An Illinois real estate broker license must be renewed according to the schedule established by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Renewal is more than simply paying a fee—you may also need to complete continuing education or post-license education before submitting your renewal.
Illinois broker licenses generally expire on April 30 of each even-numbered year. Because the 2026 renewal cycle has passed, the next regular broker renewal deadline is April 30, 2028.
This guide explains Illinois broker renewal deadlines, education requirements, fees, online renewal, first-renewal rules, license verification, and what to do if your license has already expired.
The major renewal points to understand are:
| Renewal Item | General Rule |
|---|---|
| Broker Expiration Date | April 30 of even-numbered years |
| Next Regular Broker Deadline | April 30, 2028 |
| Current Renewal Fee | $200 |
| Regular Broker CE | Generally 12 hours per license term |
| New Broker First-Term Education | 45 hours of post-license education |
| Late Fee | $75 for a license expired no more than 2 years |
| Renewal Method | IDFPR Online Services Portal |
The exact education requirement that applies to you depends on factors such as your original license date and renewal stage.
Current Illinois Administrative Code provides that every broker license expires on:
April 30 of each even-numbered year
That means regular broker renewal years include:
Managing brokers follow a different renewal schedule, so make sure you are reviewing requirements for the correct license type.
The most recent Illinois broker renewal deadline was:
April 30, 2026
Because broker licenses expire on April 30 of even-numbered years, the next regular broker renewal deadline is:
April 30, 2028
Your individual license record should still be checked because newly issued licenses and certain other circumstances can affect the expiration date shown for a particular license.
Use the official IDFPR License Lookup to verify your own expiration date.
Even though the next regular renewal deadline is April 30, 2028, brokers should review their education requirements well before the renewal window opens.
Early preparation gives you time to:
A renewal problem is much easier to resolve months before the deadline than on the final day.
Current Illinois Administrative Code lists the renewal fee for an unexpired broker license as:
$200 per renewal
This fee is separate from:
Because state fees can change, verify the amount displayed by IDFPR when the renewal period opens.
The $200 broker renewal fee does not include the cost of completing your required education.
Your renewal budget may therefore include:
Currently:
$200
Cost varies by approved education provider.
Depending on your renewal stage, you may need:
or
Plan for both the education cost and the state renewal fee.
Illinois requires applicable education to be completed before renewing the license.
Do not submit a renewal application and assume you can finish the required education later.
Before renewing, determine:
Then complete the applicable education before submitting your renewal certification.
New Illinois brokers should pay particular attention to their first renewal.
The first license term is generally associated with:
45 hours of post-license education
rather than the ordinary continuing education requirement that applies during later license terms.
This is one of the most important distinctions in Illinois broker renewal.
Do not assume that every broker simply completes the same 12 CE hours at every renewal.
Illinois requires qualifying new brokers to complete:
45 hours of post-license education
The current post-license curriculum consists of three 15-hour courses covering areas such as:
The education is designed to build on the knowledge learned during pre-license education and apply it more directly to professional brokerage practice.
For most newly licensed brokers, the required 45 hours of post-license education must be completed before the applicable first renewal.
However, Illinois rules contain an exception for brokers receiving their initial license within the period immediately preceding a renewal deadline.
Those brokers may receive additional time and complete the 45-hour requirement before the second applicable broker renewal deadline.
This is why your original license issuance date matters.
Do not determine your requirement based only on what another new broker was required to complete.
IDFPR's 2026 guidance specifically states that a broker license first issued:
On or after November 1, 2025
has an expiration date of:
April 30, 2028
For this group, the applicable:
45 hours of post-license education
must be completed by April 30, 2028.
If this describes your license, begin planning the education well before the 2028 renewal deadline.
Once a broker moves beyond the applicable first-term post-license requirement, regular continuing education applies during later license terms.
Current Illinois rules generally require brokers to complete:
12 hours of continuing education during the license term
unless an applicable exemption or special rule applies.
Current Illinois rules require regular broker CE to include the applicable Core curriculum and additional approved education.
For the 2026 renewal cycle, the standard requirement for brokers subject to regular CE was:
for a total of:
12 hours
The education also needed to address applicable mandated training requirements.
Because curriculum rules can change between renewal cycles, brokers renewing in 2028 should use the IDFPR requirements published for that specific renewal cycle.
Illinois's updated broker Core continuing education curriculum includes fair housing education.
Current rules require the broker Core curriculum to include at least:
2 hours of fair housing training
Fair housing is not simply a renewal formality.
It is a central professional responsibility for brokers working with buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, and housing-related advertising.
Illinois professional license holders are subject to an applicable sexual harassment prevention training requirement during renewal cycles.
IDFPR states that individual license holders generally must complete:
1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training
during each applicable renewal cycle.
For real estate brokers, this training can be incorporated into qualifying education according to the applicable rules and approved curriculum.
When preparing for your renewal, confirm that your education satisfies all current requirements rather than counting only the total number of hours.
These two education requirements apply at different stages.
| Education Type | Typical Stage |
|---|---|
| Pre-License Education | Before initial broker licensure |
| Post-License Education | New broker's applicable first license term |
| Continuing Education | Later broker renewal cycles |
Completing regular CE does not automatically replace a 45-hour post-license requirement.
