The CE Shop is an accredited real estate school that offers self-paced licensing courses to aspiring and seasoned real estate agents. It has earned a 4.6 out of 5 rating on our list of best online real estate schools. We based this score on several factors, including course features, learning styles and formats, career assistance, pricing, customer rating, support, and our expert score.
According to The CE Shop reviews and our evaluation, it is best for aspiring and experienced agents looking to fulfill the education hours needed to obtain, renew, or upgrade their real estate license. Keep reading to learn more about The CE Shop and see if it’s the right fit for you.
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(Use promo code: FSB30 for 30% off)
Pros
Cons
- Broker licensing courses are available in 18 states only
- No mobile app
- No direct access to instructors
Who The CE Shop Is Recommended For
- Busy agents who need scheduling flexibility and self-paced education options
- Aspiring agents looking for affordable prelicensing training
- Students looking for customizable continuing education (CE) courses
Who The CE Shop Is Not Recommended For
- Agents looking for a variety of course formats
- Students needing direct instructor access
- Agents who prefer in-classroom courses
- Prelicensing: $139 to $1,795
- Post-licensing: $75 to $945
- Continuing education: $9 to $399
- Broker prelicensing: $115 to $1,999
- Exam prep: $79 to $135
The CE Shop received a high rating score for its quality content. Based on The CE Shop real estate reviews, agents love its easy-to-follow content, valuable study materials, and self-paced online learning. Many agents mentioned passing their exam on the first try thanks to The CE Shop’s comprehensive prelicensing and exam prep courses. Additionally, The CE Shop’s online website is user-friendly, which improves agents’ user experience. You can easily hover over their drop-down menus to find state-specific course information.
- Trustpilot: 3.3 out of 5 based on 6,495 The CE Shop reviews
- Agent Advice: 4.05 out of 5 based on 106 The CE Shop reviews
However, a student mentioned he was required to retake the entire coursework after failing the course’s final exam three times, without prior notice. Another said the video format was not functioning properly, and she had to read the study materials instead, even though her preferred learning style was audio or video. Some students also reported bad experiences with customer support, which failed to assist them with their concerns. Consider Aceable Agent, which offers a student concierge available seven days a week to assist you with any concerns.
So for those wondering, “Is The CE Shop legit?” our answer is yes. The CE Shop is an ideal choice for real estate agents seeking flexible course schedules, affordable pricing, and customizable real estate education. We recommend it for its high-quality, self-paced learning approach, which provides both flexibility and convenience. With its unique custom LEAP platform, you can easily navigate your courses and process information effectively.
We particularly like the interactive features that have been added to the classes to keep learners engaged. These features include images, diagrams, and learning exercises. Additionally, The CE Shop has designed intuitive dashboards that enable you to assess your competencies after completing practice exercises and tests. This provides you with immediate feedback on your learning progress.
However, The CE Shop real estate reviews indicate that some students have expressed dissatisfaction with the courses’ heavy reliance on text-based learning. Additionally, The CE Shop mainly offers self-paced online courses, which may not suit agents seeking a variety of course formats that cater to their individual learning styles. If you are looking for different course formats, you may want to consider Colibri Real Estate’s livestream classes. You can also check out other alternatives in The CE Shop Alternatives section below.
The CE Shop real estate offers all the courses required for the salesperson license, though availability varies by location. The school also provides broker licensing courses in selected states.
The CE Shop offers online prelicensing courses in 45 states plus the District of Columbia (D.C.) for aspiring agents preparing to get a real estate license. These courses are self-paced and optimized for mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. Prelicensing courses are predominantly text-based with interactive content to keep agents engaged throughout the learning process.
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Additionally, prelicensing training at The CE Shop is offered in tiered packages, which include the complete hours of coursework required in each state. You can also purchase individual courses in some states, which you can tailor to your education needs. Though course content can differ from state to state, lessons generally include real estate laws, contracts, agencies, and real estate principles and terminology. Below are the different prelicensing course packages offered by The CE Shop:
Courses Only | Standard Package | Value Package | Premium Package |
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*Availability varies by state | |||
If you’re looking for additional education, such as post-licensing, continuing education, exam prep, or broker licensing, The CE Shop is an option for you. Click through the tabs below to see if The CE Shop offers the required education in your state:
Some states require agents to take additional courses after passing the real estate exam. The CE Shop offers post-licensing education in 23 states for newly licensed agents looking to keep their licenses active. These courses cover a wide range of topics, helping agents fulfill their state-specific requirements and remove the provisional status of their license.
