Ohio 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
30 hours per 3 years
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years, by birthday
Required core
9 hrs (Civil Rights, Core Law, Ethics)
Issued by
Ohio Real Estate Commission
Ohio runs on a three-year clock, which sounds generous until you realize how easy it is to lose track of 30 hours spread that thin. The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing ties your deadline to your birthday, not a calendar year, so two agents in the same office can have very different due dates.
Within those 30 hours, three specific courses are mandatory - and the rest is yours to fill. New licensees have a separate, earlier hurdle: a 20-hour post-license course due within the first year.
The base requirement: 30 hours, 9 of them core
Per Ohio Administrative Code 1301:5-7-02, each active licensee completes 30 hours of continuing education every three years. Nine of those hours are mandatory core courses: 3 hours of Civil Rights, 3 hours of Core Law (current state and federal real estate legislation), and 3 hours of the Canons of Ethics. The remaining 21 hours can be any approved elective or required topics. Principal and management-level brokers must also include a 3-hour broker responsibility course, bringing their core to 12 hours.
New agents: post-license comes first
- Within 12 months of getting your salesperson license, you must complete 20 hours of post-license classroom instruction.
- Post-license is a one-time milestone - separate from, and earlier than, the ongoing 30-hour CE cycle.
- Licensees age 70 or older on their renewal birthday only need the 9 hours of required core courses, not the full 30.
- Keep your completion records - the Commission can require proof at renewal.
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?
Your 30 hours are due on or before your date of birth, every three years. For a brand-new licensee, the first CE due date falls three years after the first birthday following licensure. Because the cycle is so long, finishing early - and well before your birthday so providers can report - is the safest way to avoid a scramble.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- A progress ring tracks all 30 hours, with required-topic buckets for Civil Rights, Core Law, and Ethics so nothing slips over three years.
- Snap and store each certificate as you finish - dated and attached to the credit it proves, ready if the Commission asks.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your birthday deadline, calibrated to your personal date.
- One-click export of a dated packet - summary plus every certificate - whenever you need to prove compliance.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Ohio real estate agents need?
Thirty hours every three years, including 9 mandatory core hours: 3 hours of Civil Rights, 3 hours of Core Law, and 3 hours of the Canons of Ethics.
When is my Ohio CE due?
On or before your date of birth, every three years. A new licensee's first due date is three years after the first birthday following licensure.
What is Ohio post-license education?
A one-time 20-hour classroom course that new salespersons must complete within 12 months of licensure - separate from the ongoing 30-hour CE requirement.
Do brokers have extra CE requirements in Ohio?
Yes - principal and management-level brokers must include a 3-hour broker responsibility course in their 30 hours, raising their required core to 12 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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