DRE Changes to License Renewal Programs

The California Dept. of Real Estate has approved new regulations affecting continuing education courses. The operative date for these regulations is January 1, 2011 March 31, 2011.

The overall requirements regarding first-time and subsequent renewals remain unchanged.

1. All continuing education exams must contain 90% multiple choice questions and no more than 10% true/false questions.
2. Time limits on exams will be rigidly enforced.
3. Every online/correspondence course must contain enough material to require students to take no less than the credit hours allotted. Therefore a 45-hour course online will take students 45 hours to complete.
4. Students who do not pass a course exam will have a chance to retest once. The questions in the second exam must be completely different from those in the first. If a student fails the second exam, the student must retake the course again.

What will the impact of these changes be?  More than likely, the cost of home studies and online courses will increase. Those renewing will need to plan ahead of time since courses will take longer to complete and may be more difficult. Also, you will need to factor in the remote possibility of failing the exam and retaking the class.

SAR does have a Duane Gomer 45-hours in 1/2 Day course planned for December 14 from 1-4pm March 12 if you wish to renew your license before these new regulations take effect.