Though availability differs by state, agents can take individual courses or course packages that include the complete number of education hours required by their specific state:
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The CE Shop offers state-approved continuing education in 50 states and the District of Columbia for real estate salespersons and brokers looking to renew their licenses every cycle. Agents can take state-specific courses and electives that discuss relevant issues and trends in the industry. Choose from a selection of individual courses that count toward the required hours in your state or purchase CE packages with Ethics hours.
The CE Shop allows you to customize your education for agents with multistate licenses. Instead of purchasing several packages and repeating reciprocal courses, you can contact The CE Shop to help create a custom course package based on your education needs.
If you want to upgrade your real estate license, The CE Shop offers online broker licensing training in 18 states and in Utah through Stringham Schools. Agents can take individual courses or course packages that include all the licensing hours required by their states and Exam Edge Prep. Like other courses at The CE Shop, broker licensing courses are mobile-friendly and self-paced.
These courses generally include learning resources, such as tools, videos, business advice, state-specific course content, a 30-day money-back guarantee, customer support seven days a week, and a math handbook. The CE Shop provides classes in the following states:
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The CE Shop’s exam prep courses are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for aspiring agents who need additional preparation for their licensing exam. These courses allow students to take a free initial assessment and receive real-time feedback on their topic competency. Content covers national and state-specific lessons based on the state’s candidate handbook and is presented by topic and subtopic for better comprehension.
With The CE Shop’s unique Exam Prep Edge (see below for more information), agents can take unlimited simulated exams to gauge their learning after every lesson.
The CE Shop Alternatives
If you’d like to compare The CE Shop to other schools further, here are a few alternative real estate schools that provide quality online courses nationwide:
School |  |  |  |  |
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Best For | Aspiring agents looking to complete the licensing process efficiently at their own pace | New or experienced agents who need course format variety | Course affordability for aspiring or experienced agents | One-year access to courses |
Key Features |
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Pricing | $19.95 to $2,299 | $9 to $1,099 | $19.95 to $799 | $9 to $799 |
Learn More |
The CE Shop pricing varies by location, course topics, and the number of education hours required by each state. However, overall pricing ranges from $9 to $1,999. Because prelicensing courses require the highest amount of education hours, they tend to be the most expensive (starting at $129). Prelicensing education is offered in tiered packages with several add-ons, such as real estate flashcards, e-books, and career resources.
Post-licensing, broker licensing, and CE courses are also available in bundled packages and individual courses that you can customize based on your interests. However, The CE Shop’s pricing scored low because course offerings may get expensive compared to other competitors.
Check out the table below to see the features included in each type of education:
Plans | Prelicensing | Post-licensing | Broker Licensing | Continuing Education | Exam Prep |
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Who Plan Is Best For | Aspiring agents getting a real estate license for the first time | New agents looking to fulfill additional prelicensing requirements | Licensed agents planning to upgrade their career to a broker level | Agents who need to renew their real estate license | Students who need extra study, tools, and preparation time to pass exams |
Annual Price Range ($/Course)* | $139 to $1,795 | $75 to $945 | $115 to $1,999 | $9 to $399 | $79 to $135 |
Pass Guarantee** | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Custom LEAP Platform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Exam Prep Materials | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
E-books | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Instructor Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Money-back Guarantee** | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
*Price range includes all course packages in all states. **Not available for all states. Terms and conditions apply. Contact The CE Shop for more information. | |||||
With an innovative learning platform, The CE Shop students enjoy interactive features and additional learning tools, like videos and practice exams, to make online learning more engaging. Furthermore, the online chat button provides students easy access to contact the school’s customer support and get quick answers to their questions. However, it scores relatively low due to the lack of livestream and on-demand video formats, as well as indirect instructor access.
The following are key features available on The CE Shop that promote effective online learning:
- Pass guarantee
- Custom LEAP platform
- Self-paced learning
- Agent Essentials
To ensure that students get the best value for their education investment, The CE Shop provides adequate instructor and customer support to assist students before, during, and after taking a course. The self-paced learning offers maximum convenience and flexibility to agents with different learning needs.
