Louisiana Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 12 Hours Every Year
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Requirements Overview
The Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) requires 12 hours of continuing education every year, making it one of the more demanding states with an annual cycle rather than biennial. Mandatory course topics change annually: for 2026, all licensees must complete 'Transparency, Technology, and Trust,' while brokers and associate brokers also need 'Broker Leadership & Compliance.' These mandatory courses count toward the 12-hour total, not in addition to it.
New licensees face an additional requirement: a 45-hour post-license course with an exam must be completed within 180 days of initial licensure. Post-license hours may partially satisfy the annual 12-hour CE requirement in the completion year but cannot replace that year's mandatory topics.
The deadline is December 31 each calendar year, with no grace period. Licensees may renew before completing CE but must finish all coursework by the deadline. Failure to complete CE is a violation subject to a fine citation from LREC. All courses must be through LREC-certified continuing education vendors.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Mandatory Course | — | Every renewal | LREC sets mandatory topics each year. 2026: 'Transparency, Technology, and Trust' for all licensees. 2025: 'Navigating the New Normal' (or commercial alternate 'The Appraisal Process'). Hours count toward the 12-hour annual total. |
| Broker Mandatory Course | — | Every renewal | In some years, brokers and associate brokers have an additional mandatory course. 2026: 'Broker Leadership & Compliance'. 2025: no broker-specific mandatory. Hours count toward the 12-hour annual total. |
Renewal Pathways
Real Estate Broker Continuing Education in Louisiana
In Louisiana, real estate brokers renew under their own broker-license pathway, and the continuing education total matches the salesperson requirement: 12 CE hours every year.
Broker-specific course requirements
- Broker Mandatory Course — In some years, brokers and associate brokers have an additional mandatory course. 2026: 'Broker Leadership & Compliance'. 2025: no broker-specific mandatory. Hours count toward the 12-hour annual total.
License categories and totals above are verified from the published rules of the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) — confirm current broker requirements with the board before enrolling.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Louisiana CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Louisiana that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Annual minimum — at least 12 hours must be completed each year of the cycle, not just by the renewal deadline.
- Carry-over — No carry-over provisions identified. Annual 12-hour requirement must be completed each calendar year by December 31.
- Louisiana has an ANNUAL CE cycle (12 hours per year), not biennial.
- Mandatory course topics change each year; set by LREC.
- Brokers may have an additional broker-specific mandatory course in certain years.
- New licensees must complete 45-hour post-license course with exam within 180 days of initial licensure.
- Post-license hours may partially satisfy annual CE but cannot replace mandatory topics.
- Failure to complete CE by December 31 is a violation subject to fine citation.
- Licensees may renew before completing CE but must finish by deadline.
- Contact: education@lrec.gov or (225) 925-1923.
Provider Requirements
Courses must be through LREC-certified continuing education vendors.
Tips for Louisiana Real Estate Agents
- Louisiana is annual, not biennial — you need 12 hours every single year by December 31 with no grace period.
- Check LREC's website at the start of each year for the new mandatory course topic, since it changes annually.
- New licensees: your 45-hour post-license course has a 180-day deadline that's completely separate from annual CE — don't confuse the two timelines.
- You can renew your license before completing CE, but the coursework must still be done by December 31 to avoid a fine citation.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC)
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 3 sources cited — 3 primary (official board)
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