Continuing Education Questions

Q.   What is continuing education?

A.   Continuing education must be completed by all licensees every three years in order to retain a real estate license.   These classes are required so that licensee's knowledge of current real estate practice and law is maintained. This applies to licenses in Active status, Inactive status or otherwise except as noted below.

Q.   When is my continuing education due?

A.   Proof of completion of 30 hours of continuing education, including three hours each of Civil Rights, Core Law, and Canons of Ethics, must be submitted every three years by your birthday.   The first continuing education due date for a new licensee is three years after the licensee's first birthday following licensure.   You may check the Lookup License Information section of our website to determine in what year your requirement is due.

Your continuing education cycle will never change as long as you maintain your license.

Q.   When may I submit my Continuing Education?

A.   Continuing Education may only be submitted within the 60 days prior to the C.E. Due Date.  C.E. that is submitted before 60 days prior to the C.E. Due Date will be returned for you to maintain until it is due.

Q.   Will I ever be exempt from completing the continuing education requirements?

A.   Active and inactive licensees must continue to submit proof of completion of the 30 hours of continuing education until the education cycle in which they will turn 70 years of age.   Once you are in the continuing education cycle in which you turn 70 years of age, an Active licensee need only submit proof of completion of the nine core hours of education – 3 hours each of Civil Rights, Core Law, and Canons of Ethics.   An Inactive licensee may contact the division to have their license placed in Retired status.   Once in retired status, a licensee need not complete any additional continuing education, unless the licensee wishes to become active.   All outstanding education must be completed in order to reactivate a license from retired status.

Q.   Are there specific courses that must be included in the 30 hours of continuing education?

A.   Yes:

Civil Rights:   Three hours of your continuing education must be taken in a course dedicated exclusively to instruction in recently enacted municipal, state and federal civil rights law, civil rights case law, desegregation issues, and methods of eliminating the effects of prior discrimination.   The approved course should have the letter ‘G' in the certification number of the class, as well as a Course Type of Civil Rights in the Continuing Education Course Lookup portion of our website.

Core Law:   Three hours of your continuing education must be taken in a legal update course.   This is a course that is devoted exclusively to recently enacted state and federal legislation affecting the real estate industry, relevant state real estate licensing laws and regulations, recent court decisions, ethics and related reports.   The approved course should have the letter ‘D' in the certification number of the class, as well as a Course Type of Core Law in the Continuing Education Course Lookup portion of our website.

Canons of Ethics:   Three hours of your continuing education must be taken in a course that covers the canons of ethics as adopted by the Ohio Real Estate Commission.   The approved course should have the letter ‘C' in the certification number of the class, as well as a Course Type of Canons of Ethics in the Continuing Education Course Lookup portion of our website.

Electives:  The remaining 21 hours of continuing education may consist of electives.   An approved course should have a Course Type of Elective in the Continuing Education Course Lookup portion of our website. Computer Basic and Specific courses are also electives.

Q.   May I use any of the pre- or post-licensure courses to fulfill my continuing education requirement?

A.   No.   The pre- and post-licensure classes are not approved for continuing education.

Q.   May I receive credit twice for taking the same course during a three year reporting period?

A.   Yes.   You may receive credit for completing duplicate hours during your three-year reporting period.   Also, if you take any of the core classes (i.e. core law, civil rights, canons of ethics) more than once in the three year reporting period, you may submit the additional three hours as an elective and receive credit.

Q.   May I submit less than 30 hours of education?

A.   No.   The division does not maintain a list of the hours accumulated by individual licensees.   As a licensee, it is your responsibility to maintain records of your education until you have satisfied the entire requirement (accumulated at least 30 hours).

Q.   If I take more than 30 hours of continuing education during my three year education cycle, may I carry over the extra hours I completed to a future reporting period?

A.   Yes.   Up to ten hours of elective course credits may be carried forward to your next reporting period only.  The latest Continuing Education Compliance Form  has a section on the second page for you to record these hours. Only courses completed after September 22, 2000, may be carried forward. 

The three required courses in Civil Rights, Core Law, and Canons of Ethics must be taken anew each reporting period.  If you duplicate any of the three core classes, they may be carried forward as electives. 

Q.   How do I find available continuing education classes?

A.   Use the Continuing Education Course Lookup to find future classes in your area.   All 30 hours may also be taken via distance education (online).   You may contact the approved Distance Education Providers for information about their available online courses.

Q.   Will the schools from which I receive my education send the required proof of completion to the division?

A.   No.   It is your responsibility to submit the required proof of completion to the division along with the Continuing Education Compliance Form .

Q.   How do I report completion of my continuing education requirement to the division?

A.   All licensees are required to submit proof of completion of their continuing education requirement on an Continuing Education Compliance Form .   The form must be signed and submitted along with the proof of completion(generally in the form of certificates) of the C.E. courses.  

Active licensees who will turn 70 years of age during the current education cycle need only submit proof of completion of the three core courses.

        Continuing Education may only be submitted within the 60 days prior to the C.E. Due Date.  C.E. that is submitted before 60 days prior to the C.E. Due Date will be returned for you to maintain until it is due.

Q.   What happens if I do not complete my continuing education requirement before it is due?

A.   If your education requirement is not fulfilled by the due date, your license will be automatically suspended, and your broker must return it to the division.

Q.   How do I reinstate my license if it is suspended for failure to complete the continuing education requirement?

A.   If your license is suspended, you have one year to complete the continuing education requirement and reinstate your license.   To be eligible, you must submit proof of completion of the 30 hours of continuing education, the Continuing Education Compliance Form, a Transfer/Reactivation Application (for Salesperson or Broker as appropriate), and any required fees.   Active licensees who were 70 years of age or older during their education cycle need only submit the 9 required hours of C.E.   Inactive licensees who were 70 years of age or older during the education cycle should contact the division to have their status changed to “retired” so that no continuing education is required.

NOTE :   If you do not complete your continuing education within one year of your suspension, your license will be revoked.   You will then need to re-apply and pass the real estate examination to acquire a new license.

Q.   If I have a physical disability may I receive an extension of time to submit my continuing education?

A.   Yes.   Any licensee who is disabled during the last three months of their reporting period, including a stay in the hospital, and is unable to attend classroom instruction may receive an extension of time to complete and submit their education.   Contact the division at (614) 466-4100 for details.

Q.   How do I complete my Ohio continuing education if I live outside of the state?

A.   You must still complete 30 hours of continuing education.   However, if your legal residence is outside of the State of Ohio , you may take courses approved for continuing education in your state of residence.   Contact the Education Section for specific instructions on how to maintain your Ohio license.

         You may also take Ohio C.E. courses over the internet.  Consult the Continuing Education Course Lookup for available courses.

Q.   When may I start taking continuing education as a new licensee?

A.   New licensees may begin taking their required thirty hours of continuing education as soon as they are licensed.