Likewise, a broker who has already moved into regular CE cycles should follow the continuing education requirement that applies to that renewal term.
Your original broker license issuance date is one of the most useful pieces of information when planning renewal.
You can use IDFPR License Lookup to verify:
Once you know your license date, compare it with the current renewal guidance to determine whether you need:
Education used to satisfy Illinois real estate renewal requirements should come through an appropriate IDFPR-approved education provider and approved course.
Before enrolling, confirm:
Do not assume that any real estate seminar or online class automatically counts toward Illinois renewal.
IDFPR provides a Continuing Education Lookup for reviewing education recorded for the applicable renewal cycle.
Before renewing, compare the online record with your own course documentation.
Check:
If something appears to be missing, address it before submitting your renewal.
Do not rely exclusively on the online CE system.
Keep your own copies of:
IDFPR may audit renewal compliance and can require evidence demonstrating that education requirements were satisfied.
Your personal records provide important backup documentation.
When renewing, brokers are required to certify compliance with the education requirements that apply to them.
This means you should verify your education before making the certification.
Before submitting:
Do not certify that an education requirement has been completed if it has not actually been satisfied.
Illinois provides an exemption from certain broker continuing education requirements for attorneys currently admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illinois.
The 2026 broker renewal guidance also identified this attorney exemption.
However, qualifying attorneys still need to complete the applicable renewal process and follow the certification instructions presented on the renewal application.
Do not assume that any law degree or admission outside Illinois automatically creates the same exemption.
IDFPR uses its Online Services Portal for real estate license renewal.
When the renewal period is open, the general process includes:
Follow the current IDFPR instructions available during your renewal cycle.
Do not wait until the renewal deadline to discover that you cannot access your portal account.
Well before renewal:
IDFPR's 2026 renewal guidance specifically encouraged licensees to prepare their Online Services Portal accounts ahead of the renewal period.
IDFPR uses electronic communication for important licensing information.
Make sure the email associated with your licensing records is current.
An outdated email address could cause you to miss:
Ultimately, the broker remains responsible for maintaining the license even if a reminder email is missed.
No broker should rely exclusively on receiving a reminder notice.
Know your own:
For Illinois brokers, the regular expiration schedule is April 30 of even-numbered years.
Treat the renewal notice as helpful communication, not as the only trigger for beginning your renewal preparation.
Illinois law generally allows eligible license holders to renew within the period preceding expiration.
For the 2026 broker cycle, IDFPR opened renewal during:
February through April 30, 2026
The specific opening date and portal instructions for the 2028 cycle should be confirmed when IDFPR publishes that renewal information.
Prepare your education before the window opens so you are ready to submit once renewal becomes available.
Do not deliberately wait until April 30.
Renewing earlier can give you time to address issues such as:
IDFPR's 2026 guidance specifically encouraged brokers to renew early to avoid delays and late penalties.
After submitting the renewal:
IDFPR currently advises allowing approximately:
2–4 business days
for a renewed real estate license to post in its systems and for the license status to update.
Do not immediately submit another renewal simply because the lookup has not changed within minutes.
Once processing is complete, use the official Illinois License Lookup to check your updated record.
Verify:
Keep your renewal confirmation and education records with your professional licensing documents.
Missing the renewal deadline can create additional costs and licensing complications.
IDFPR states that if the renewal window has closed and the online portal no longer allows renewal, the licensee may need to use a reinstatement process rather than an ordinary renewal.
Do not assume that an expired license can always be renewed through the same online button after the renewal period closes.
Follow the current IDFPR instructions for your license status.
Current Illinois Administrative Code lists a:
$75 late fee
for a broker license that has been expired for no more than two years.
This is an additional amount associated with late licensing action and does not eliminate other applicable requirements.
Renewing before expiration is simpler than dealing with an expired license.
A broker license expired for a longer period can require restoration rather than ordinary renewal.
Current Illinois rules provide that a broker license expired for:
More than 2 years but less than 5 years
can involve a restoration fee based on the lapsed renewal fees and applicable late fee, along with other restoration requirements.
The precise process depends on your license status and circumstances.
Contact IDFPR or follow the current restoration instructions rather than submitting an ordinary renewal application.
These terms should not be treated as interchangeable.
Used when an eligible license is renewed through the normal renewal process.
May apply when the normal renewal period has passed and the license is no longer eligible for ordinary online renewal.
Can apply when a license has been expired or inactive for a longer period and additional requirements must be satisfied.
Use the process that corresponds to your actual license status.
If your broker license has expired or is otherwise not in a status that permits licensed brokerage activity, do not continue operating as though the credential were current.
Before returning to activities requiring licensure:
Use License Lookup to verify the official state record.
Renewing your individual broker license does not eliminate the Illinois sponsorship structure.
If you are conducting licensed brokerage activity, make sure your sponsorship information remains properly established.
If you change brokerages near the renewal period:
Renewal and sponsorship are related professional responsibilities but separate licensing transactions.
Technical or education problems are harder to resolve at the last minute.
