Iowa Real Estate CE Courses (2026)

To renew your Real Estate license in Iowa you need to satisfy the Iowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing)'s continuing education (CE) requirement — about 36 hours per 3-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.

What Iowa requires for Real Estate renewal

CE hours required36 hours per cycle
Renewal cycle36 months
Governing bodyIowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing)

To renew in active status, a salesperson must complete a minimum of 36 hours of approved continuing education per three-year cycle: 8 hours Law Update, 4 hours Ethics, and 24 hours of Commission-approved electives. Up to 18 unused elective hours may carry over from the prior cycle (no carryover allowed toward the 8-hour law update or 4-hour ethics requirements). A maximum of 24 hours may be completed via distance/online learning; at least 12 hours must be live instruction per the CE page. All CE must be completed no later than December 31 of the renewal year and before submitting the renewal; there is no grace period for completing CE (a licensee who has not finished CE must renew to inactive status or let the license lapse). The rules do not specify a separate first-renewal post-licensing education requirement distinct from ongoing CE.

Full Real Estate renewal guide for Iowa (deadlines, fees & CE) →

Iowa Real Estate CE course providers

Heads-up: These are independent, third-party CE providers — we are not affiliated with them and don't guarantee approval. Always confirm a course is accepted by the Iowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing) before purchasing.

Iowa Real Estate CE courses: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do I need to renew my Real Estate license in Iowa?

Iowa requires about 36 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. To renew in active status, a salesperson must complete a minimum of 36 hours of approved continuing education per three-year cycle: 8 hours Law Update, 4 hours Ethics, and 24 hours of Commission-approved electives. Up to 18 unused elective hours may carry over from the prior cycle (no carryover allowed toward the 8-hour law update or 4-hour ethics requirements). A maximum of 24 hours may be completed via distance/online learning; at least 12 hours must be live instruction per the CE page. All CE must be completed no later than December 31 of the renewal year and before submitting the renewal; there is no grace period for completing CE (a licensee who has not finished CE must renew to inactive status or let the license lapse). The rules do not specify a separate first-renewal post-licensing education requirement distinct from ongoing CE.

Do online Real Estate CE courses count in Iowa?

Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the Iowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing). Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.

Where do I report my Iowa Real Estate CE?

Iowa generally has you attest to CE at renewal and keep your own documentation in case of an audit. Confirm the current process with the Iowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing).

Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the Iowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing). Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.

Official Iowa Real Estate Commission (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing) site →

Real Estate CE courses in another state

Other CE course guides in Iowa