Education Requirements

How do I track my education?

It is ultimately your responsibility to track your continuing education. Please stay organized, keep paper or virtual copies of certificates, and use the Realtor® Education Tracking Sheet in the links below to track this information.

Click here to download a fillable pdf form.
Click here for a Google Doc spreadsheet you can download and use.

You are not required to submit proof of classes when you renew your license, but if you are audited by the commission (Division of Real Estate or DORA), you must submit all your certificates.

By keeping a file of your certificates during your 3-year licensing period, you won't be scrambling to remember what courses you took.

Note: For classes hosted by the Vail Board of Realtors®, we make copies of your CE certificates if you misplace them. This is not the case for third-party classes.

What are my Education Requirements?

Colorado Brokers must complete 24 hours of Continuing Education (CE) within each of your 3-year licensing periods. The menu below lists the requirements.

CE information for NEW Colorado Brokers is also listed in the menu below.

Twelve (12) of the 24 credit hours are the Annual Commission/CREC Update Class that you MUST complete every year. You may choose any *electives you wish for the remaining 12 hours as long as they count toward CE credit.

*Electives can include Code of Ethics or Fair Housing classes.

The Code of Ethics and the new Fair Housing requirement are both required by the National Association of REALTORS®. They are NOT requirements of the Colorado Real Estate Commission, but any CE credit earned from a class can be applied to the needed 24 hours.

The CREC Annual Update Class

All Colorado Licensed Brokers are required to take this course EVERY calendar year. The commission, also known as the Division of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), provides an updated version of this class every January. VBR will schedule CREC Annual Update classes at least four times a year to help Realtors® meet this requirement. You can also take this course online or at another board.

NAR Ethics

Ethics is a REQUIRED class for ALL Realtor® and Appraiser members, per the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and VBR.

ALL Realtors® are required to take this course once in the same three-year cycle. The current cycle is January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.

This is separate from ANY license cycle with DORA and the State of Colorado.

You may take this class live or online. NAR requires at least 2.5 hours of instruction per cycle.

Ethics FAQ

Is Ethics a requirement for my state license cycle as a Broker?
No. It is a requirement for your REALTOR® status with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). However, any state CE credits earned can be applied to your required 24 hours as a Colorado Broker.

I'm an Appraiser. What are my options?
You can take an Ethics class with the VBR, online, or another association. Note: The class you take MAY be approved for Broker CE credits, but not for Appraisers. NAR has a free online option that can meet your requirement (see providers here).

How can I check if I've met the requirement?
You can check your Code of Ethics status with NAR®! Click here for more information.
Or contact the VBR if you think you took a course with us.

Are there online options for Ethics courses?
Yes! Visit this helpful page of providers.

*If you take an Ethics class with an online provider or another association, please send a copy to mel@vbr.net. The VBR will use the certificate to update your record with NAR.

Fair Housing Training

Beginning January 1, 2025, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) will require ALL REALTOR® and Appraiser members to complete two (2) hours of fair housing training every three years.

New-member applicants must complete two hours of fair housing training upon joining as a REALTOR® and Appraiser member.

The 3-year cycle will be January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027 (The exact same cycle as the Code of Ethics requirement).

The VBR will provide at least three (3) courses per year to help members meet the requirement. NAR will also offer an online, free option, called *Fairhaven.

NAR Fair Housing Course Options

Fairhaven: A Fair Housing Simulation
At Home With Diversity (AHWD): Online or Classroom
Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing
C2EX – REALTORS® Commitment to Excellence
(Earning the C2EX endorsement will satisfy BOTH Code of Ethics and Fair Housing Training requirements for the cycle.)

New Licensed Colorado Brokers

An initial broker's license expires at midnight on December 31st of the year it was issued. During the initial licensure period, the newly licensed broker is NOT obligated to complete continuing education.

Click here to check your license period.

After that initial license period, the active licensee will be on a 3-year license cycle.

During each 3-year license cycle, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education. Twelve (12) of the 24 hours must consist of three different versions of the 4-hour Annual Commission Update Course. The remaining 12 hours can be any combination of elective credit hours approved by the Commission.

If you have questions about your license, please visit the DORA site.

New REALTOR® Member Ethics Requirement

New Realtor® members are REQUIRED to take a NAR Ethics class (at least 2.5 hours of instruction). This must be completed within 90 days of membership activation. Applicants for Secondary Membership may disregard this requirement (If the VBR is not your Primary Board).

Options include in person at the Vail Board of Realtors® (offered four times per year) or online through the National Association of REALTORS®. New members will receive an email with more information once the membership application is processed.

ON HOLD: Procuring Cause (Managing or Owner Brokers)

The requirement below is on hiatus for Designated REALTORS® due to practice changes. We will revisit this at a later time.

Designated REALTORS® (Managing or Owner Brokers) are REQUIRED to complete Procuring Cause training once within a three-year cycle. The current three-year cycle is January 1, 2023 and will end Dec. 31, 2025.

The VBR hosts this class a minimum of two times a year, or you can fill the requirement on Van Ed. (4hr- My Commission or Yours? Procuring Cause). The training must meet specific learning objectives and criteria established by the National Association of Realtors®.

What have I taken with the VBR?

You can easily find a list of your past attended classes and events, and also see your future class and event registrations. The link below walks you through the steps to do this.

How to look up your classes with the VBR.

Log into your Member Hub account (your VBR account, NOT the VMLS account).
Look for "Events and Classes" in the blue menu bar.
Sort that page by "Classes I have attended" to see your VBR education history.

The VBR doesn't track or have access to any classes taken with third-parties.

Other Important Information

To provide our members with everything they need to maintain the high quality of their license, the Vail Board of Realtors® hosts continuing education classes to meet those needs. All classes, unless noted otherwise, are held at the Board’s Riverwalk offices, 0275 Main Street, Suite G004, Edwards, CO 81632.

Registration for classes is highly recommended as a minimum number of students are required for each class. VBR strives to provide quality instructors to ensure memorable learning experiences. Payment in full is required prior to entering the classroom. All cancellations require a 24-hour notice or registration fees are forfeited.

Education Requirements

How do I track my education?

What are my Education Requirements?

What have I taken with the VBR?

Other Important Information

"Bringing You Home” to the Vail Valley