CE and License Renewal FAQs

The deadline for the 2025-26 biennium is December 14, 2026. Licensees must renew their license by December 14 of the even-numbered year in order to maintain their real estate license.

The cost for renewing a real estate license is $75.

No, taking your CE is not enough to renew your license. To maintain your license, you must complete the required CE and renew your license with the Wisconsin DSPS every two years by December 14 of the even-numbered year. 

No. Renewing your license is separate from renewing your REALTOR^® membership. You renew your license with the Wisconsin DSPS. You renew your membership with your local REALTOR^® association.

If your license is inactive and has been inactive for less than five years and you wish to renew your license, you must:

1. Complete the previous biennium of CE.
2. Pay the renewal fee.
3. Pay the late fee.

Licensees who do not have an active license cannot practice real estate until the license is renewed.

Eligibility for Wisconsin real estate license renewal requires Wisconsin real estate licensees to complete 18 Wisconsin-approved continuing education (CE) courses, each worth 1 credit hour every two years. Licenses must be renewed by December 14, 2026, to remain active. The Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) typically opens its online renewal portal system during the last two months of the biennium.

For the 2025-26 biennium, the required credits include the completion of 18 one-hour course topics, comprised of 12 mandatory courses and six elective courses.

Mandatory (licensees must take 12 hours)

• Course 1: Buyer Agency In Wisconsin*

• Course 2: Contract Drafting in Wisconsin

• Course 3: When the Wisconsin Transaction Does Not Close*

• Course 4: Department of Safety and Professional Services Discipline Roundup*

• Course 5: Wisconsin Legislative Updates

• Course 6: Wisconsin Case Law Related to Real Estate

• Course 7: Inspection and Testing in the Wisconsin Offers to Purchase*

• Course 8: Antitrust for Wisconsin Licensees*

• Course 9: Fair Housing I for Wisconsin Licensees — State Law**

• Course 10: Fair Housing II for Wisconsin Licensees — Federal Law**

• Course 11: Advertising for Wisconsin Licensees*

• Course 12: Financing and Appraisal in the Wisconsin Offer to Purchase

Electives (licensees must take six hours)

• Elective 1: Disclosure for Wisconsin Licensees

• Elective 2: Seller Impersonation Fraud

• Elective 3: Personal Transactions for Wisconsin Licensees

• Elective 4: Incentives in Wisconsin Real Estate Transactions

• Elective 5: Commissions and Dispute Resolution in the Wisconsin Listing Contracts

• Elective 6: Personal Property and Fixtures in Wisconsin Transactions

*Completion of these six courses satisfies the National Association of REALTORS®’ Code of Ethics requirements.

**Completion of these courses satisfies the National Association of REALTORS®’ Fair Housing requirements.

The WRA offers multiple education formats for CE:

• On Demand CE, which is full online learning.
• Self-study book, which includes a printed, hard-copy coursebook.
• Attendance at select WRA events.

• Learn what matters to Wisconsin real estate professionals: WRA CE is developed by Wisconsin real estate legal experts with the Wisconsin-specific knowledge you need to stay current in your practice.

• Prepare for 2027 practice changes: WRA CE courses include important information about Wisconsin real estate practice changes taking effect January 1, 2027. You’ll learn about new requirements affecting residential transactions and what they will mean for your day-to-day practice.

• Complete it all in one place: Complete all 12 mandatory courses and six elective courses with the WRA. All WRA CE courses are approved and satisfy the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) CE requirements. Plus, when you complete all 18 hours with the WRA, your CE is automatically reported to the DSPS, making the renewal process a breeze.

No, the WRA does not have student records for coursework completed elsewhere. You must contact the other education provider to obtain your course certificates.

The WRA no longer offers Dual License Wisconsin/Minnesota CE courses. For Minnesota CE credit, please check with a Minnesota-approved education provider. Wisconsin CE courses are still available from the WRA.

For more information, visit the company section of your WRA online profile.

Most new licensees need to complete CE. Newly licensed salespersons who received their original real estate license after October 1 of the even year of the biennium are not required to complete CE for that biennium. However, all new broker licensees must complete CE. To verify, please check the expiration date on your DSPS issued license.

Answers to common online course problems and basic troubleshooting are below. You can also get help by contacting the WRA Education Department at 608-241-2047 or educate@wra.org. We are available from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you are experiencing problems with streaming video, try the following:

• Refresh your browser (click on  icon or on F5 key).
• Close your browser and re-open it.
• Clear your browsing data, then close and re-open your browser again.
• Try a different browser, such as Google Chrome.
• Log out of wra.org and back in.
• Restart your computer or device.

Log in by using your myWRA credentials. To create an account or reset your password, visit myWRA. 

To obtain certificates, visit the education section of your WRA online profile. The WRA maintains certificates for WRA courses only. If you took CE through another education provider, contact that provider for your certificates.

No. However, when you complete all 18 CE hours with the WRA, your completed coursework is automatically reported to the DSPS. The DSPS already has your CE credits on file when you visit the LicensE portal for your renewal, so there’s no manual entry of your CE information.

On the other hand, if you took CE courses with another education provider, you must contact that education provider to obtain your course completion certificates. You will need all 18 certificates when you are on the LicensE portal ready to renew, and you’ll be required to manually enter your information into LicensE.

No. The information and materials contained in WRA courses are provided exclusively for educational purposes and are solely intended to be statements of general legal principles. The information and materials are not to be construed, interpreted, relied upon or used as legal advice in any fashion, including but not limited to use in litigation, arbitration, ethics matters or other administrative proceedings. Individuals seeking legal advice should obtain private legal counsel and should not rely on the information and materials contained herein.

These details are available on the WRA class rules and cancellation policy webpage.