois Real Estate CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your Real Estate license in Illinois

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate portal.
Complete the required 12 CE hours and confirm they appear in IDFPR CE Lookup (online-dfpr.micropact.com); no third-party tracker like CE Broker.
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Illinois does NOT have a "salesperson" license. The entry-level real estate license is the "Broker" (profession code 475); "Managing Broker" (471) is the supervisory/senior tier and "Residential Leasing Agent" (473) is separate. This research targets the standard active Broker license, which is the salesperson/agent equivalent. Renewal fee ($200) and late fee ($75) are set by 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.130. Note an older 2022 paper form listed a combined "$200 includes late penalty" figure under a prior fee structure; the current Administrative Code clearly sets $200 as the on-time renewal fee with a separate $75 late fee, matching 2026 IDFPR/Illinois Realtors guidance. A license expired 2-5 years requires restoration (sum of all lapsed renewal + late fees); over 5 years must meet new-applicant requirements. Online renewal is via the IDFPR Online Services Portal; ePay available for paper applications since June 2024.

Real Estate license renewal in Illinois: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Real Estate license in Illinois?

Illinois Real Estate licenses renew every 24 months. Broker licenses (Illinois' entry-level salesperson-equivalent) expire on a biennial cycle, with renewal due by April 30 of each even-numbered year (most recently April 30, 2026). Licenses must be renewed before expiration to remain active.

How many CE hours are required to renew an Real Estate license in Illinois?

Approximately 12 continuing-education hours per 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. Confirm the current requirement with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate.

Can I renew my Illinois Real Estate license online?

Yes — Illinois offers online renewal through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate. Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Illinois Real Estate license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $75 may apply. Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Real Estate Agent (Salesperson) renewal