All individual real estate licenses are issued for three-year terms, counting the remaining portion of the year of issue as a full year. All individual licenses expire on December 31 of the third year of the license term. As a requirement of license renewal in an active status, each real estate licensee shall complete a minimum of 36 hours of approved programs, courses or activities. The continuing education must be completed during the three calendar years of the license term and cannot be carried over to another license. During each three-year renewal period a course may be taken for credit only once. A course may be repeated for credit only if the course numbers and instructors are different. Approved courses in the following subjects shall be completed to renew a license to active status.

12 hours – Mandatory hours 8 hours law update 4 hours ethics 24 hours – Elective hours Note: per Iowa state regulations, a maximum of 24 hours of continuing education may be taken by distance learning each three-year renewal period.

The state does not require schools to report course completions.