Wisconsin Real Estate License Renewal

Written by: Ethan Peyton

Last updated:

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

The cost of renewing your Wisconsin 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 complete your Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin Real Estate Renewal Cost

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

StatusReal Estate AgentReal Estate Broker
Renewal Cost Online$60$60
Late Penalty Fee$25$25
Total Cost$60 – $85$60 – $85

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 Wisconsin.

Recommended Continuing Education Course

Our #1 qualified real estate education course is The CE Shop. They offer an exceptionally large variety of packages and can be very helpful in guiding you through Wisconsin CE requirements.

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Wisconsin Real Estate Continuing Education

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

Active Wisconsin Real Estate License Renewal

For the 2022-2024 biennium, all active licensees are required to complete 18 hours of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)-approved CE courses, including 12 mandatory hours on the following courses:

  • Wisconsin Agency Law
  • Wisconsin DSPS Disciplinary Actions
  • Commissions in Wisconsin Agency Agreements, Offers of Compensation, and Antitrust
  • The Inspection Contingency in the Wisconsin Offers to Purchase
  • Wisconsin Legislative Updates Related to Real Estate
  • Wisconsin Real Estate Case Law Update
  • Advertising for Wisconsin Real Estate Licensees
  • Default, Earnest Money, and WB-45 Cancellation Agreement and Mutual Release
  • Financing Commitment and Appraisal Contingencies in the Wisconsin Offers to Purchase
  • Fair Housing in Wisconsin Transactions
  • Agent-to-Agent Relationships
  • Seller and Licensee Disclosure in Wisconsin Transactions

Note: If you were issued your license after October 1 of an even-numbered year, you will be exempt from completing the CE requirements for the renewal of December of that same year.

Regardless of whether you are an agent or a broker, you will need to complete the remaining hours of CE by taking elective courses. These can be general real estate courses, or courses that fall within — but are not identical to — the above categories.

Inactive Wisconsin Real Estate License Renewal

In Wisconsin, licensees with an inactive status are not required to complete these CE requirements in order to renew.

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 five years after its expiration date by completing the previous biennium’s CE requirements and paying both the license and late fees.

If more than five 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 Wisconsin real estate license.

Renew Wisconsin Real Estate License

You will be able to renew your Wisconsin real estate license online or by mail.

You can renew your real estate license online through the Wisconsin license renewal online portal. If this is your first time renewing online, you will need to register first.

If you would rather do this via mail, you will need to request a paper renewal form by calling (608) 266-2112.

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

Wisconsin Real Estate License Renewal FAQ

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

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 Wisconsin?

You need 18 hours of continuing education (CE) training in order to renew your real estate agent license in Wisconsin. This number is exactly the same for real estate brokers.

What’s an approved continuing education course in Wisconsin?

An approved continuing education (CE) course is offered by a CE course provider that has been authorized — and is thus accepted — by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). You will need to complete a CE course if you want to renew your real estate agent or broker license in Wisconsin.

How to get a real estate license in Wisconsin?

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

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