Every fall, the same thing happens. Agents who've been busy all year look up in December and realize their continuing education hours aren't done. Then everybody's scrambling for the same classes the week before Christmas.

Don't be that agent this year. Here's exactly what Kentucky requires, how to check where you stand in two minutes, and the fastest way to get it done.

What's due by December 31

If you hold an active Kentucky real estate license, KREC (the Kentucky Real Estate Commission) requires:

• 6 hours of continuing education (CE) every calendar year. The courses have to be approved by KREC.
• 3 of those 6 hours have to be real estate law. The other 3 can be electives.
• The Kentucky Core Course once every four years. It's a 6-hour state-specific course, and no other class can stand in for it. The year you take it, it covers your 6 hours. Your first four-year cycle starts the year you were first licensed.
• The deadline is December 31. Not the end of your renewal period, not "sometime after the holidays." December 31.

Source: KREC's continuing education page and the regulation itself, 201 KAR 11:210.

Are you exempt?

New licensees don't owe CE for their first two calendar years in Kentucky. But don't celebrate yet. You have a different requirement: post-license education (PLE). Anyone licensed as a sales associate since January 1, 2016 has to finish 48 hours of PLE within two years of getting their license. That's 32 required hours and 16 electives. Miss it and your license gets cancelled. Details from GLAR's school: louisvillerealtors.com/post-license-education.

If your license is inactive, you don't owe CE while it stays inactive.

What happens if you miss it

This is the part people don't take seriously enough. Under 201 KAR 11:210, an active licensee who doesn't finish CE on time can have their license cancelled and can't renew until it's fixed. Getting back in good standing can mean a $1,000 administrative fine and a written plan to make up the hours, and it gets worse if you don't cure it quickly. Missing the Core Course in the year it's due triggers the same delinquency process, even if you took other classes.

That's a lot of money and stress to avoid six hours of class.

How to check your hours in two minutes

• Log into KREC eServices at oop.ky.gov.
• Look at your education record for this year. You need 6 hours, with 3 in law.
• Check the year of your last Core Course. If it's been four years, this is your year.

Also check your NAR (National Association of REALTORS) requirement while you're at it. Code of Ethics and Fair Housing training are due by December 31, 2027 for the current cycle. That's a membership requirement, not a license requirement, and NAR's free courses don't count as Kentucky CE. Check your status at nar.realtor/my-account.

The fastest way to finish

• On demand, on your schedule. GLAR's school, KARE (the Kentucky Academy of Real Estate), sells on-demand CE through its online catalog. You get six months of access, and they report your completion to KREC for you.
• In a classroom. KARE runs live and hybrid CE and Core classes at member pricing. The schedule is at louisvillerealtors.com/continuing-education, and you register through the GLAR member portal.
• Two-for-one tip: some GLAR ethics classes count for both Kentucky CE and your NAR ethics requirement. Ask when you register.
• Finish by mid-December. The school has to report your hours to KREC before the deadline. Give them room.

Know someone thinking about getting licensed?

The GLAR Foundation offers a scholarship that covers 100% of approved pre-licensing tuition at KARE, and it can include exam prep and exam fees. There's a catch worth knowing: you have to pass the state exam and join GLAR as a primary member before the money is reimbursed. Details at louisvillerealtors.com/foundation.

While you're thinking about your license

December is when a lot of agents take stock. Hours, dues, splits, and whether their brokerage actually has their back. If you want to talk through any of it, even if you never plan to leave where you are, grab 15 minutes with me: robbergeron.youcanbook.me.

And if you're curious how Winner Realty works, our plans are all laid out at thewinnerrealty.com/join. For everything else your membership already pays for, read our guide to every GLAR member benefit.

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Kentucky real estate agents need?

Six hours every calendar year, with three of those hours in real estate law. The courses must be approved by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission.

When is the Kentucky real estate CE deadline?

December 31 of each year. Finish by mid-December so your school has time to report your hours to KREC.

How often do I have to take the Kentucky Core Course?

Once every four years, starting from the year you were first licensed. It is a 6-hour course, it counts as your CE for that year, and no other course can replace it.

Do new Kentucky agents need continuing education?

Not for the first two calendar years. New sales associates instead must finish 48 hours of post-license education within two years of getting their license.

What happens if I miss the Kentucky CE deadline?

Under 201 KAR 11:210, your license can be cancelled and you cannot renew until the hours are made up. Reinstatement can involve a $1,000 administrative fine and a written delinquency plan.

This guide reflects Kentucky rules as of September 2026 and is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm your requirements with KREC or your principal broker.