Its custom LEAP platform makes it easy for students to follow their lessons and track their progress. Additionally, its pass and money-back guarantees ensure effective training materials to help students become successful real estate agents.
The CE Shop student account interface
The CE Shop’s real estate courses also offer additional features to enhance its students’ learning experience. Click on the tabs below to learn more about the advanced features of The CE Shop:
- Interactive course content
- Streamlined navigation
- Intuitive dashboards that gauge students’ competency
The CE Shop uses a custom LEAP 2.0 platform for interactive online learning, enhancing student engagement and information retention. The course contains progress indicators to track course coverage and remaining time. Lessons are organized into sections and presented as slides for easy navigation. Unit and practice exams offer immediate feedback for efficient assessment of student competencies. Depending on the course package, you can also find additional tools like a Glossary page, Study Plan and Calendar, and Career Builder resources.
Main course dashboard
- Scheduling flexibility
- Study lessons anywhere
- Interactive course content
The real estate CE Shop courses are 100% online and accessible on any device, allowing students to learn at their convenience. It provides access to state-specific content and other learning resources. While courses are text-based, each lesson includes at least one interactive activity and incorporates learning tools like diagrams, case studies, and external resource links. These can expose agents to various real-life learning opportunities. Unit exams are available for topic mastery and can be retaken if necessary.
Sample course at The CE Shop (unit outline)
- Higher national pass rate than the national average
- Tuition refund for eligible students
- Reimbursement of the prelicensing and Exam Prep Edge costs
With a high national pass rate, The CE Shop has helped thousands of students pass their licensing exam on the first try. If a retake is required, the school offers prelicensure students reimbursement of their initial licensing exam costs. The Pass Guarantee is only available in prelicensing packages with Exam Edge Prep. If students only purchase Exam Prep Edge, they can still get a refund of the course fee if they were unsuccessful in the licensing exam.
The CE Shop’s national pass rate (Source: The CE Shop)
- 5-day free trial on selected prelicensing courses
- Unlimited course access during the free trial period
- 30-day money-back guarantee
If you’re still uncertain about purchasing a course with The CE Shop, you can take advantage of the free trial, where you can have unlimited access to a prelicensing course for five days. This gives you firsthand experience before fully committing to a class. If you like the course, you can purchase it within 14 days after the trial ends to save your learning progress. If you’re not satisfied with a course, you can request a full refund within 30 days from purchase as long as your course progress is less than 50%.
- Study lessons by topics
- Free initial assessment and unlimited exams
- Exam Prep Edge for broker licensing is available in select states
The CE Shop offers Exam Prep Edge to help students feel more confident about taking the exam. Its state-specific course content covers every topic a student may encounter in their licensing exam. Free initial assessments and unlimited practice tests are provided to help students master complex topics. Course content is outlined according to state-specific instructions to ensure that agents study relevant information. Its intuitive dashboards gauge a student’s knowledge in real time, allowing students to identify the areas that need more focus.
The CE Shop’s Exam Prep Edge (Source: YouTube)
- Real estate experts from different fields
- State-approved curriculum developed by real estate professionals
- Instructors with decades of experience and several accolades
The CE Shop’s faculty comprises real estate educators, brokers, lawyers, CPAs, and mortgage loan originators with decades of experience in their respective fields. The school’s curriculum has been developed by these experts to provide up-to-date information about industry trends in different niches. With experienced instructors, real-world scenarios and expert perspectives are incorporated into the lessons so that students can gain an in-depth understanding. Find a list of The CE Shop’s instructors and their bios on the school website.
The CE Shop awards received in 2022
- Courses are generally accessible within 12 months
- Shorter course access in several states
- Repurchase unfinished courses at 50% of the retail price
Prelicensing and CE courses at The CE Shop can be accessed for six or 12 months from the date of purchase, except in Washington, D.C., where courses must be completed within three months. If students cannot complete the course within the access period, they can repurchase it at 50% of the retail price within 30 days after the expiration. If you can still not complete the course a second time, you will have to repurchase the course at full price.
