All about Real Estate CE in the State of Illinois

Illinois		Institute for Continuing Education Inc.
		State of Illinois CE Rules

if you are new to ICE or have not yet created your own ICE account

if you already have a student number or you have previously enrolled with ICE

to print this page

If you have a license in more than 1 state,
you will need a separate ICE account and student number for each state.

Courses and Prices

Broker Management Test Information

     - The Broker Management test must be taken on paper and sent to REEF for grading. REEF grades within 2-3 days
        (per REEF) of receiving the test, but the tests must first be mailed to your proctor and then mailed to REEF. Pass/fail
        notification postcards are mailed to licensees, although you can also check the REEF website.

     - Tests for any new proctor must be held 3 days awaiting proctor approval from IDFPR.

     - Licensees should know that they have passed all three tests before actually renewing their license. If a licensee renews
        without confirmation of passing, and happens to fail the Broker Management test, a fine of $150 will be assessed by
        IDFPR. If a licensee waits for their grade and renews after April 30, there is a $50 late fee assessed by IDFPR.

DID YOU KNOW THAT ILLINOIS IS DOING AWAY WITH REAL ESTATE SALESPERSONS LICENSES?

The revised real estate license classifications in Illinois are:

Real Estate Broker: this license is required to work as real estate agent and you must work under a managing broker.

Real Estate Managing Broker: this license is required to manage a brokerage or act as self-employed broker.

If you are now a licensed broker in Illinois, your license expiration is 4/30/2010 and the next renewal is 4/30/2012.
As of 5/1/10, to remain an active licensee, you may remain a broker and complete continuing education by 4/30/2012.
However, if you are a self-employed broker or managing a brokerage firm and currently have salespersons that you manage, you must pass a proficiency exam and complete some CE* or complete 45 hours of post license education to become a Real Estate Managing Broker.

If you are now a licensed salesperson in Illinois, your license expiration is 4/30/2012.
To remain an active licensee, you must pass a proficiency exam and complete some CE* or complete 30 hours of post license education to become a Real Estate Broker by 4/30/2012.
If you choose not to complete this education, you will not be allowed to practice real estate in Illinois as of 5/1/2012.

*IDFPR has not defined the specific CE requirements and the curriculum of the post license education yet but you may get more information on the conversion of licenses at IDFPR's website: http://www.idfpr.com/FAQ/DPR/RealEstateActUpdate.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

RENEWAL INFORMATION FOR BROKERS

How much are CE courses at ICE?: Complete all 18 hours of CE at ICE for only $130.00. If you have completed your CE with ICE before, then you are not paying any more for your courses for this renewal period. This price includes the $41 fee to REEF for grading the Broker Management Course final exam. The process has been made much smoother with all costs upfront.
As a broker, how many continuing education credit hours do I need?

Licensed as a Broker on or before 4/30/2008, or Brokers previously licensed as a Salesperson - 18 hours of CE is required: 6 hours core /mandatory, 6 hours elective, and 6 hours of the Broker Management Course.

Licensed as a Broker between 5/1/2008 and 4/30/2009, if NOT previously licensed as a Salesperson, 12 hours of CE is required: 3 hours core/mandatory, 3 hours elective, and 6 hours of the Broker Management Course.

Licensed as a Broker on or after 5/1/2009 and not previously licensed as a Salesperson, 6 hours of the Broker Management Course.: NOTE: Newly licensed Brokers must take the Broker Management Course within 180 days of receiving their license.
Are any classes mandatory?: You must take the Illinois Core Course, satisfying 6-hours of credit AND you must take the Broker Management Course with a new supplement to the text for this next renewal period, also satisfying 6-hours of credit. The new supplement and revised test is effective July 15, 2009. The final 6 credit hours can be any one of ICE's elective courses.
What do I need for the Broker Management Course & Exam?: If you have not taken this course before, then you will need to purchase the Broker Management Course Textbook AND the Supplement Textbook; if you have taken this course before and still have this textbook, the cost of the course includes a copy of the Supplemental Textbook (revised as of 7/2009).

The final exam for the Broker Management Course is a PAPER ONLY exam created and graded by REEF. Once you order this course through ICE, you will be sent the text(s) to read and study. You may log back into your student account and order the final exam, which will be sent to your proctor. You may use the same proctor for all of your CE testing.

