Kentucky real estate license and CE requirements
What the Kentucky Real Estate Commission asks of licensees, with a link to the official source for every figure.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026. Next review due October 2027.
Kentucky's statute, as amended effective July 15, 2026, requires 12 hours of continuing education per two-year license period, half of them in real estate law. Six hours must be finished in the first year of the period, or the license is canceled automatically. The commission's own CE page still describes the older six-hours-a-year rule, which adds up to the same total.
Once every four years, Kentucky licensees also take the 6-hour Kentucky Core Course, and no other course substitutes for it. New sales associates complete 48 hours of post-license education within two years and are exempt from regular CE during their first two full education cycles.
Kentucky at a glance
| Licensing body | Kentucky Real Estate Commission |
|---|---|
| License levels | Sales associate and broker |
| Sales associate CE | 12 hours every 2 yearsRequired topics: 6 of the 12 hrs in real estate law; 6 hrs must be completed in the first year of the biennial period; Kentucky Core Course (6 hrs) once every four years |
| Broker CE | 12 hours every 2 yearsRequired topics: 6 of the 12 hrs in real estate law; 6 hrs must be completed in the first year of the biennial period; Kentucky Core Course (6 hrs) once every four years |
| Post-license education | Sales associates first licensed after January 1, 2016 must complete 48 hours of commission-approved post-license education within 2 years of receiving or activating the license, or the license is automatically canceled. |
| Renewal | Six of the twelve hours are due by December 31 of the first year of the two-year period. |
| Source | State code or rule text (Kentucky), checked October 15, 2026 |
Rules change. The Kentucky Real Estate Commission is the only authority on what you need to renew; where this page and the official source disagree, the official source is right. Blank figures say "Check with the Kentucky Real Estate Commission" because we could not confirm them from an official source.
Optional professional development
Once your CE is done, these ACI designations go deeper on the same ground as parts of the Kentucky requirements. They are voluntary, they are not CE, and you never need them to keep your license.
Advanced Real Estate Negotiator
The negotiation playbook that protects your clients and your commission.
Optional depth beyond licensing topics: the AREN is a practical playbook for negotiating offers and counters.
Certified AI Real Estate Expert
Use AI and modern tools to write, market and serve clients in less time.
Optional depth beyond licensing topics: the CAIRE covers using AI tools responsibly in daily work.
Certified Buyer Consultation Specialist
Run the buyer consultation, sign the agreement and defend your fee.
The CBCS covers the buyer consultation, written buyer agreements and compensation conversations in depth.
Questions about Kentucky
How many CE hours does a Kentucky sales associate need?
12 hours every 2 years, according to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (checked October 15, 2026). Required topics: 6 of the 12 hrs in real estate law; 6 hrs must be completed in the first year of the biennial period; Kentucky Core Course (6 hrs) once every four years.
How many CE hours does a Kentucky broker need?
12 hours every 2 years, according to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission (checked October 15, 2026). Required topics: 6 of the 12 hrs in real estate law; 6 hrs must be completed in the first year of the biennial period; Kentucky Core Course (6 hrs) once every four years.
Is there post-license education in Kentucky?
Sales associates first licensed after January 1, 2016 must complete 48 hours of commission-approved post-license education within 2 years of receiving or activating the license, or the license is automatically canceled. Confirm the details with the Kentucky Real Estate Commission.
Do ACI designations count toward Kentucky CE?
No. Agent Certification Institute designations are voluntary professional credentials, not continuing-education credit. They are not approved by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission and do not satisfy any part of Kentucky's CE, post-license or renewal requirements.