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How many continuing education hours do I need to renew my Rhode Island real estate license?

A Rhode Island real estate licensee who is not exempt completes 24 clock hours of courses the Department of Business Regulation has approved, in the two years before renewal. At least 9 of those hours come from CORE subjects, and 3 of the 9 cover fair housing. Exempt licensees include some first renewals and some attorneys.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
24 clock hours of Department-approved courses in the preceding two yearsOnly courses the Department approved before you take them count.
Verified. rules.sos.ri.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
CORE hours
At least 9 of the 24 hours are CORE subjects, 3 of them on fair housingThe other 15 hours can come from any Department-approved real estate course.
Same source and date as above
Exemptions
Some first renewals and attorneys licensed under § 5-20.5-4(d) are exemptThe first-renewal exception covers a license whose initial application was approved within 180 days of its expiration date.
Verified. webserver.rilegislature.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether an exemption reaches you. If none does, you owe 24 clock hours for the two years before renewal.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course the Department has approved before you take it. DBR lists approved courses, instructors and schools on its real estate page, including a course list for pre-licensing and continuing education.

  3. Step 3. Take the 24 hours. At least 9 must be CORE subjects, and 3 of those must be about fair housing. The other 15 can be any Department-approved real estate course.

  4. Step 4. Keep the completion certificate from your school, and send proof to the Department at each renewal.

Before you pay

This page rests on the Rhode Island statute on license renewal, the Department of Business Regulation's regulation for brokers and salespersons and the Department's real estate page. We haven't confirmed course prices.

Before you pay, check that the school and the course appear on the Department's lists.

Questions

Can I take Rhode Island real estate CE online?

Yes. The regulation lets remotely delivered online courses be live or on-demand. An on-demand course must stop students from skipping ahead, and the school has to assess understanding with quizzes, exams or other tools at the end. In a live course, the instructor must be able to interact with each student in real time.

Do I need CE if my license was first issued before 1984?

No. The regulation says a licensee who holds a valid license originally issued before December 12, 1984 is not required to take CE for purposes of renewal.

What will my course certificate show?

Schools must note on the completion certificate whether the course qualifies for CORE or for CORE-Fair Housing.

When do I renew a Rhode Island real estate license?

Every two years. A license issued before January 1, 2020, renews on May 1 of each even-numbered year. A license issued after January 1, 2020, renews on the anniversary of the date it was issued.

What happens if I misreport my CE?

Finishing the CE is a condition of renewing. A licensee who misrepresents or falsely certifies course attendance, completion or documentation is subject to disciplinary action.

What to do next

Start with the Rhode Island regulation on real estate brokers and salespersons. Then see the Department of Business Regulation's real estate page for its lists of approved courses.

dbr.ri.gov

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