RENEWAL INFORMATION FOR SALESPERSONS

As a Saleperson, how many continuing education credit hours do I need?: 1. 0   if you received your new salesperson's license on or after May 1, 2010, or if you satisfy one of the exemptions listed below.
2. 6   if you received your new license on or after May 1, 2009.
3. 12   if you previously enjoyed the Grandfather exemption for continuing education.
4. 12   if your current real estate license was issued before May 1, 2009.
Are any classes mandatory?: You must take the Illinois Core Course, satisfying 6-hours of credit. The final 6 credit hours can be any one of ICE's elective courses.
My IL salespersons license is inoperative. I do NOT have a managing broker. Can I renew my license?: NO. Illinois only renews active licenses. Get affiliated with a broker before you renew your license.
April 30, 2009 is in the past. What happens if I didn't renew my SALESPERSON's license on that date?: If you didn't renew your license before May 1, 2009, your real estate license is inoperative, but you are still licensed. You now owe the state a late charge, and you will not be able to work as an active licensee until you have completed your CE, submitted your renewal paperwork, and received an active license from the state.
CALL 217-785-9300 NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

INFORMATION REGARDING ORDERING FROM ICE

Who Is ICE?

ICE is a school that specializes in Continuing Education for professional license renewal. We are licensed in many states, and have been approved in Illinois since 1991.

How can I be sure ICE courses are approved?

ICE is listed as an approved provider on IDFPR's web site.

If I order using the Internet, what do I get? (This does not refer to the Broker Management Course)

Internet orders receive course workbooks online that have the same lessons as the printed course workbooks shipped by ICE.
Internet customers can choose from the following 3 options to get course workbooks:

Study course workbooks on-line over the Internet
Print workbooks using your Internet browser
Download workbook files that can be printed using Adobe Acrobat

How long are my courses available to me?

Your course(s) are available to you for six months from the date of your order. Presuming that a specific course is unfinished, once the expiration date is reached, that course is unavailable and must be repurchased.

ICE has many courses. Do I need to take them all?

No. Each ICE course awards 6 credit hours. If you hold an Illinois broker's license, you will need 18 credit hours (3 courses) to renew your license, but you can purchase as many courses as you want. If you hold an Illinois salesperson's license, you will need 12 credit hours (2 courses) to renew your license.

How many ICE courses do I need to buy to qualify for the package price?

If you are licensed as a salesperson, you must purchase only 2 courses to get the lower package price. If you are licensed as a broker, you must purchase 3 courses to get the package price.

What if I don't want to download files or print my own workbooks?

For an extra charge, you can order printed workbooks that ICE will mail to you. If you are a broker, you are required by IDFPR to use the Illinois Broker Management textbook published by the Dearborn Real Estate Education Division of Kaplan Financial. For the 2010 renewal, the Illinois Broker Management supplement text is included in the cost of the ICE course.

Why does ICE need my social-security-number?

The IDFPR identifies you using your real estate license number AND your social security number. Without both of these numbers, your CE credits may not be correctly recorded in your State records.

What happens if I buy ICE courses, and don't like them?

ICE's Refund Policy - All requests for any refund will be denied by ICE except where the following conditions are met:

the student desires a refund for a course that has not expired past the initial order period of 180 days
the online course version has not been completed
for states where CE includes testing, the test or final exam has not been started online or mailed by ICE
There are no refunds for workbook orders shipped via Priority Mail by ICE. Also, you are responsible for notifying ICE within 30 days of ordering workbook(s) that you did not receive.

Due to increased banking fees, as of October 1, 2009, all refunds after 7 days of purchase will incur a $10.00 processing fee.

Course Pricing

ICE charges one price per each course selected. If you want ICE to ship you workbooks, each workbook is priced separately in addition to the course price except for the Broker Management Supplement. Each workbook price includes shipping and handling.

How do I order ICE courses?

You can order via the Internet at this web-site. Or you can order by fax, mail, or phone 800-621-8341 from 9-5 weekdays.

How do I pay for my courses?

ICE accepts all major credit cards. (ICE does not accept American Express) You can also pay by check or money order.

