Michigan 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
18 hours per 3 years
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Yearly minimum
2 hrs legal + 1 hr Fair Housing per year
Issued by
Michigan Real Estate Commission
Michigan's requirement looks like a simple 18 hours over three years, but it has a catch most agents miss: part of it is an annual obligation, not a cycle-end total. Every year you must earn 2 hours of legal CE and 1 hour of Fair Housing - so you cannot legally cram all 18 hours in the final month.
That per-year structure is the single most common way Michigan agents fall short, because the math passes a glance and fails an audit.
The base requirement: 18 hours, with yearly minimums
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), through the Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, requires 18 hours of continuing education every three-year license cycle. Critically, at least 2 of those hours each year must cover laws, rules, and court cases affecting real estate, and at least 1 hour each year must cover compliance with local, state, or federal fair housing laws. That is 9 mandatory hours over the cycle, spread out - with the remaining 9 elective hours flexible across the three years.
The details that catch people out
- Legal and Fair Housing hours are annual - 2 hours legal and 1 hour Fair Housing in each year of the cycle, not bunched at the end.
- Since November 1, 2018, courses must be certified by CE Marketplace; the state no longer approves or tracks courses directly.
- You must keep proof of completion for four years after the course date and produce it on request.
- You do not submit certificates at renewal, but you attest to having completed everything - a false attestation is a real problem.
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?
Michigan real estate licenses renew on a three-year cycle. Because the legal and Fair Housing hours are required annually, treat each year as its own mini-deadline rather than waiting for the cycle to close. Your exact expiration is in your LARA licensing record.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Progress rings track the full 18 hours plus per-year buckets for the 2-hour legal and 1-hour Fair Housing minimums, so the annual rule is never a surprise.
- Store each certificate as you finish - dated and kept for the full four-year retention window by default.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before each yearly checkpoint and the cycle deadline.
- Multiple state licenses each get their own card, deadline, and one-click export from one dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Michigan real estate agents need?
Eighteen hours every three-year cycle, including at least 2 hours of legal CE and 1 hour of Fair Housing in each year of the cycle (9 mandatory hours total), plus 9 elective hours.
Can I complete all my Michigan CE at the end of the cycle?
No - the 2 hours of legal and 1 hour of Fair Housing are required each year, so the cycle cannot be back-loaded entirely.
How long must I keep Michigan CE certificates?
Four years after the completion date. You do not submit them at renewal, but you must produce them on request.
Who approves Michigan CE courses?
Since November 1, 2018, courses must be certified by CE Marketplace; the State of Michigan no longer approves or tracks CE courses directly.
Official sources
- Michigan LARA - Real Estate CE Requirements for Renewal
- Michigan LARA - Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Guide
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
CredTally tracks all of this for you
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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