How to renew your license: Managing brokers

Things to know

License expires every 2 years
You can renew 120 days before your license expires
Fingerprint based background check results expire every 6 years
- To renew, active or inactive, the results on file must be current
License renewal and fingerprint renewal notices are emailed separately
- Keep your email on file up-to-date
Reminders are also posted in "Your To-do's" on your home page when you login
To receive updates and alerts, sign up for our listserv

Before you renew

Complete your continuing education requirements. (You won’t need to upload proof of your education unless your renewal notice states you have randomly been chosen for audit.)
Be ready to answer legal background questions and provide documents if needed.
Submit a new fingerprint based background check, if needed
- If you live in WA, see fingerprinting and background checks for information on how to submit your fingerprints.
- If you are outside of WA, see out-of-state fingerprinting.
- When you login, there will be a fingerprint reminder if the results are within 60 days of expiring on the home page. The renewal reminder and renewal button will not appear if the results are expired.

What you'll need

A SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account to apply online.
- If you don't have one, you'll be able to create one before you start.
- For help visit How to set up account access.

How to renew

You can renew online or by mail.

Renew online

Create or use your SAW account to renew and pay your fees online.
If your background results have expired, a reminder will appear under the "Your To-do's" box on our system's home page. When results are current, the renewal reminder and renewal button will appear.

Start renewal

Renew by mail

Complete a Real Estate License Renewal form and mail to:
Real Estate Licensing
Department of Licensing
PO Box 3856
Seattle, WA 98124-3856
Expect a minimum of 21 days for us to process mailed in renewals.

Continuing education requirements

When you renew, you must certify online that you have completed all the required continuing education:

Active renewals
Renewal type	Required continuing education
Real estate brokers First renewal (WAC 308–124A–785)	At least 90 hours, started after the date of licensing, including: 30-hour Advanced Practices Course 30-hour Real Estate Law Course 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course 27 hours other approved continuing education If you haven't taken the initial 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course will need to take this course first. You'll need to take the 3-hours Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course every renewal thereafter.
Real estate brokers Subsequent renewals (WAC 308–124A–790)	At least 30 hours, including: 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course 3-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing 24 hours other approved continuing education 15 hours must be completed within 24 months of your renewal date. You may also use up to 15 hours of unused continuing education completed within 48 months of your renewal date. If you haven't taken the initial 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course will need to take this course first. You'll need to take the 3-hours Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course every renewal thereafter.
Managing brokers Active renewals (WAC 308–124A–790)	At least 30 hours, including: 3-hour Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate Course 3-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing 24 hours other approved continuing education At least 15 hours must be completed within 24 months of your renewal date. You may also use up to 15 hours of unused continuing education completed within 48 months of your renewal date. The hours must be started after the date of first licensure as a managing broker. If you haven't taken the initial 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course will need to take this course first. You'll need to take the 3-hours Washington Real Estate Fair Housing course every renewal thereafter.

Inactive renewals
Renewal type	Required continuing education
Brokers or managing brokers	No continuing education required to renew an inactive license. To activate your license, you may have to meet the education requirements for an active license. Email realestate@dol.wa.gov to find out if you need to complete education before applying to activate your license.

Visit the course search for a list of approved continuing education courses.

Questions? Need help?

Email us: realestate@dol.wa.gov
Call us: 360.664.6500