TESTING INFORMATION

What about the dreaded Final Exam?: Illinois License Law requires every CE course's final exam be a closed-book proctored test.
Your ICE proctor can be EITHER an existing ICE Testing Center OR your own ICE approved personal proctor.
You will take either a written-paper test, or you can take the same test online using the Internet. The Broker Management test must be taken on paper and submitted to REEF for grading.
CLICK to see a complete list of already approved ICE Testing Centers.
Who can be my personal proctor?: Effective immediately, ICE follows regulations from IDFPR regarding who can be your personal proctor. The following people can apply to be your personal proctor: (1) a staff member of any approved education provider or professional organization, (2) a librarian, (3) a minister, (4) an attorney, (5) an ICE approved real estate licensee from any state who is a disinterested third party and not related by blood or marriage to the student-licensee. THIS IS A CHANGE FROM ICE's PREVIOUS POLICY OF NOT PERMITING LICENSEES TO PROCTOR TESTS. No one will be approved who is not a member of one of these five groups of people. Anyone who is already an approved ICE proctor can also be your personal proctor.
What does this mean? Can't my neighbor be my proctor anymore?: If your neighbor was previously approved by ICE to be your proctor, your neighbor can still be your proctor. But this change refers to NEW proctors. If your neighbor never proctored your tests before, they must satisfy one of the five above occupations to qualify.
How do I identify someone as my personal proctor?: Have the person "from one of the five groups" you want to suggest as your personal proctor read, sign, and then send ICE the Testing Proctor Application form.
If approved, ICE will send your tests to that person. ICE's approval of personal proctors is NOT instantaneous. ICE requires a minimum of 1 business day before approving personal proctors. If you are buying Illinois Broker Management, a delay of 10 business days is required for new proctors because IDFPR must approve these proctors as well, so ICE must give IDFPR time to review the applications.
Does ICE have Sample Tests?: Every ICE course now has a sample exam, including the Broker Management course, which you can use to test your knowledge of each course. Each ICE sample exam contains 50 questions that are randomly selected each time you use it. Go ahead and use the sample exams as often as you want. Nothing is updated or remembered, such as your grade. You don't need a proctor to use our sample exams. Consider them open book. Remember, they are intended to test your course knowledge.
What's the difference between a paper test and the Internet test?: Both CLOSED BOOK test formats have the same true/false questions. For the paper test, you will mark your answers on the original test form. For the Internet test, you will use a mouse to select (click) your answers. Each Internet test has a unique password. The testing proctor keys this password to both start and end a test. Your proctor will be instructed not to share the password with you. ICE sends the password to proctors via the mail, phone, or eMail.
Please note that the final exam for the Broker Management Course is not issued or graded by ICE, but rather by Illinois Real Estate Education Foundation (REEF). This final exam is 50 multiple-choice questions and is only offered in the paper format.
If I take my tests on the Internet, do I need a proctor?: Yes. Most ICE Test Centers can connect to the Internet. Please call the Test Center you select to learn if they will allow you to use their Internet connection to take your ICE tests. If you want to use a personal proctor, you can take your test from any place where you can use the Internet. Your proctor must be present while you take your CLOSED BOOK tests on the Internet, and the ICE testing rules must be strictly enforced.
Do I have to do anything different to take an Internet test?: No. The Internet test passwords are included with tests sent to either Testing Centers or personal proctors. If you inform ICE that you want to take your tests using the Internet, ICE will not send paper tests to your chosen proctor.
If you want to go to an ICE Testing Center, both paper tests and passwords are mailed to the Center, with your name on the envelope.
What do I do when I'm ready to take my tests?: Use the I'm Ready To Take My Tests form to inform ICE who will be your proctor. If your form indicates you want to take a paper test, ICE will mail all of your tests together to your proctor. If your form indicates you want to take your tests using the Internet, your test passwords will be mailed, or eMailed to your proctor. Your proctor can also call ICE to learn your passwords. Passwords are intended to be private between proctors and ICE, and are not to be revealed to you.
How many questions are on ICE tests?: Each ICE test has 50 questions. You have 60 minutes to complete each test.
What if I take longer than 60 minutes to complete a test, or I fail to score 70%?: A grade of 0% is awarded to anyone who requires more than 60 minutes to complete a test. You are permitted one retake. If your original test was a paper test, ICE will mail the retake to your proctor. Failing a retake test simply means you have not completed your required continuing education, and you must start over at a school of your choice.
How do I learn if I passed?: (1) Paper tests are returned to ICE for grading. ICE will mail (or eMail) your Completion Certificate the same day your test is graded. If you have a valid email address, ICE will email instructions for printing your certificates online.
(2) ICE also has an Internet process for grading paper tests. If you take a paper test, and you have access to the Internet, you can record your answers, let the Internet grade your test, and receive your Completion Certificate immediately. However, you must mail your original test to ICE. After ICE receives your original test, we will report your course completion to IDFPR.
(3) Internet-delivered tests are graded immediately upon completion. You also receive your Completion Certificate immediately via the Internet.
(4) All Illinois Broker Management tests are graded by REEF. Please allow 10 days to 2 weeks for your test results to arrive through the mail. In the event that you did NOT receive a passing grade, you will be notified by letter from REEF. Please notify ICE to mail the retake test to your proctor. No additional charges apply.
What do I do to take an ICE test at an ICE Test Center?: You can simply call ICE to have your tests sent to your selected Test Center.
What do I send to the State to renew my license?: After you complete your continuing education, send your check and renewal form to the State to renew your license. All CE schools report course completions to IDFPR by the middle of the month following the month of the course's completion (Illinois Broker Management results are sent to IDFPR by REEF). Retain your ICE course Completion Certificate for your own records. If your license is already expired when you send in your renewal, you may have to include copies of your Completion Certificate and a license reinstatement form (check with IDFPR).

