Real estate agents and brokers are not the same role. A salesperson works under a broker. A broker can run a brokerage. The CE rules are not always the same either.
Some states use the same hour count for both. Other states pile extra hours and extra topics on brokers. We pulled the difference for the top 10 markets so you can scan it in one minute.
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How we built this: We read every state real estate commission rule so you do not have to. Hours, cycles, and fees come from each state board site. Always confirm with your state before you renew.
Broker vs salesperson at a glance
| Feature | Salesperson | Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Can hire agents | No | Yes |
| Works under a broker | Yes | No (or self-supervises) |
| Pre-licensing hours | 40 to 180 | 60 to 360 |
| CE hour load | Set by state | Often higher than salesperson |
| Supervision topics | Rarely required | Often required |
| Renewal fee | Lower in most states | Higher in most states |
Top 10 state comparison
| State | Salesperson | Broker |
|---|---|---|
| California | 45 hrs / 4 yr | 45 hrs / 4 yr + supervision focus |
| Texas | 18 hrs / 2 yr | 18 hrs / 2 yr + broker responsibility (6 hrs) |
| Florida | 14 hrs / 2 yr | 14 hrs / 2 yr (post-license is 60 hrs after first license) |
| New York | 22.5 hrs / 2 yr | 22.5 hrs / 2 yr |
| Illinois | 12 hrs / 2 yr | 12 + 6 hrs / 2 yr (managing broker) |
| Georgia | 36 hrs / 4 yr | 36 hrs / 4 yr |
| Pennsylvania | 14 hrs / 2 yr | 14 hrs / 2 yr |
| Ohio | 30 hrs / 3 yr | 30 hrs / 3 yr + supervision content |
| Colorado | 24 hrs / 3 yr | 24 hrs / 3 yr |
| Washington | 30 hrs / 2 yr | 30 hrs / 2 yr + managing broker core |
Common extra topics for brokers
- •Supervision of agents. Many states want brokers to take a course on how to manage the agents under them.
- •Trust account handling. Brokers hold client money. State boards want training on how that money is tracked.
- •Brokerage management. Office policy, agent contracts, and compliance.
- •Agency law in depth. Brokers must teach agency rules to their agents, so the topic gets a deeper take.
- •Fair housing leadership. Brokers set the tone on fair housing for the whole office.
How to plan broker CE
- Pull the broker rule from your state real estate commission site. Do not assume it matches the salesperson rule.
- Check if your title is broker, managing broker, or associate broker. The hour load can shift.
- Map required topics to a course package built for brokers, not for new salespeople.
- Block one course per quarter so the broker responsibility hours do not pile up.
- Use a tracker that splits credits by license type.
Frequently asked questions
Is broker CE different from salesperson CE?
In many states, yes. Brokers often need more hours and extra topics like brokerage management or supervision of agents. In some states the rules are the same for both.
Which states require more CE for brokers?
States like Illinois, Texas, California, and Ohio set higher requirements for brokers. The extra topic load usually covers trust accounts, supervision, and agency law.
Do I need to retake any CE if I upgrade from salesperson to broker?
Most states want you to finish broker pre-licensing before you upgrade. After the upgrade you follow the broker CE rules for your next cycle, not the salesperson rules.
Does a designated or managing broker need extra CE?
Yes, in many states. A managing broker often has a higher hour requirement and must take supervision topic hours each cycle.
AgentCE tracks both salesperson and broker licenses. Free for one license, paid plan for both.
Related: Broker license guide | Broker vs agent vs Realtor | 50-state master table