Section 1455.160  Continuing Education Requirements

a)         CE Credit

1)         A State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, or Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser who makes application to renew their real estate appraiser license shall successfully complete the equivalent of 14 hours of approved continuing education per year preceding the renewal, for a total of 28 hours of approved continuing education for each two-year renewal.  An additional one credit hour per renewal period will be required pursuant to Section 2105-15.5 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law [20 ILCS 2105] and subsection (d).  Continuing education credit will only be accepted from education providers and courses approved by the Division.

2)         Effective January 1, 2026, licensees seeking to renew a license must successfully complete a valuation bias and fair housing laws and regulations course which meets the requirements of the AQB.  Licensees can meet this initial requirement by either completing the eight-hour course as part of their qualifying education or completing an initial seven-hour course prior to their renewal after the effective date.  The valuation bias and fair housing laws and regulations course for real estate appraisers who have satisfied the initial requirement shall be four hours of instruction and completed every two years within each renewal cycle.  The course and hours may be a part of the 28 hours of approved continuing education required for renewal.

3)         If a real estate appraiser was issued an initial license for any licensed credential under the Act, fewer than 185 days prior to the expiration of the license, then no continuing education is required for that renewal.  If a real estate appraiser has held a license for 185 days or more prior to the expiration, then 14 hours of approved continuing education is required for that year.  An additional 14 hours of CE is required for the following year, pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

4)         A real estate appraiser must complete the seven-hour National USPAP Update Course or, effective January 1, 2026, the seven-hour National USPAP Continuing Education Course, or its AQB equivalent taught by an AQB certified instructor who also holds a current appraiser certification by a state during each pre-renewal period prior to renewing or converting their real estate appraiser license, unless the real estate appraiser was issued their initial license for a period of fewer than 185 days prior to the expiration date.

5)         A licensee seeking renewal shall complete CE on or before the renewal deadline. The Division shall conduct audits pursuant to the Act and 1455.318 to verify compliance with this Section.

b)         CE Credit from Another Jurisdiction

The Division may accept evidence of successful completion of continuing education credit from another jurisdiction if that jurisdiction's requirements are substantially the same as those of the State of Illinois and meet the recommendations of the AQB, and if the credit was earned and proof submitted on or before the renewal deadline.  A real estate appraiser who wishes to obtain credit for continuing education courses not licensed by the Division shall submit to the Division:

1)         A complete application provided to the Division requesting approval for continuing education credit which is signed by the applicant;

2)         A certificate of successful completion provided by the education provider or a certification by the jurisdiction of successful completion of the requested continuing education credit; and

3)         The fee required by Section 1455.320.

c)         Prior to returning to active status, licensee is not authorized to practice until all required CE hours, that would have been required if the licensee was in an active status, are complete. The required hours must also include the current seven-hour National USPAP Update Course or, effective January 1, 2026, the seven-hour National USPAP Continuing Education Course, or its equivalent, as of the date of return to active status. The license will not be restored to active status unless and until all requirements of this Part are met.

d)         The sexual harassment prevention training required of all licensees may not be counted by Certified Residential Real Estate Appraisers, Certified General Real Estate Appraisers, or Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraisers toward their CE hourly requirement for each renewal period. (See Section 2105-15.5 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law [20 ILCS 2105].) The sexual harassment prevention training may not be taken as a correspondence or home study course.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 14553, effective September 24, 2024)