IL Real Estate License Renewal: Continuing Education
Due to the dynamic nature of Real Estate, it is critical that persons involved in the commercial buying and selling of Real Estate have the most relevant, up-to-date information possible. To meet this need, the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (ILRELA) provides for necessary Continuing Education (commonly referred to as simply 'CE') requirements that are designed to ensure that all Real Estate professionals licensed by the state of Illinois are fully informed of changes in policy and procedure, such as property disclosures, financial processes, general practices, and current legislation. Get more CE Information!
Chicago & Illinois Continuing Education Requirements
Illinois' current CE Requirements state that a licensed Real Estate Salesperson must successfully complete 6 credit hours of approved curriculum for every complete year that he/she held an Illinois Real Estate Salesperson's License in order to qualify for license renewal. New licensees whose initial license is issued for a term of less than one full year are expempt from meeting the continuing education requirements for their first renewal.
One of the most dynamic sections of the RELA is in the array of options available to meet the Continuing Education requirement:
- Attendance and participation in classes as approved by the Advisory Council;
- Serving as a licensed instructor for a Continuing Education class. Credit earned will be as if the licensee were taking the course, as approved by the Advisory Council;
- Self-study programs approved by the council.
Request more information about IL Continuing Education requirements.
CE Courses and Curriculum
Required CE curriculum for License Renewal includes core and elective categories; and ILRELA requires a minimum of 3 hours per year, or its equivalent, of course work in core categories and a maximum of 3 hours per year in elective course work. This accounts for the total of 6 credit hours per year that regulation requires.
Core curriculum will cover the following subjects:- License Law and Escrow
- Fair Housing
- Agency
- Antitrust
- Appraisal
- Property management
- Residential brokerage
- Farm property management
- Rights and duties of sellers, buyers and brokers
- Commercial brokerage and leasing
- Real Estate financing
- Environmental
- Technology
This list may change at any time and it is strongly advised that all licensees verify current Continuing Education requirements prior to enrolling in any classes. Tell me more about CE courses and classes!
License Renewal
ILRELA defines the 'pre-renewal period' as the term between license issuance and expiration. As Real Estate Salesperson's licenses are regularly issued for a term of two years, it is important to know the expiration date of your license and whether or not you may be required to show proof of successful completion of any Continuing Education requirement.
Althought ILRELA does allow for reissuance of expired licenses, never allowing your license to lapse in the first place should be first and foremost in your mind. However, any license that has been expired for no more than 2 years may be renewed upon presentation of proper documentation showing that Continuing Education requirements have been met for each active year of licensing. Note that reinstatement or lapsed renewal fees may be assessed in instances such as these.
What is known as the 'pre-renewal period' basically covers the life of your license, but it is important to understand that you will only have a 90-day window prior to your license's expiration in which you may apply for renewal.
Feel free to contact us for more details on Real Estate License Renewal in Illinois.
Resources
2007 License Renewal form for Illinois
225 ILCS 454/5-50: Section 5-50 of the ILRELA governing License Renewal
225 ILCS 454/5-70: Section 5-70 of the ILRELA declaring Continuing Education Requirements
Real Estate Licensing Continuing Education Schools: