A licensee in Washington must complete continuing education courses every two years. This is in addition to the initial requirement of 90 hours of courses. Those who have a limited license are not required to complete continuing education. However, they do have to participate in active practice and must have a yearly professional growth plan. The state’s Department of Licensing has guidelines on the best courses to take.
There are three categories of courses that will qualify you for continuing education. These include the Core Course, the Advanced Practices Course, and the Real Estate Law Course. You may also choose to take a course from a provider outside of the state. Lastly, there are supplemental packages that can help you meet your requirements.
The core course is a 3-hour course that must be completed 24 months prior to your renewal date. This course may be taken online, in person, or in a hybrid format. Alternatively, the course may be self-study. It is important to note that you will not receive credit for the course if you repeat it, unless you have a good reason for doing so.
The advanced practice courses are for licensees who have already completed a core course. The advanced practices courses are a 30-hour package that includes 6 hours of the Fair Housing course, and 21 hours of electives. In order to get these credits, you must pass the final exam with at least 70% or higher.
Individuals selling long-term care partnership insurance must complete 8 credits from an approved course. Producers who sell annuity products must also complete a 4-hour course in Annuity Suitability Training. All courses that are approved for Washington CE hours are in this Washington Continuing Education catalog.
The 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course is scheduled for June 1, 2023. Brokers who renew their license in 2022 must complete this course by June 1, 2023. If you need to complete this course, you should make sure to enroll now before the deadline.
Continuing Education non-credit classes are offered in traditional time periods and formats. They are intended for individuals with a variety of educational backgrounds and professional goals. Oftentimes, these classes are offered in evenings or in intensive workshop formats. For students who prefer to learn in the comfort of their own homes, there are online courses available through CareLearn Washington.
Several providers are approved for Washington Continuing Education. CCEDSeminars is a PACE approved provider. Additionally, the CE Shop is a DOL-approved provider. Another provider that is PACE-approved is Kaplan Financial Education. Both of these providers offer an early registration discount of $50.
The Professional Educator Standards Board approves continuing education providers for educators. To get approval, a provider must be a college or university and an accredited institution. Also, agencies seeking approval must be a local, state, or federal government agency. Lastly, the provider must have been in business for at least one year.
Washington real estate brokers renewing their licenses for the second time must also complete a special 3-hour Washington Core Course. Any excess hours of CE that are not used before your next renewal date will be carried over to the next license cycle.