Rhode Island Real Estate Agent / Broker Continuing Education Requirements
Requirements Overview
The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation requires 24 hours of continuing education per biennial cycle. At least 9 hours must be in core subjects, which include RI law on licensee-consumer relationships, RI licensure law, Fair Housing (minimum 3 hours), environmental issues and lead hazards, local ordinances on residential real estate, and coastal real estate and wetlands. The remaining 15 hours are electives. Salespersons and brokers share identical requirements.
The 3-hour Fair Housing component became mandatory as of January 1, 2022, covering federal, Rhode Island, and local fair housing law under the RI Fair Housing Practices Act. This is a permanent addition to each renewal cycle, not a one-time requirement.
Licensees issued before January 1, 2020 renew by April 30 of even-numbered years, while those issued after renew by their two-year license anniversary. First-renewal licensees whose application was approved within 180 days of initial expiration are exempt from CE for that cycle. A minimum 75% score is required on CE final exams, with unlimited retake attempts allowed.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Housing | 3 | Every renewal | Minimum 3 hours required in federal, RI, and local fair housing law per the RI Fair Housing Practices Act (R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 34-37). Mandatory as of January 1, 2022. Must be part of the 9 core hours. |
First Renewal vs. Standard Renewal
Exemptions
- First Renewal (Within 180 Days) — Licensees whose application approval occurs within 180 days of initial license expiration do not need CE for their first renewal.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Provider Requirements
Courses must be approved by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. CE course providers must be authorized by the DBR.
Tips for Rhode Island Real Estate Agents
- Prioritize the 3-hour Fair Housing requirement early — it must be specifically about federal, RI, and local fair housing law, not just general diversity training.
- Check whether your renewal date is April 30 of an even year or your personal 2-year anniversary — it depends on when you were first licensed.
- A 75% exam score is required for CE credit, but unlimited retakes are allowed, so do not stress about a single attempt.
- Core subjects include Rhode Island-specific topics like coastal real estate and lead hazards — choose courses that address these local issues.