ICE CE Provider License Number	562000131
State Licensing Authority	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Bureau of Real Estate Professions
Licensing Authority Telephone Number	217-782-3414
Licensing Authority Web-Site	www.state.il.us/obr
On-Line Licensee Look-up	Click HERE to look up a licensee
On-Line License Renewal	Click HERE to renew. State assigned User ID and password required.
IDFPR Broker Renewal Form	PDF Form File Adobe Reader REQUIRED
IDFPR Salesperson Renewal Form	PDF Form File Adobe Reader REQUIRED
Current Licensing Law	The Real Estate License Act of 2000, effective 12/31/99
Next Salespersons' License Renewal	April 30, 2011
Next Brokers' License Renewal	April 30, 2010
CE Hours required to renew	Salespersons: 12; minimum of 6 hours in core subjects Brokers: 18; minimum of 12 hours in required subjects
Maximum CE Classroom Hours allowed per day for courses taught in a classroom	6 hours
Course Testing	Closed book: proctored
Minimum Passing Grade	70%
Retake permitted on failure	Yes: same test
Internet Testing Permitted?	Yes with restrictions: must be proctored
Grandfathering CE Exemption	Grandfather Exemption was repealed effective August 19, 2004 by Public Act 93-0957
Other CE Exemptions	IL Attorneys, IDFPR employees, gov officials, military service, IDFPR waiver
Out-of-state CE Credit	submit for Advisory Council approval
Reporting procedure	CE schools report certifications monthly
ICE's Refund Policy	All requests for any refund will be denied by ICE except where the following conditions are met: the student desires a refund for a course that has not expired past the initial order period of 180 days the online course version has not been completed for states where CE includes testing, the test or final exam has not been started online or mailed by ICE There are no refunds for workbook orders shipped via Priority Mail by ICE. Also, you are responsible for notifying ICE within 30 days of ordering workbook(s) that you did not receive. Due to increased banking fees, as of October 1, 2009, all refunds after 7 days of purchase will incur a $10.00 processing fee.

ICE Illinois Courses

Course Title
CLICK for course's description State No. Category Hours Package
Price Indiv. Course
Price Printed Course
Material

Illinois Broker Management 564001581 Required CORE 6 $ 34.00 $ 49.00 $ 14.95

IL Real Estate CE 6 hour Core Course 564000818 Required CORE 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

About Modern Mortgaging 564001561 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

About Cultural Diversity and Real Estate 564001534 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

Fair Housing & Antitrust Made Easy 564000863 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

What You Should Know About the Environment 564001075 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

About Real Estate Accounting 564001370 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

What you should know about Ethics in Real Estate 564001073 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

What You Should Know About Custom Homes 564001074 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

About Home Inspections 564001371 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

About House Construction 564001403 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99

Understanding Sexual Harassment 564001216 Elective 6 $ 27.50 $ 41.00 $ 7.99
Unlisted courses will be available for sale after the regulator approves them.

Course Title CLICK for course's description	State No.	Category	Hours	Package Price	Indiv. Course Price	Printed Course Material
Illinois Broker Management	564001581	Required CORE	6	$ 34.00	$ 49.00	$ 14.95
IL Real Estate CE 6 hour Core Course	564000818	Required CORE	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
About Modern Mortgaging	564001561	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
About Cultural Diversity and Real Estate	564001534	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
Fair Housing & Antitrust Made Easy	564000863	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
What You Should Know About the Environment	564001075	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
About Real Estate Accounting	564001370	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
What you should know about Ethics in Real Estate	564001073	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
What You Should Know About Custom Homes	564001074	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
About Home Inspections	564001371	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
About House Construction	564001403	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
Understanding Sexual Harassment	564001216	Elective	6	$ 27.50	$ 41.00	$ 7.99
Unlisted courses will be available for sale after the regulator approves them.

	if you are new to ICE or have not yet created your own ICE account
	if you already have a student number or you have previously enrolled with ICE
	to print this page
If you have a license in more than 1 state, you will need a separate ICE account and student number for each state.