Washington 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.
First renewal
90 hours
Later renewals
30 hours
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issued by
WA Department of Licensing
Washington front-loads its requirement harder than almost any state. Your first license renewal demands a full 90 hours of continuing education - including two 30-hour courses - before it drops to 30 hours for every renewal after that. New brokers who plan around the 30-hour number get a nasty surprise.
Both the first 90 and the ongoing 30 ride a two-year clock, and Fair Housing is a permanent fixture: a one-time 6-hour course, then a 3-hour Fair Housing course at every renewal thereafter.
First renewal: 90 hours, not 30
- 30-hour Advanced Practices Course.
- 30-hour Real Estate Law Course.
- 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course.
- At least 27 hours of other approved CE - and the one-time 6-hour Washington Fair Housing course if you have not taken it yet.
Every renewal after: 30 hours
Once you are past the first renewal, the Washington Department of Licensing requires 30 hours every two years. That must include the 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate core course and the 3-hour Washington Fair Housing course, with the balance in approved electives. At least 15 of the 30 hours must be completed within 24 months of your renewal date; up to 15 hours from the prior 48 months can count if they were not already used for another renewal.
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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?
Washington broker licenses renew every two years from your initial issue date - so your deadline is personal, not a shared statewide date. Because the first renewal carries 90 hours, start early; two 30-hour courses plus electives are not a last-month project. Finish ahead of your date so completions are on record in time.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Progress rings handle both the 90-hour first renewal and the 30-hour cycles, with required-topic buckets for the core course and Fair Housing.
- Store each certificate as you finish - dated and attached to the credit it proves, including the one-time 6-hour Fair Housing course.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your personal renewal date.
- Multiple state licenses each get their own card, deadline, and one-click export from a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does a Washington broker need?
Ninety hours for your first license renewal - including a 30-hour Advanced Practices course and a 30-hour Real Estate Law course - then 30 hours every two years for each renewal after that.
What is required at every Washington renewal?
The 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate core course and the 3-hour Washington Fair Housing course, after a one-time 6-hour Fair Housing course.
When does my Washington broker license expire?
Every two years from your initial issue date, so your deadline is personal rather than a shared statewide date.
Can older CE hours count in Washington?
At least 15 of your 30 hours must be earned within 24 months of renewal; up to 15 hours from the preceding 48 months may count if not already used for another renewal.
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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