California First-Renewal CE
45 hours required for your first renewal. California's first renewal has the same 45-hour CE requirement as every renewal — complete it before your license expires.
45 hours required
California first-renewal requirements at a glance
- Post-license course
- None. California has no separate post-licensing requirement
- First renewal
- 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education, due before your first 4-year license expires
- Required courses
- Four separate 3-hour courses: ethics, agency, trust fund handling and risk management
- Fair housing
- A 3-hour course with an interactive role-play as both a consumer and a real estate professional
- Implicit bias
- A 2-hour implicit bias training course
- Remaining hours
- At least 18 hours of consumer protection; the rest consumer service or consumer protection
Source: DRE: Continuing Education Requirements · DRE: Renewing Your License
Compare California Post-License Courses
CA 45-Hr First Renewal CE Package
45 Hours
DRE-approved 45-hour CE package for California first renewal. Same requirements as every renewal cycle.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Ethics (3 hrs)
- Agency (3 hrs)
- Fair Housing (3 hrs)
- Trust Fund Handling (3 hrs)
- Risk Management (3 hrs)
- Electives (30 hrs)
CA 45-Hr CE Package
45 Hours
California 45-Hour CE Package
45 Hours
DRE-approved 45-hour first renewal package with video and self-paced options.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Mandatory topics (13 hrs)
- Elective topics (32 hrs)
California first renewal: common questions
Does California require post-licensing education?
No. California doesn't have a separate post-license course. Instead, your first renewal has its own 45-hour continuing education requirement with specific courses.
What do I need for my first California renewal?
45 hours: separate 3-hour courses in ethics, agency, trust fund handling and risk management; a 3-hour fair housing course with an interactive role-play; a 2-hour implicit bias course; at least 18 hours of consumer protection; and the remainder in consumer service or consumer protection.
When is my first renewal due?
Before the expiration date on your license. California licenses are issued for four years, and DRE emails a courtesy reminder about 90 days before expiration.
How is the first renewal different from later ones?
Later renewals are also 45 hours, but the required subjects can be covered by a single 9-hour survey course instead of separate courses.
Source: DRE: Continuing Education Requirements · DRE: Renewing Your License