Understand Arizona’s Approval System

Anyone who wants to teach an approved Arizona real estate course generally must obtain ADRE instructor approval. The approval identifies the subject areas or competency categories the instructor is qualified to teach.

Instructor approval is generally issued for at least four years. An instructor who later wants to teach an additional competency area may need to submit evidence of competence in that area.

A real estate school must also have ADRE approval before offering qualifying education, prelicensing, or continuing-education courses. The school—not merely the instructor—must obtain approval for courses that require it.

Build the Required Qualifications

Arizona’s rules focus on demonstrated competence in the proposed subject area rather than on one universal career path. Before applying, prepare evidence showing substantial knowledge and experience related to the subjects you want to teach.

Potential evidence may include:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field traditionally associated with real estate, such as business, law, economics, marketing, or finance.
• Professional experience in real estate, including client representation or specialized subject-matter experience.
• A current or former regulatory role involving real estate.
• Professional real estate designations or certifications.
• Professional education in a real-estate-related field.
• Other documentation demonstrating competence in the proposed teaching area.

The current ADRE instructor application calls for a detailed résumé describing relevant experience and knowledge. It also requires “Real Estate Instructor Qualifiers” for an original application or when adding a competency area.

The exact acceptable combination of education and experience can vary by the category and subject you want to teach. Review the current version of Arizona Administrative Code R4-28-404(C) and the current ADRE application before relying on any particular qualification.

Complete Instructor-Development Training

Most original and renewal applicants must complete an ADRE-approved professional seminar or workshop of at least three hours within the 24 months before applying. The training must emphasize instructional methods, techniques, and skills.

Additional professional-development requirements may apply, particularly for continuing-education categories and specific instructional-delivery formats. ADRE guidance describes continuing-education competency requirements for categories such as agency law, contract law, commissioner’s standards, real estate legal issues, fair housing, disclosure, and general real estate.

Applicants seeking approval to teach instructor-development workshops or other specialized courses may need additional ADRE-approved training. For example, the current application materials identify a separate six-hour requirement for teaching certain Skills Instructor Development Workshops.

Maintain Any Required Arizona License

Whether you need an Arizona real estate salesperson or broker license depends on the course type, teaching category, and qualifications used for approval. For online prelicensing instruction, ADRE guidance states that the instructor must meet the qualifications applicable to live classroom instruction and, in specified circumstances, remain an actively licensed Arizona broker in good standing during the approved course period.

A practical approach is to determine the intended teaching role first:

• Prelicensing instructor: Confirm the education, experience, competency, and any broker-license requirements for the salesperson or broker subject areas.
• Continuing-education instructor: Document competence in each CE category you want approved to teach.
• Specialized or instructor-development instructor: Check whether additional course-specific training or qualifications apply.
• Guest speaker, panelist, attorney, or out-of-state instructor: These roles may be treated differently from an applicant seeking regular ADRE instructor approval.

Do not assume that holding an Arizona real estate license alone qualifies you to teach every subject.

Prepare the Application Package

For an original application or renewal, expect to assemble documentation such as:

• The current ADRE instructor application, commonly identified as Form ED-101.
• A detailed résumé showing real estate-related education, experience, designations, and subject expertise.
• Documentation supporting each proposed competency area.
• Proof of the required instructional-methods seminar or workshop.
• A disciplinary-action disclosure form and supporting documents, if applicable.
• Proof of legal presence as required by Arizona law.
• A fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, as required by the current application materials.

ADRE may request additional information to verify qualifications. Submit clear records—such as transcripts, certificates, license history, employment records, designation documents, or regulatory credentials—that directly connect your background to each subject you propose to teach.

Work With an ADRE-Approved School

The normal practical route is to contact an Arizona real estate school that already holds ADRE approval and wishes to use your services. The school can review your qualifications, identify the courses and subjects it wants you to teach, and help submit the application.

ADRE’s FAQ instructs applicants to review R4-28-404(C), contact a school where they want to teach, and file the completed instructor application with the school for review and submission to the Department.

The school must be approved before it offers qualifying courses, and the school’s course-approval submission generally identifies the proposed instructors. If ADRE has not previously approved an instructor for comparable courses, the school may need to submit the instructor application and supporting qualification documents.

An instructor approved for one sponsoring school may need an expedited instructor-approval or change form before teaching for another school or adding specific courses. Confirm the current procedure with ADRE and the sponsoring school before beginning instruction.

Submit Through the Current ADRE Process

ADRE’s current application materials direct applicants to submit the completed application and supporting documents through the Department’s Message Center.

Before submitting:

1. Identify the exact course type, category, and subject areas you want to teach.
2. Confirm whether the course requires an Arizona broker license or other active license status.
3. Review the current R4-28-404(C) qualifications.
4. Complete the required instructional-methods training.
5. Obtain the fingerprint clearance card and other identity or eligibility documents.
6. Assemble résumé materials and proof of subject-matter competence.
7. Have the sponsoring school review and sign the application when required.
8. Submit the application and retain copies of everything provided.

Do not teach an ADRE-approved course for credit until the school and instructor approvals are in place.

Renew and Keep Your Approval Current

Instructor approval is not a one-time professional credential. Renewal applicants must satisfy the requirements in effect at the time of renewal, including applicable instructional-methods training and continuing-education or subject-specific competency requirements.

Track:

• The expiration date of instructor approval.
• Instructional-methods training completed during the required look-back period.
• Continuing-education courses used to establish category competence.
• Any change in disciplinary history, legal-presence documentation, license status, or material qualification information.
• Additional competency areas that may require amendment or separate documentation.

Where to Confirm Current Rules

Arizona requirements can change through statutes, administrative rules, ADRE forms, and special procedural documents. The most reliable sources are the current ADRE instructor application, ADRE Education Division forms and resources, Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-2135, and Arizona Administrative Code R4-28-404(C).

Because requirements may differ between prelicensing, continuing education, online delivery, and specialized instruction, confirm the proposed teaching assignment directly with ADRE or the sponsoring ADRE-approved school before applying.

Authoritative Sources

• Arizona Department of Real Estate — Education Forms and Resources
• Arizona Department of Real Estate — Instructor Application Form
• Arizona Department of Real Estate — Instructor Application ED-101
• Arizona Department of Real Estate — Frequently Asked Questions
• Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-2135 — Real Estate Schools, Courses of Study, and Instructors
• Arizona Department of Real Estate — 2025 Arizona Real Estate Law Book
• Arizona Department of Real Estate — Instructor Professional Development Requirements