Iowa Real Estate License Renewal

Written by: Ethan Peyton

Last updated:

If you have a real estate license in Iowa, you will need to renew it every three years in order to continue operating legitimately. This is the case regardless of whether you are a real estate agent or a broker.

The cost of renewing your Iowa real estate license will depend on whether you do this on time – or have to pay a late penalty fee – as well as whether you are a broker or a real estate agent.

In this guide, we break down how you can go about completing your Iowa Real Estate License Renewal, detailing how much this will cost, as well as what continuing education (CE) requirements you will need to complete before submitting your application.

Iowa Real Estate Renewal Cost

The total cost of your Iowa Real Estate License Renewal will depend on several factors, including whether you are an agent or broker, and whether you need to pay a late penalty fee:

StatusReal Estate AgentReal Estate Broker
Renewal Cost Online$125$170
Late Penalty Fee$25 per month, up to $900$25 per month, up to $900
Total Cost$125 – $1,025$170 – $1,070

On top of this, you’ll need to add the cost of purchasing a real estate CE course, as this is a legal requirement in the state of Iowa.

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Iowa Real Estate Continuing Education

You will need to complete the following CE requirements in order to renew your real estate license in Iowa.

Iowa Active Real Estate License Renewal

You are required to take 36 hours of Iowa Real Estate Commission (IREC)-approved CE courses, including:

  • Law Update: Eight hours
  • Ethics: Four hours

Regardless of whether you are an agent or a broker, you will need to complete the remaining 24 hours of CE by taking elective courses. These can be general real estate courses, such as:

  • Breaking Barriers: Fair Housing
  • First-Time Homebuyers: A Niche to Grow On
  • Foundations of Real Estate Finance
  • Residential Property Management Essentials

Iowa Inactive Real Estate License Renewal

In Iowa, your real estate license will become inactive if you fail to renew it on time.

Keep in mind that you will not be able to engage in any real estate sales or brokerage activity with an inactive license.

Note: You will be able to renew your license for up to three years after its expiration date by filing a Reinstatement Application and paying a fee of $25 per month passed (up to a maximum of $900).

If more than three years pass since your license expires, you will no longer be able to renew it, and will instead be required to reapply in order to get your Iowa real estate license.

Renew Iowa Real Estate License

You will be able to renew your Iowa real estate license online. There is no mailing or in-office service available.

You can renew your real estate license online through the My Iowa PLB system. If this is your first time renewing online, you will need to register first. You can do this by including your:

  • Full legal name
  • Email
  • Username
  • Phone number

We recommend  that you complete your CE training at least 10 days before your license expires as this will ensure that there is enough time for it to be processed.

Iowa Real Estate License Renewal FAQ

How much does it cost to renew my real estate license in Iowa?

This will depend on several factors, including whether you are a real estate agent or a broker and whether you have to pay a late-filing penalty fee. You will also have to purchase a CE course. The CE Shop is our number one pick when it comes to real estate education courses because they offer a variety of packages at a very affordable price. For more information, we recommend having a look at our The CE Shop Real Estate Class Review article.

How many continuing education hours do you need to renew your license in Iowa?

You need 36 hours of continuing education (CE) training in order to renew your real estate agent license in Iowa. This number is the exact same for real estate brokers.

What’s an approved continuing education course in Iowa?

An approved continuing education (CE) course is given by a CE course provider that has been authorized – and is thus accepted – by the Iowa Real Estate Commission. You will need to complete a CE course in order to renew your real estate agent or broker license in Iowa.

How to get a real estate license in Iowa?

You can get a real estate license in Iowa by filing a real estate license application through the My Iowa PLB system, completing a fingerprint and background check, taking a real estate education course, and passing your Iowa real estate exam. For more information, we recommend having a look at our How to Get Your Iowa Real Estate License article.

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