Licensing | Education 

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission in conjunction with the State Board of Private Career Education strives to ensure that real estate education in Arkansas is of good quality and accessible to all licensees. As part of this effort, Instructor Workshops are held periodically to give real estate instructors an opportunity to be more informed and up to date.

Pre-License Guidelines

A.C.A. §17-42-303, Commission Regulations 4.1(d), 4.1(a)(2), 4.1(b)(2)

• For a course to qualify as fulfilling an applicant’s prelicensing educational requirement, the course must be conducted by an accredited post-secondary school or a school or organization licensed by the State Board of Private Career Education, a school or organization approved by a real estate licensing jurisdiction deemed equivalent by the Commission.
• For salesperson applicants, the 60-hour certificate has no expiration.
• However, to be valid, broker applicants must have completed their 60-hour pre-licensing requirement (date on the certificate) within 36 months immediately preceding the date they apply to take the broker's exam.
• Courses identified as "Exam Prep" courses generally do not fulfill the pre-license requirement.

Post-License Guidelines

A.C.A. §17-42-307(d)(2), §17-42-303(c)(1), (2), Commission Regulation 11.5

• The AREC post-license requirement for a new salesperson is 18 classroom hours and must be taken within 12-months after the date the individual was initially licensed. For example, after paying the license fee(s) in March current year, post-license should be completed by the end of March the following year.
• A new broker must complete the 30 classroom hour AREC post-licensure course within 12 months after the date the individual was initially licensed.
• Newly licensed brokers requesting status as an Executive or Principal Broker must satisfy the postlicensure requirement before such status is granted.
• Licensees whose initial license is issued as inactive and whose license remains on inactive passed the 12-month date must satisfy the post-license education requirement and all other education that may apply before the license can be issued as active.
• Post-license education is to be completed after the initial license is issued, not before.
  A broker who completed the salesperson post-license education course within thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding the date of his initial broker license shall be credited with the eighteen (18) hour salesperson post-license course upon submission of proof of completion. Upon approval by the Commission said broker will only be required to complete twelve (12) hours in the broker course which are on subjects not covered in the salesperson course.

Continuing Education

A.C.A. §17-42-307, §17-42-501, Commission Regulation 6.2(d), (e)

• Licensees must obtain six hours of continuing education annually to renew an active real estate license for the upcoming calendar year.
• For Licensees obtaining a license in the current year, satisfaction of your continuing education requirement will be required upon your second active license renewal after you are licensed.
• If you are not sure a real estate course you are considering will fulfill annual continuing education requirements, contact either the Arkansas Real Estate Commission (501) 683-8010 or the State Board of Private Career Education (501) 683-8000.
• When transferring a license from inactive to active status, continuing education hours must have been completed in the year in which the license is activated or the preceding calendar year.
• Commission Regulation 11.4 does not allow one course to be used for both continuing education and pre-licensing education.

Post-License versus Continuing Education

• The post-licensure requirement is separate from and independent of the continuing education requirement.
• The AREC post-licensure curriculum is a specific set of modules. Only those specific courses will fulfill a new licensee’s post-licensure requirement.
• Post-license is satisfied by classroom attendance only.

Distance Education

• All distance education courses must be ARELLO certified.
• Distance Education providers who plan to apply for ARELLO certification to offer courses in Arkansas need to contact ARELLO and arrange to attend an ARELLO Distance Education workshop or at a minimum obtain a copy of the Distance Education Standards manual.
• For more information on Distance Education certification visit www.arello.net.

Teaching Real Estate Courses