Renewing your real estate broker license shouldn’t be difficult. But sometimes, it is.
Real estate brokers looking to renew their licenses are busy. Their schedules may not allow them to either search for real estate schools or take the classes themselves.
There are almost forty real estate education providers in Illinois. Some offer online classes while others do in-person. There are also many things that you need to look for in their respective sites.
If these challenges sound familiar, don’t worry. This article is here to help you out.
We’ve come up with a list of the best online real estate broker continuing education in Illinois.
We’ve done the research, so you get the essential things you need to know – an overview of their offerings and an approximation of their price.
You can always delve a little deeper on your own – but at least you’re not starting from scratch.
So here goes.
Best Online Real Estate Broker Continuing Education in Illinois
Here is the list of the best online real estate broker continuing education in Illinois:
- Illinois Realtors
- McKissock
- The CE Shop
- Kaplan Real Estate Education
- AYPORealEstate.com
- Real Estate Institute
Let’s have a close look at each one.
Illinois Realtors
One of the best places you can get your real estate broker courses is in Illinois Realtors.
Their courses are fully authorized and state-approved. You don’t have to worry about whether or not you can get your mandatory courses done in this school.
Another plus side is that their classes are available in a variety of teaching formats: Online, hybrid, and classroom.
If you have a packed schedule, don’t worry, you can easily opt for the 100% online classes.
Having a busy workweek? There are hybrid classes that can help you stay on track with your learning.
Prefer face-to-face interaction? Great! In-person learning is also available in Illinois Realtors.
What’s more, Illinois Realtors have CE courses, too. So you can run to them any time you need to renew your real estate license in the future.
If you decide to get your Continuing Education courses in McKissock, you’re assured of an experience worth a 4.4-rating. Based on over 450,000 reviews, approval isn’t just from the state and the board, it’s also from students.
McKissock belongs to a family of brands – all associated with the real estate industry. They’ve helped over 2 million professionals in their real estate careers in the 30 years they’ve been in business.
With instructors that are real estate practitioners themselves, you get real-world lessons on top of the concepts covered in the CE courses.
There are two 12-hour packages for Continuing Education available to you, depending on your level. Priced under $100, these include a 4-hour core course and the 1-hour course on sexual harassment prevention required in Illinois.
A third package is available – the McKissock CE Plus Membership. It’s more expensive than the 12-hour bundles, but it also gives access to all of McKissock’s courses in Illinois, plus tools for professional development, real estate coaches, and industry discounts.
It’s a membership, though, which means you have to pay annually to retain access. It automatically renews every twelve months, but you can have it discontinued through customer service.
If you don’t fancy the pre-packaged bundles, you can always take courses individually, allowing more flexibility in selection. Individual classes cost anywhere between just under $16 to just under $80, depending on how many credit hours they give.
With their courses 100% online, The CE Shop allows you to take your Continuing Education courses when it works for you.
Their content, which is available nationwide, was created by industry experts. It assures you of lightbulb moments, regardless of where you are in your real estate career.
Most people said they would recommend The CE Shop for those wanting to enhance their real estate career. The CE Shop has a 4.86 rating from over two thousand reviews.
There are two 12-hour packages for brokers, which fulfill Illinois requirements. One comes with an ethics course, the other without – both are priced under a hundred dollars.
You can also choose to take the CE courses individually. These are priced from under $20 to under $40, depending on their duration.
If you’re a managing broker, you can choose between taking a 24-hour package that costs less than $200 or take these courses separately.
Another sought-after name in online real estate schools is Kaplan. They offer their courses in various ways – from in-person classes to on-demand content to text-based home study.
Kaplan offers a 12-hour CE Package in Illinois for real estate brokers and managing brokers. It already includes a 4-hour core course, the state-required 1-hour course on Sexual Harassment Prevention, and two elective courses.
Accurately termed as a “hybrid package”, some courses are on-demand while others are online classes with interactive content. As with other online real estate schools, you can also opt to purchase individual courses.
Based on Kaplan’s menu of CE classes for Illinois, most courses cost below $30.
If you decide to purchase your CE courses from Kaplan, keep in mind that you have to complete the material within six months.
