How to renew your license: Brokers

When to renew

You must renew your broker’s license every 2 years. You can renew online, by mail, or at our office.

How to renew online

You can renew online only if you’re not required to submit fingerprints:

1. Type in the password on your renewal notice and, if actively licensed, your continuing education information.
2. Pay with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit or debit card.
3. Print the final confirmation screen for your records when you’re finished. You’ll get your license in the mail.

How to renew by mail

1. Submit all of the following:
   • Your renewal notice.
   • Your continuing education affidavit.
   • A check or money order for the fee (payable to the Department of Licensing).
   • Your completed fingerprint card, if required.
     • Don’t fold the fingerprint card or your fingerprints will have to be retaken.
     • If we don’t receive your completed fingerprint card, your renewal will be incomplete and we won’t be able to process it.
2. Mail your renewal documents and fee to:
   
   Real Estate Licensing
   Department of Licensing
   PO Box 3917
   Seattle, WA 98124-3917

If you didn’t get a renewal notice, or have misplaced it, complete a Real Estate License Renewal Application, include the required attachments, and mail it to us as described above.

How to renew at an office

You may renew your license by visiting our Olympia office (2000 4th Ave W).

• If you’re required to submit fingerprints, be sure to bring your completed fingerprint card with your renewal information.
  • Don’t fold the fingerprint card or your fingerprints will have to be retaken.
  • If you don’t bring your completed fingerprint card with your renewal information, your renewal will be incomplete and we won’t be able to process it.

Continuing education requirements

When you may renew your broker’s license, you must provide proof you have completed all the required continuing education:

For a list of approved continuing education courses, see the Real Estate Education Course Catalog.

Fingerprinting requirements

Once every 6 years, you’ll be required to submit your fingerprints with your active license renewal. We’ll determine when you must submit fingerprints, and send you a fingerprint card and instructions with your renewal notice.

How to get your fingerprints taken

Take the fingerprint card you got with your renewal notice to any fingerprinting service approved by the Washington State Patrol.

• Each fingerprinting service sets its own fee, and you’ll be required to pay them when you get your fingerprints taken.
• When you submit your renewal application, you must also pay us a fee to process your fingerprints through the Washington State Patrol and FBI.

If your fingerprint report shows a conviction

We’ll review each fingerprint report that shows a conviction on a case-by-case basis. During the review, we’ll look at:

• The type of crime.
• The level of the conviction.
• The relationship of the crime to professional real estate practices.
• The length of time since the conviction occurred.
• Whether you previously notified us of the conviction as required.

During the investigation, we may ask you or other sources to provide additional information about the conviction. Your license status won’t be affected while we review and investigate the conviction report.

If we decide to proceed with a disciplinary action against your license, we’ll notify you and provide information about the process. In most cases, the active status of your license won’t be affected until the process is fully completed and a final order is signed.

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