When does an active real estate license become inactive?

An active real estate license becomes inactive when it is delivered to the Director of the Department of Licensing for any reason. This action typically represents a formal request by the licensee or an administrative action by the licensing authority, indicating the license is no longer active for use in real estate transactions. This could occur for various reasons, such as voluntarily relinquishing the license, failing to meet continuing education requirements, or due to disciplinary actions.

In contrast, not paying the license fee would typically not immediately result in an inactive status; rather, it might lead to a grace period before any actions are taken. Retirement can also lead to an inactive status but often is not an automatic trigger without formal procedures. Selling a property does not affect the active status of a real estate license, as licenses are not tied to individual transactions in that manner.