What are the differences between the Postlicensing (PL) and Continuing Education (CE) programs? Do they interact with each other? Who is required to complete the courses – and when?
Following are the rules regarding the Postlicensing and CE programs, key points about rule requirements, and clarification of three common myths about the programs.
Postlicensing (PL) Education
Rules 58A .1901-.1905 and 58H .0101-.0415
Key Points:
- PL is a 90 hour program comprised of three 30-hour courses.
- PL course titles are Post 301-Broker Relationships & Responsibilities, Post 302-Contracts and Closing, Post 303-NC Laws, Rules, and Legal Concepts. Course syllabi are provided on this page.
- To remain on or be eligible for active license status, provisional brokers (PBs) must complete all three PL courses within 18 months of the date of licensure.
- If a PB does not complete all three PL courses within 18 months of licensure, their license is placed on inactive status. To be eligible for active status, the PB must complete all three courses within a two-year period.
- Course completion means attending a minimum of 90% of a scheduled course and passing the end-of-course exam with a minimum score of 75%. Note that education providers may have stricter completion requirements.
- PL courses time out after two years. So, if a PB does not complete all three PL courses within a two-year period, the courses will time out and will have to be repeated.
Continuing Education (CE)
Rules 58A .1701 -.1712 and 58H .0101-.0415
Key Points:
- All brokers are required to complete 8 hours of CE comprised of an Update course and one Commission-approved elective, annually between July 1 and June 10.
— Brokers who do not have BIC Eligible Status must take the General Update (GENUP) course
— Brokers who have BIC Eligible Status must take the Broker-in-Charge Update (BICUP) course to retain BIC Eligible Status. - If a broker does not complete all 8 hours by June 10, their license will be placed on inactive status on July 1, provided the license is timely renewed by June 30. To be eligible for active status, the broker must follow the steps laid out in rule 58A .1703.
- Course completion means attending a minimum of 90% of a scheduled course. Note that education providers may have stricter completion requirements.
- The only exception to this requirement is that newly-licensed brokers are not required to complete CE prior their first license renewal.
MYTHS and REALITY
MYTH: If a PB completes all three PL courses within the first year of licensure, the broker will have to take CE right away.
REALITY: PL and CE are separate programs. Completion of PL courses does not affect CE deadlines, nor does completion of CE affect PL deadlines.
Example: Provisional Broker Pat was licensed on August 24, 2021.
- Pat’s Postlicensing education deadline will be February 24, 2023, which is 18 months after licensure.
- Pat will not have to take CE by June 10, 2022, because Pat will renew their license for the first time during May 15-June 30, 2022. Pat will be required to take CE sometime between July 1, 2022, – June 10, 2023.
- When Pat completes all 3 Postlicensing courses, the provisional status is removed from their license. The timing of Pat’s Postlicensing course completion has no impact on Pat’s first CE deadline.
MYTH: You have to complete CE before you can renew your license.
REALITY: CE and renewal are separate requirements.
Licenses must be renewed annually during the May 15-June 30 renewal period. If a license is not renewed by June 30, it will expire.
In order to maintain active license status – or be eligible for active license status – brokers must complete CE each year between July 1-June 10.
In other words, you can renew your license as early as May 15 and complete your CE as late as June 10. Also, you can renew your license without completing CE; in such case, your license will be on inactive status but will not expire on July 1.
MYTH: The content of the Update course is the same every year.
REALITY: The Commission determines Update course topics each year based on industry issues and trends.
Update course topics and materials from previous years are provided on this page. Do you have questions about the PL or CE programs? Contact the Education and Licensing Division at LS@ncrec.gov or 919.875.3700, x772.