Colorado Real Estate CE Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
24 hrs / 3-yr cycle
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Mandatory
3 Annual Commission Update courses (12 hrs)
Issued by
Colorado Division of Real Estate
Colorado has a three-year license cycle but an annual obligation hiding inside it: the Annual Commission Update course changes every year and you are expected to take each year's version. Half your 24 hours come from three different years of that course - so skipping a year leaves a hole you cannot backfill with the same course later.
Here is the full picture for brokers, with the year-by-year update requirement called out.
The base requirement: 24 hours every 3 years
Colorado requires active real estate brokers to complete 24 hours of approved continuing education during each three-year license cycle. The catch is how those hours are structured: a fixed block must come from the Annual Commission Update course, taken across three different years, with the rest as electives.
The Annual Commission Update structure
- 12 of the 24 hours must be three different versions of the 4-hour Annual Commission Update course - one from each of the three years in your cycle.
- Each year's Annual Commission Update is available only January 1 through December 31 of that year and must be completed by December 31.
- The remaining 12 hours are any combination of Commission-approved electives.
- Because each year's update is its own course, missing a year means you cannot make it up with a later year's version - you simply lose that 4-hour block.
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Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Colorado broker licenses renew every three years, and all 24 hours must be complete by the time you renew. But the Annual Commission Update has its own yearly December 31 cutoff, so the practical deadline is annual, not just every three years. The Commission audits licensees each quarter, so keep certificates for the full cycle.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the 24-hour total with separate buckets for each year's Annual Commission Update course and your 12 elective hours.
- Store each certificate as you finish, filed with the credit it proves.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days - set for both the December 31 annual update cutoff and your three-year renewal date.
- Licensed in Colorado plus another state, or also an appraiser or MLO? Each license has its own card, deadline, and reminders in one dashboard.
- One-click dated packet of summary plus certificates if the Commission audits you.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Colorado real estate brokers need?
Twenty-four hours every three-year license cycle, of which 12 hours must be three different annual versions of the 4-hour Annual Commission Update course, plus 12 elective hours.
What is the Annual Commission Update course?
A 4-hour course the Colorado Commission issues each year covering recent regulatory changes. You must take each year's version, and it is only available January 1 through December 31 of that year.
What happens if I skip a year's Annual Commission Update?
Each year's update is a distinct course, so you cannot make it up with a later year's version - you lose that 4-hour block toward your 12-hour update requirement.
How often do I renew my Colorado real estate license?
Every three years, but the Annual Commission Update has its own December 31 deadline each year, making the practical cadence annual.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
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Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
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