Arkansas Real Estate CE Requirements, Explained

The base requirement: 7 hours every year

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires 7 hours of continuing education each year to renew an active license for the upcoming calendar year. Unlike most states, this resets annually rather than across a multi-year cycle, so there is a fresh 7-hour obligation every year you hold the license.

Required courses change year to year

• The Commission designates specific required courses each year - recent cycles have included a required agency representation and compensation course (3 hours) and a 1-hour required safety course.
• The remaining hours are filled with approved elective courses to reach 7.
• Salespersons and brokers can have slightly different required tracks - principal and executive brokers in particular have broker-focused required content - so confirm your license type's track for the current year.
• Because the required courses are set annually, last year's required course will not satisfy this year's requirement.

New licensees: post-license education

• A new salesperson must complete an 18-classroom-hour AREC post-license course by the end of the month six months after the date first licensed.
• A new broker must complete a 30-classroom-hour AREC post-license course within six months of being initially licensed as a broker.
• Post-license education is separate from, and independent of, the annual continuing education requirement - finishing one does not excuse the other.
• Plan the post-license hours early so they do not collide with your first annual CE deadline.

When is your deadline?

Arkansas uses two dates that are easy to mix up: the license expiration date is September 30, while the continuing education renewal date is December 31. Renewal for the upcoming year should be completed by September 30 of the current year to avoid penalty. Because the cadence is annual, building a once-a-year habit is the whole game here. Keep your certificates - AREC can audit.

How CredTally keeps this on autopilot

• Track the 7-hour annual total with separate buckets for the required course and the 1-hour safety course, so the mandatory pieces are never buried in electives.
• Store each certificate as you finish, filed with the credit it proves.
• Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your deadline - tuned to Arkansas's annual cadence so you never miss a year.
• Add the 18-hour (salesperson) or 30-hour (broker) post-license course as its own goal, separate from the annual CE.
• One-click export of a dated packet - summary plus every certificate - if AREC audits you or a broker asks.
• Licensed in Arkansas plus another state, or also an appraiser or MLO? Every license has its own card, deadline, and reminders in one dashboard.

Frequently asked questions

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