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

Washington real estate brokers and managing brokers complete at least 30 clock hours of instruction every two years to renew their licenses, under the state's renewal statute. For an active license renewal, three of those hours focus on fair housing.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
At least 30 clock hours every two years, in director-approved coursesBrokers furnish proof as the director prescribes by rule.
Verified. app.leg.wa.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Fair housing hours
For active renewals, three of the 30 hours focus on fair housingThe statute ties that topic to RCW 49.60.222.
Same source and date as above
Carryover
Up to 15 hours above the 30 can carry forward to the next two-year periodThe extra hours must come from the immediately preceding two-year period.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check that the statute covers you: it applies to real estate brokers and managing brokers renewing a license. If the renewal is for an active license, set aside three of your hours for fair housing.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course the department has approved. The rule requires approval before the date the course is offered for clock hour credit.

  3. Step 3. Complete the clock hours you need. A clock hour is 50 minutes of actual instruction, and a course has a minimum of three hours of instruction.

  4. Step 4. Keep the certificate of course completion your school issues. It lists your name, the course title and the clock hours, among other items.

Before you pay

This page rests on Washington's renewal statute and the department's course approval rules. We haven't confirmed course prices or which providers hold approval.

Before you pay, ask the provider whether the course carries clock hour credit.

Questions

Can I take Washington real estate CE online?

Yes, if the school applied for that distance education delivery method. The rule describes it as instruction outside a live classroom, with instructor and student apart, using interactive methods such as webinars or internet-based instruction. The statute lets the director limit how many distance hours count toward renewal.

Do I have to pass an exam to finish the hours?

No. The statute says examinations shall not be required to fulfill any part of the education requirement.

Which courses earn no clock hours?

Among the types the rule bars from approval are mechanical office skills such as keyboarding, standardized software programs, orientation courses for licensees, and personal and sales motivation courses or sales meetings.

Was fair housing ever more than three hours?

Yes, once. Applicants who had not done fair housing and consumer protection training under RCW 18.85.101 had to complete six fair housing hours, only for the renewal cycle immediately following June 1, 2022.

What to do next

Start with the Washington renewal statute. Then read the course approval rules.

app.leg.wa.gov

Sources we read