Confirm whether you need post-license education or regular CE.
Verify the provider and course before enrolling.
Make sure required categories such as Core training are satisfied.
Check all mandated training requirements.
Keep your own education records.
Complete the education first.
Education completion does not automatically renew the license.
Allow processing time and verify the license afterward.
Resolve the licensing status before performing regulated brokerage activity.
Use this checklist well before your next deadline:
If this is your first applicable renewal, pay particular attention to post-license education.
Do not assume regular 12-hour CE automatically applies to a new broker's first license term.
If you are beyond the applicable post-license stage:
The exact course structure should always be checked against the current IDFPR guidance for your renewal year.
Because the next regular broker expiration date is April 30, 2028, brokers can begin preparing well in advance.
A long lead time makes renewal easier to manage.
Maintain a folder containing:
This becomes increasingly useful as you move through multiple renewal cycles.
Initial licensure gets you into the profession.
Renewal keeps your credential current.
A long-term Illinois broker licensing path looks like:
75-Hour Pre-License Education
↓
Broker Examination
↓
Initial License
↓
45-Hour Post-License Education When Applicable
↓
First Renewal
↓
Regular Continuing Education
↓
Future Renewals
Treat renewal planning as an ongoing professional responsibility rather than an administrative task that begins a few days before expiration.
Renewal education helps brokers maintain and expand the knowledge needed for professional real estate practice.
Illinois Broker Academy provides education and learning resources for individuals progressing through the Illinois broker licensing journey.
Whether you are a new broker preparing for your first post-license requirement or an experienced broker planning future continuing education, knowing your license dates and education obligations can help you remain organized.
If you need continuing education information:
Illinois Broker Continuing Education
If this is your first license term:
Illinois Broker Post-License Education
If you need to verify your license:
Illinois Broker License Lookup
If you want to understand licensing costs:
If you want a complete licensing checklist:
Illinois Broker License Checklist
If you are still working toward initial licensure:
Current Illinois Administrative Code states that broker licenses expire on April 30 of each even-numbered year.
The 2026 broker renewal deadline was April 30, 2026. Because Illinois broker licenses follow an April 30 even-numbered-year schedule, the next regular broker renewal deadline is April 30, 2028. Check your own license record to confirm your expiration date.
Current Illinois Administrative Code lists the renewal fee for an unexpired broker license as $200 per renewal.
Brokers subject to regular continuing education generally need 12 CE hours during the current license term. Newly licensed brokers can instead be subject to the 45-hour post-license requirement during the applicable first license term.
Not necessarily. Qualifying newly licensed brokers generally complete 45 hours of post-license education during the applicable first license term instead of regular CE.
Qualifying new Illinois brokers must complete 45 hours of post-license education under the applicable first-renewal rules.
IDFPR's current guidance states that broker licenses first issued on or after November 1, 2025 have an expiration date of April 30, 2028 and require completion of the applicable 45 hours of post-license education by that deadline.
For the 2026 cycle, brokers subject to regular CE generally completed 12 hours consisting of a 6-hour Core course and 6 elective hours. Future renewal-cycle requirements should be verified through the current IDFPR guidance.
Yes. Current Illinois rules require the broker Core curriculum to include fair housing training.
Illinois individual professional license holders are subject to an applicable one-hour sexual harassment prevention training requirement during renewal cycles. Brokers should make sure the requirement is satisfied within their applicable education plan.
Yes. Applicable continuing education or post-license education should be completed before submitting the renewal and certifying compliance.
Use an appropriate IDFPR-approved real estate education provider and approved course that satisfies the education category required for your renewal.
IDFPR provides a Continuing Education Lookup that can be used to review completed education reported for the applicable renewal cycle.
Yes. Brokers should keep evidence of education compliance because IDFPR may conduct audits or request documentation.
IDFPR uses its Online Services Portal for real estate license renewal. When the renewal period is open, access your account, complete the renewal application, certify applicable education compliance, pay the fee, and submit the renewal.
IDFPR currently advises allowing approximately 2–4 business days for a renewed real estate license to post in its systems and for the status to update.
If the normal renewal window closes, you may need to use the applicable reinstatement or restoration process rather than ordinary online renewal. The exact procedure depends on your license status and how long it has been expired.
Current Illinois rules list a $75 late fee for a broker license expired for no more than two years, in addition to other applicable requirements.
A license expired for more than two years can require restoration rather than ordinary renewal. Current rules include additional restoration requirements and fees, so review the process that applies to your specific license status.
Do not perform activities requiring current broker licensure when your license status does not authorize those activities. Resolve the licensing issue and verify your updated status before returning to regulated brokerage activity.
Illinois provides a continuing education exemption for qualifying attorneys currently admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court of Illinois. They should still follow the applicable renewal and certification instructions.
After allowing the applicable processing time, use your IDFPR Online Services Portal and the official Illinois License Lookup to confirm the updated license status and expiration date.
Use current IDFPR Division of Real Estate renewal information, Illinois Administrative Code, License Lookup, CE Lookup, and renewal-cycle education guidance because requirements and procedures can change between renewal periods.