Will I lose my license?
Not if you know these four rules. Here’s how an Illinois broker license stays active, in plain English.
1. A license is only active with a sponsor
In Illinois, your broker license is active only while a brokerage sponsors it. When you leave your brokerage, your license goes inactive right away.
Reactivating it means a new sponsoring brokerage and a $35 transfer fee paid to IDFPR (plus a small convenience fee if you pay online).
2. An inactive license can’t practice or get paid
While your license is inactive, you can’t practice real estate. In general, you also can’t collect referral fees on new business, because referral fees are paid through an active, sponsoring brokerage.
3. You still renew and do CE
Brokers renew every two years, by April 30 of even-numbered years. The next deadline is April 30, 2028.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | April 30 of even years (next: April 30, 2028) |
| State renewal fee | $200 for the 2026 renewal |
| Continuing education | For the 2026 renewal, most brokers needed 12 hours of CE. Brokers licensed between Nov 1, 2023 and Oct 31, 2025 took the 45-hour post-license course instead. |
Requirements can change between cycles, so check the current rules with IDFPR before your deadline.
4. A lapsed license is the expensive one
Miss your renewal and your license lapses. Getting it back means finishing your CE first, then applying for reinstatement and paying the fees. It’s much easier to never let it lapse.