Understand the training cycle, course options, and steps to confirm your completion
By Don Widmayer | October 9, 2026
TL;DR: NAR requires REALTORS® to complete at least two hours of qualifying fair housing and anti-bias training during the January 1, 2025–December 31, 2027 cycle. This is separate from NAR Code of Ethics training and Florida license education. If you are joining an association, check its new-member orientation deadline. Before choosing a course, confirm acceptance and how completion will be recorded.
Who Needs NAR Fair Housing Training
If you are a Florida real estate professional who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), this membership requirement applies to you. Holding a Florida real estate license alone does not make you a REALTOR®.
NAR requires qualifying fair housing training when you become a member and during successive three-year cycles. Its continuing-training provision exempts members granted REALTOR® Emeritus status by NAR. For the official requirements, review NAR’s fair housing training guidance.
For more background on membership, read REALTOR vs. Non-REALTOR.
Know Your Training Deadline
The first cycle began January 1, 2025, and ends December 31, 2027. Qualifying training must include at least two hours of instruction and meet NAR’s learning objectives and minimum criteria.
However, new members should not assume they can wait until the cycle ends. Their association sets the deadline for completing new-member fair housing orientation. Ask for that date when you apply and confirm how your orientation completion counts for the current cycle.
Although the cycle deadline is next year, taking care of the requirement now gives you time to resolve missing records or questions about acceptance.
Keep Membership Training and Florida Education Separate
Your education plan may involve three different obligations:
- NAR fair housing training: At least two hours of qualifying instruction for the applicable membership cycle.
- NAR Code of Ethics training: A separate requirement of at least two hours and 30 minutes of qualifying instruction. See NAR’s Code of Ethics training information.
- Florida license education: Unless an exemption applies, sales associates complete 45 hours of post-license education for their first renewal, and brokers complete 60 hours. Subsequent renewals require 14 hours of continuing education. Check DBPR’s real estate education and renewal information for your situation.
Consequently, completing your Florida renewal education does not by itself establish that you have satisfied both NAR requirements. A course may serve more than one purpose when it has the appropriate approval and acceptance, but you should verify each separately.
Choose Training That Will Be Accepted
NAR lists Fairhaven, At Home With Diversity, and Bias Override among its fair housing training options. Fairhaven 2.0 is an online simulation that meets the NAR fair housing training requirement and is free for NAR members.
Alternatively, your local or state association may offer qualifying instruction or work with an education provider. Before enrolling in another course, ask your local association whether that specific course satisfies the requirement.
Do not assume that a fair housing chapter in a pre-license course, a Florida-approved CE course, or an older certificate automatically qualifies. NAR’s criteria and the applicable completion period matter. Likewise, do not assume that a course accepted for NAR membership provides Florida CE credit.
Use the Training in Your Daily Practice
NAR’s fair housing learning objectives address steering, disability accommodations and modifications, marketing, and the effects of bias. The practical goal is to help you provide fair service throughout a transaction.
For example, imagine a buyer tells you, “We want a neighborhood where people are like us.” Ask the buyer to identify concrete preferences, such as price range, commute, property features, and amenities. Build the search around those criteria and let the buyer choose where to live.
Next, review your routines. Do you ask prospects consistent questions? Do you provide comparable information and follow-up? Do your advertisements describe the property clearly? These habits help you put the training into practice.
You can also review Florida Brokerage Relationships Explained with your broker when discussing how you serve buyers and sellers.
Confirm That Your Completion Is Recorded
Finishing the course is one step. Make sure your association has the record it needs:
- Confirm acceptance of the course before enrolling.
- Save the completion certificate with the course name, provider, and date.
- Ask whether the provider reports completion or whether you must submit proof.
- Verify that your association shows the fair housing requirement as satisfied.
- Check your Code of Ethics record and Florida education record separately.
For instance, if you finish Fairhaven but your association’s record still shows incomplete, contact the association with your certificate. A saved certificate makes that conversation easier.
What Happens If You Miss the Requirement
Under NAR’s mandatory association bylaw provisions, missing the continuing fair housing requirement results in membership suspension for January and February following the cycle, or until completion, whichever comes first. Membership still suspended on March 1 is automatically terminated. For this cycle, those dates fall in 2028.
New-member orientation has its own consequences: failure to complete it within the association’s specified period can result in denial of the application or termination of provisional membership. Therefore, confirm the deadline that applies to you.
Make Your Education Plan Now
Start by asking your association which requirements remain incomplete. Then schedule accepted training, retain your certificates, and confirm your records. Keeping those steps on your calendar helps you avoid a last-minute scramble and use what you learn with your customers.
Ready to take the next step?
Build your knowledge for your next licensing or renewal milestone. Explore Florida real estate education at OLTraining.com and choose the education that fits your career stage. For NAR membership training, confirm course acceptance with your association before enrolling.
Tags: NAR Fair Housing Training, Florida Real Estate Agents, REALTOR Education, Fairhaven, Anti-Bias Training, Fair Housing, Real Estate Compliance, Florida Real Estate Education
