To renew your California real estate license, complete the required continuing education, submit your renewal application to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), and pay the renewal fee before your license expires. California licenses are typically renewed every four years, and you should start the process early—ideally within the 90-day window before expiration—to avoid any gap in your ability to work legally. Start your journey with LEAP's California real estate pre-licensing course.

For most salespersons and brokers, California requires 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education for each renewal cycle. Those hours include mandatory subjects such as ethics, agency, trust fund handling, fair housing, and risk management, so it’s important to choose a course that satisfies the state’s current requirements. If your license is late, California may allow a grace period for renewal, but you cannot actively practice on an expired license.

Timing and cost depend on how close you are to your expiration date and whether you need to complete CE from scratch. You’ll typically pay for the education course plus the state renewal fee, and late renewals can add penalties. If your license has already lapsed for too long, you may need to take extra steps with the DRE or even requalify, so don’t wait until the last minute.

If you’re renewing after time away from the industry—or you’re preparing to get licensed again—reviewing a California pre-licensing course can be a helpful next step. A structured program can refresh key concepts and make it easier to get back on track. You can explore the California pre-licensing course here: California real estate pre-licensing course