The short version
Every Kansas salesperson and broker renewing to active status must complete at least 3 hours in an approved course titled "Kansas Required Core." It is part of the 12-hour total, not in addition to it: 3 hours of Required Core plus 9 hours of electives.
Why the name matters
The Required Core is a specific course, not a category. KREC approves it against a topical outline the Commission sets, and it must be approved in Kansas. That has two practical consequences:
- A "core" course from another state does not count. KREC says so directly: a course titled "core" in other states does not satisfy the Kansas mandatory hours, even if the subject matter overlaps.
- It cannot be earned by petition. KREC's Individual Request for CE process can credit up to nine elective hours from non-approved courses, but it never substitutes for the Required Core. See using out-of-state CE in Kansas.
Who has to take it
Everyone renewing to active status — salespersons and brokers alike. There is no exemption for experience or for holding a broker license. If you renew to inactive status you can skip CE for now, but the hours (Required Core included) must be completed before you can reactivate. See reactivating an inactive license.
What our Kansas Required Core covers
Steady Education's Kansas Required Core (KREC course M20742) is a 3-hour, self-paced online course in three sections:
- BRRETA and brokerage relationships — the Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act and agency relationships.
- The most common enforcement issues — what KREC most often cites, and how to avoid it.
- Advertising, education and renewal rules.
Like every Kansas distance course, it ends in a final exam, and you must score at least 90% on its quiz and exam questions to receive credit.
Mistakes that leave licensees short
- Taking 12 elective hours. Twelve hours without the Required Core is not a complete renewal. Check the course title, not just the hour count.
- Counting a multi-state "core" bundle. Unless the provider is KREC-approved and the course is the Kansas Required Core, it won't count toward the mandatory hours.
- Leaving it for last. It is the one course you can't swap out, so it is the worst one to discover you're missing a week before expiration.
Sources: KREC continuing education, KREC FAQ, checked September 2026. Rules and fees change — confirm your own requirements with the Kansas Real Estate Commission.