- Free career resources
- Agent Encyclopedia
- Blogs, videos, podcasts, e-books, and webinars
Aside from its educational programs, The CE Shop provides free career resources on its Agent Essentials page to help you succeed in real estate. It includes blogs, e-books, videos, podcasts, and webinars covering topics on growing your real estate business, industry news, and market trends. The CE Shop also provides study resources through the Agent Encyclopedia to help agents prepare for their licensing exams. An example is “Real Estate Math,” which provides practice questions, exam tips, and formulas that are useful for the licensing exam.
The CE Shop’s Agent Essentials page (Source: The CE Shop)
- Available seven days a week
- Accessible through phone, email, and chat
- “Contact Us” links available on the student dashboard
The CE Shop provides customer support seven days a week. So if you need assistance choosing a prelicensing course or obtaining your course certificate, you can reach the support team through phone, email, or live chat. You can also contact them through your student dashboard for assistance regarding your course. While students can’t access their instructor’s contact details, they can reach out via email within the course or through the “Contact Us” button on the learning dashboard and anticipate a response within 24 hours.
Contacting The CE Shop’s customer support through the student dashboard
The CE Shop’s Ease of Use
Purchasing and completing a course on The CE Shop is simple. When you enroll in a course, you only need to select a program in your state and proceed to check out with your preferred payment method. You can also enter applicable promo codes (use promo code: FSB30 for 30% off) to get discounted rates and donate some money to The CE Shop Foundation.
Steps to enroll in a course on The CE Shop (Source: The CE Shop)
Upon payment, instantly access the course content by logging in to your account. The CE Shop’s custom LEAP platform allows students to navigate courses easily. You can revisit previous slides or jump directly to specific sections using the table of contents. To ensure students advance through the course in order, flow control keeps you from skipping sections. A course progress bar also allows you to track your progress. This feature automatically saves your progress so you can resume from where you left off when you log in.
The CE Shop’s LEAP platform dashboard (Source: The CE Shop)
The CE Shop’s website also has a user-friendly design. You may learn about all the packages and individual classes that are offered, their inclusions, and associated costs when you click on the state where you want to take courses. You will also receive information on licensing, how to apply for a license, and exam details.
How We Evaluated The CE Shop
We have evaluated The CE Shop based on several factors, including pricing, education provided, general features, advanced features, help and support, customer rating, and expert score. We have also compared The CE Shop to other online real estate schools to determine our final score.
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Pricing is determined by the costs of prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing courses, and exam preparation.
15% of Overall Score
The availability of each level of education for different stages of licensure. This would include pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
15% of Overall Score
Extending services beyond licensure, such as personalized coaching and career assistance. Also, whether the provider offers a mobile app, pass or refund guarantees, and course extensions for its courses.
5% of Overall Score
We examined the convenience and availability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
10% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback, with particular attention to product reviews and the provider’s popularity, to certify the course’s user satisfaction.
10% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers enable us to assess distinctive features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Once you have completed all the necessary coursework, met your state’s minimum time requirement (if applicable), and passed the practice exam, you will be required to take a final exam in the presence of an online proctor. Scheduling an appointment with a proctor in advance is necessary, and here are the steps to follow.
- Create an account with the online proctoring center and schedule an appointment.
- Before the day of the exam, ensure that you have tested your system and have met all of the technical requirements.
- On the day of the exam, log in to the proctoring center, click “Start Exam,” and a proctor will be available to guide you through the remainder of the process.
Yes. The CE Shop offers affordable prelicensing and post-licensing courses. However, its CE, broker prelicensing, and exam prep courses may get expensive in certain states compared to other real estate schools.
Determining the best online real estate course can depend on your specific needs and goals, as well as your location, budget, and preferred learning style. The CE Shop is a reputable and popular online real estate course provider that offers a wide range of top-notch courses for prelicensing, continuing education, and professional development. With its interactive online platform and high-quality content, it is well known for providing an excellent learning experience.
Bottom Line
Based on our The CE Shop review, the platform is an excellent option if you’re looking for online real estate education that you can access 24/7. The school’s custom LEAP platform allows streamlined navigation to keep students engaged amid the heavily text-based content. Its unique and intuitive dashboards also enable agents to test their knowledge about a topic as they progress through their courses. We recommend the school to agents looking for affordability and scheduling flexibility while fulfilling the education requirements to obtain or renew their real estate licenses.
Visit The CE Shop
(Use promo code: FSB30 for 30% off)
