California Real Estate Agent CE Requirements (2026)

California Real Estate Agent CE at a glance

Total CE hours: 45 hours
Cycle length: Every 4 years
Cycle anchor: Renews on license anniversary

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Mandatory topics

Ethics
One of 7 mandatory subjects; can be taken as standalone 3-hr course or as part of 9-hr survey
3 hours
Agency
DRE-required agency law course
3 hours
Trust Fund Handling
DRE-required trust fund management course
3 hours
Risk Management
DRE-required risk management course
3 hours
Fair Housing (interactive)
Must include interactive participatory component where licensee role-plays as both consumer and real estate professional (CA 2021 requirement)
3 hours
Implicit Bias Training
Required since Jan 1, 2023 for all renewals including subsequent
2 hours
Management and Supervision
Required for brokers and for subsequent salesperson renewals. First-time salespersons may substitute with an additional consumer protection course
3 hours
Consumer Protection
Minimum 18 hrs in Consumer Protection category for subsequent renewals
18 hours
Consumer Service or Protection
Remaining hours (approximately 7, varies with path taken) from either Consumer Service or Consumer Protection categories
7 hours

Notes

45 hrs over 4-year cycle. CA is unique: 7 mandatory subjects (Ethics, Agency, Trust Fund, Risk Management, Management/Supervision, Fair Housing, Implicit Bias), 18+ hrs Consumer Protection, remainder Consumer Service/Protection. Alternative: 9-hr survey course covers the 7 mandatory subjects at once. Fair Housing course must include interactive role-play component. Implicit Bias added 2023. First-time renewals have slightly different composition than subsequent renewals.

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Sources

https://www.dre.ca.gov/licensees/cerequirements.html

Last reviewed: 2026-04-18

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Mandatory topics

Ethics

One of 7 mandatory subjects; can be taken as standalone 3-hr course or as part of 9-hr survey

3 hours

Agency

DRE-required agency law course

3 hours

Trust Fund Handling

DRE-required trust fund management course

3 hours

Risk Management

DRE-required risk management course

3 hours

Fair Housing (interactive)

Must include interactive participatory component where licensee role-plays as both consumer and real estate professional (CA 2021 requirement)

3 hours

Implicit Bias Training

Required since Jan 1, 2023 for all renewals including subsequent

2 hours

Management and Supervision

Required for brokers and for subsequent salesperson renewals. First-time salespersons may substitute with an additional consumer protection course

3 hours

Consumer Protection

Minimum 18 hrs in Consumer Protection category for subsequent renewals

18 hours

Consumer Service or Protection

Remaining hours (approximately 7, varies with path taken) from either Consumer Service or Consumer Protection categories

7 hours