Guide · Renewal
Kentucky real estate license renewal, explained.
CE hours, the Core Course, post-licensing, and the March 31 renewal, laid out so nothing sneaks up on you.
The short answer
Six hours a year, renew every two years.
Active Kentucky real estate licensees complete 6 hours of KREC-approved continuing education each calendar year by December 31 (3 hours of law, 3 hours of electives), take the 6-hour Kentucky Core Course once every four years, and renew their license by March 31 of even-numbered years for $130. New sales associates complete 48 hours of post-license education within their first two years instead of annual CE.
All of Century's renewal courses are online and self-paced: the Kentucky Core Course is $75 and the full 48-hour post-licensing package is $345.
The requirements
What is due, and when.
| Requirement | Hours | Deadline | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing education | 6 per year (3 law + 3 elective) | December 31 each year | Active licensees past the post-license window |
| Kentucky Core Course | 6 (counts as that year's CE) | Once every 4 years | All active licensees |
| Post-license education | 48 (32 mandatory + 16 elective) | Within 2 years of affiliating with a broker | Sales associates licensed after January 1, 2016 |
| License renewal | None | March 31 of even-numbered years | Everyone; $130 active, $120 inactive |
How they fit together
Post-licensing first, then CE every year.
Your first two years are covered by post-licensing: 48 hours that turn a new license into working knowledge of contracts, agency, disclosure, finance, and compliance. The two-year clock starts when you affiliate with a principal broker and cannot be paused, even if you place your license in escrow.
Once the post-license window closes, you move to the annual rhythm: six hours of continuing education each calendar year, due December 31. Three of those hours must be in real estate law and three can be electives. Every fourth year, the Kentucky Core Course takes the place of your regular CE and covers the full six hours on its own.
Separately from education, the license itself renews every two years by March 31 of even-numbered years. Complete your CE early in the year and renewal is a formality.
Quick answers
Renewal, answered.
How many hours of continuing education does Kentucky require?
Six hours each calendar year for active licensees, due by December 31: three hours of real estate law and three hours of electives. The six-hour Kentucky Core Course, required once every four years, satisfies the full requirement in the year you take it.
When does my Kentucky real estate license expire?
Kentucky licenses renew every two years, by March 31 of even-numbered years. The renewal fee is $130 for active licensees and $120 for inactive licensees.
Do new agents have to do continuing education?
New sales associates complete 48 hours of post-license education within two years of affiliating with a broker instead. After that window, the annual six-hour CE requirement applies.
What is the Kentucky Core Course?
A six-hour KREC-required course on current Kentucky license law, fair housing, agency, disclosure, and broker supervision. Every active licensee takes it once every four years. No other course substitutes for it. Century offers it online for $75.
What happens if I miss the December 31 CE deadline?
Missing the CE deadline can affect your ability to renew and may result in penalties from KREC. Finishing your hours early in the year avoids the risk. Contact KREC directly if you have missed a deadline.
Knock out your hours now.
The Kentucky Core Course, the 48-hour post-licensing package, and the full CE catalog, all online.