Kentucky 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
6 hrs / year
Hard deadline
December 31 each year
Required
3 hrs law + Core Course every 4 yrs
Issued by
Kentucky Real Estate Commission (KREC)
Kentucky runs its CE on an annual clock, not the two-year cadence most states use: 6 hours every calendar year, 3 of which must be law, all due by December 31. On top of that yearly rhythm sits the Kentucky Core Course, which you must take once every four years and which nothing else can substitute for. Miss the December 31 deadline and the penalty is steep - a $1,000 fine and license cancellation.
Here is what actively licensed Kentucky agents owe KREC, with the annual deadline and the every-four-year Core Course called out.
The base requirement: 6 hours every year
The Kentucky Real Estate Commission requires every actively licensed agent to complete 6 hours of Commission-approved continuing education each calendar year, of which at least 3 hours must be in courses approved for law credit. Over a two-year license period that totals 12 hours, but the meaningful deadline is the annual one - you cannot defer your first-year hours into the second year as a block.
The Kentucky Core Course and other details
- All active licensees subject to CE must complete the Kentucky Core Course once every four years; no other course will substitute for it.
- The 6 hours for the first year of a renewal period must be completed by December 31 of that first year, with 3 of them in law.
- Hours beyond 6 taken in the first year can count toward the second year of the renewal period.
- New licensees are generally exempt from CE during their initial licensure period, but a separate post-license requirement applies early on.
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Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Kentucky CE is due by December 31 of each calendar year, and KREC does not grant extensions. The consequence for missing it is unusually harsh: a $1,000 fine and cancellation of your license, with no exceptions. Because the deadline is fixed and annual, the safest approach is to build a yearly habit and finish well before the end of December so reporting lands on time.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track each year's 6-hour requirement with a dedicated 3-hour law bucket - plus a separate goal flagging the Kentucky Core Course year so the four-year cadence is not forgotten.
- Store each certificate as you finish, filed with the credit it proves in a private vault.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before the December 31 deadline - the fixed date that repeats every single year and carries a $1,000 penalty.
- One-click export of a dated packet - summary plus every certificate - if KREC asks.
- Licensed in Kentucky plus another state, or also an appraiser or MLO? Each license has its own card, deadline, and reminders in one dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Kentucky real estate agents need?
Six hours of Commission-approved continuing education every calendar year, at least 3 of which must be in real estate law, due by December 31 each year.
What is the Kentucky Core Course?
A state-specific course that every active licensee must complete once every four years. No other continuing education course can be substituted for it.
What happens if I miss the Kentucky CE deadline?
KREC does not grant extensions, and missing the December 31 deadline results in a $1,000 fine and cancellation of your license, with no exceptions.
Can I carry extra Kentucky CE hours forward?
Yes - hours beyond 6 taken in the first year of a renewal period can count toward the second year's requirement.
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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