Illinois 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
12 hours per 2 years
Renewal cycle
April 30, even years
Core course
6 hrs (includes 2 hrs Fair Housing)
Issued by
Illinois Real Estate Commission
Illinois calls its entry-level license a broker, not a salesperson - a renaming that confuses newcomers but changes nothing about the math: 12 hours of continuing education every two years, split into a fixed 6-hour core and 6 elective hours, all due April 30 of even-numbered years.
The wrinkle that trips people up is the first renewal. New brokers do not take the 12-hour package - they owe a 45-hour post-license program instead, and missing it is a far more expensive mistake than missing a few CE hours.
The base requirement: 12 hours, 6 of them core
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), through its Division of Real Estate, requires 12 hours of approved continuing education per two-year cycle for renewing brokers. Six of those are a mandatory Core Course - which now includes 2 hours of Fair Housing - and the remaining 6 are electives. Courses must come from an IDFPR-approved education provider, and you cannot get credit for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period.
First renewal is different: 45 post-license hours
- Newly licensed brokers must complete a 45-hour Post-License Education program for their first renewal - not the standard 12-hour CE.
- The 45 hours come as three 15-hour courses: Applied Brokerage Principles, Risk Management and Discipline, and Transactional Issues.
- Your first-renewal deadline depends on when you were licensed; brokers licensed on or after November 1, 2025 renew by April 30, 2028.
- Electives for experienced brokers must include Sexual Harassment Prevention Training.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
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?
Standard broker licenses expire April 30 of even-numbered years (the 2026 cycle closed April 30, 2026; the next is April 30, 2028). Finish early so your provider can report your hours to IDFPR before the cutoff - the Department can ask you to produce evidence of compliance, and you are responsible for keeping it.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Progress rings split your 12 hours into a 6-hour core bucket and a 6-hour elective bucket, so the required mix is never a guess.
- Store each certificate the moment you finish a course - kept private and attached to the exact credit it proves, ready if IDFPR asks for evidence.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before April 30 so the deadline never sneaks up.
- Hold licenses in more than one state? Each gets its own card, deadline, and one-click export from a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Illinois brokers need?
Twelve hours every two years - a mandatory 6-hour Core Course that includes 2 hours of Fair Housing, plus 6 elective hours from an IDFPR-approved provider.
What is different about my first Illinois renewal?
New brokers complete a 45-hour Post-License Education program (three 15-hour courses) for their first renewal instead of the standard 12-hour CE package.
When does my Illinois broker license expire?
April 30 of even-numbered years. The 2026 deadline was April 30, 2026, and the next cycle ends April 30, 2028.
Does Illinois require Fair Housing or sexual harassment training?
Yes - the 6-hour Core Course now includes 2 hours of Fair Housing, and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training is required within the elective hours.
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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