AYPO Real Estate is powered by At Your Pace Online, an outfit focusing on providing online education to various industries. Fortunately, real estate is one of them.
The reviews given by students are excellent. They described communication as nothing but professional and accommodating.
AYPO Real Estate offers a 12-hour Complete Broker CE Package that fulfills all the requirements for license renewal. These already contain a mix of mandatory and elective courses, including the required Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. As expected, you can also purchase it separately for under $70.
Managing Brokers can avail of AYPO Real Estate’s Complete Managing Broker CE Package. For around $130, you get the 24 hours needed to renew your license.
You can pick your own from their roster of individual courses. These are priced between around $15 to under $60, depending on the number of credits you earn.
AYPO Real Estate combines visuals, videos, and stories to appeal to students with different learning styles.
Here’s a quick walkthrough video you can watch:
Students look for efficiently delivered, quality content - something that the Real Estate Institute has learned from nearly 30 years of experience. It has resulted in how they’ve packaged and presented their products.
For Real Estate Brokers, two separate packages credit 12 hours of Continuing Education. One is delivered 100% online, which means you have 24/7 access to the content. If you’re looking for a little more interaction, you can opt for a combination of in-person, live, instructor-led training, or self-study.
The rates differ by about $20 – the online course is the cheaper option at under $100.
It’s also possible to take the mandatory courses in a below-$70 bundle. Prices vary depending on the duration and delivery platform, but each falls between $25 to $40.
Managing Brokers also have multiple options for their CE courses. There are three 24-hour packages priced between a little under $250 to a little over $300. The difference between them lies in how they’re delivered.
Real Estate Institute provides excellent support while you’re taking their courses, and even after. They’ll give you updates about real estate licensing in Illinois and remind you of nearing renewal deadlines.
Illinois Online Real Estate Broker Continuing Education FAQs
How often do you need to renew your broker license in Illinois?
Real estate brokers must renew their licenses by April 30 for even-numbered years. You have to make sure you complete your CE course before then.
Managing Brokers are also due by April 30 of odd-numbered years.
What are the requirements for continuing education in Illinois?
Real Estate Brokers need to complete 12 hours of Continuing Education courses in Illinois. 4 hours must be from Core courses, while the remaining eight can be electives. Elective hours must include a Sexual Harassment Prevention course.
If you are renewing your broker’s license for the first time, note that you have to complete 45-hours of post-licensing education as well.
Managing Brokers have similar requirements. However, on top of those, they have to take a mandatory 12-hour Broker Management CE Course.
What should I look for in an online real estate school in Illinois?
With the number of online real estate schools in Illinois, there are several areas you should look into to help you decide which one fits you best.
Price, of course, is always a consideration. Cheap is good, but not always the best. Aim for a school that gives you value for your money.
Look at their curriculum. It includes the content, how it’s delivered, and whether or not you can check what you’ve learned. If you’ve invested time and money, you may as well make sure you get your ROI.
For online classes, check whether their materials cater to different learning styles. Platforms that offer interactive content also helps – this keeps students engaged, which increases retention.
Flexibility and convenience are strong selling points of online education, so check if you can access the material using multiple devices. If it's compatible with desktops, tablets, and mobiles, it also usually means it’s easy to navigate, which is a BIG plus.
Are online classes better than in-person classes?
It depends. If you are someone who prefers self-paced and remote learning, then you’re the perfect fit for online learning. If not, then you might be better off with in-person or hybrid learning.
Are online broker courses cheaper than in-person classes?
Online real estate classes tend to be cheaper than many in-person classes. It is also the most convenient.
Are online real estate broker classes quicker than in-person classes?
Yes! Most online broker classes are quicker than the “traditional” in-person classes. You can choose to finish all your lessons in a few months or a few weeks. It’s all up to you!
Conclusion
Having a successful career in real estate means continuously taking the time to improve your knowledge and hone your skills. Choosing the right online real estate school to take your Continuing Education courses is a big part of that.
The article gives you several options, but ultimately, the choice is yours to make. Consider the different products the schools offer but make sure to balance them with your preferences.