HOW to get Your Real Estate License in Florida

This article is meant to serve as a guide to getting your real estate license in Florida.  If you have been following our Career Corner, you know we have been hyping up Florida with a post about how much Florida Realtor’s make. This blog will cover the qualifications and steps to getting a Florida Sales Associate’s and Broker’s license, as well as post-license requirements and getting a license through reciprocity. 

Qualifications & Steps 

To qualify to become a real estate sales associate is not terribly difficult on paper.  You must be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.  The harder part is the pre-license education and knowledge check. 

Florida requires that all new applicants must complete a 63-hour pre-license that includes a heavy emphasis on real estate law.  “What other kind of law would it cover?”  That’s a good question.  You’ll learn about contract and real estate law, as well as licensing law and how a broker must operate in Florida.  You will also take a final exam and pass with a score of at least 70%. 

After completing the pre-license course, you will then apply to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) and take the state licensing exam.   The state licensing exam covers a national portion and a state law specific portion.   

You will take the licensing exam through Pearson Vue exams.  Candidates must apply first to the DBPR for authorization before they may make an examination reservation. Once the candidate’s application has been approved by the DBPR, Pearson VUE will send the candidate an official authorization letter to take the state licensing exam.   

Real Estate Commission or Department of Business & Professional Regulation? 

It can be pretty confusing on how to apply to get your real estate license.  The Real Estate Commission is most often referenced because they are the regulatory body for real estate professionals.  However, you will apply through the Department of Business & Professional Regulation website for your broker’s license. 

Here is a brief breakdown: 

When it comes to applying for a new license, renewing your license, or changing your license status, you will most likely go through the DBPR’s website to either file the appropriate application or print it off and mail it to the DBPR.   

How to Get a Florida Broker License 

Getting the next level of real estate license is a similar process to getting your initial sales associate license.   

The process to become a broker is virtually the same as a sales associate.  You will complete the pre-license course, apply to the DBPR, then pass the state licensing exam.  There are 2 slight differences to get your broker license:  you must have been licensed as a sales associate for at least 2 years and the broker pre-license course is 72 hours, not 63. 

Florida Mutual Recognition 

There are lot of good reasons Florida is a hot real estate market (lots of coastline, population growth, weather, etc) and a couple of sad reasons it’s a hot real estate market (inclement weather, aging residents passing away, etc.)  Whatever the reasons, people interested in real estate always find a way to Florida.  Also, since Florida is such a popular market, agents from other states will be looking to dip into that market as well. 

Florida has one of the more friendly licensing processes for people who are already licensed in other states.  Florida has mutual recognition agreements with  10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Brokers and Sales Associates can qualify for an equivalent type license in Florida if they are over 18 with a high school diploma or its equivalent and are not Florida Residents at the time of application. 

As long as you obtained your real estate license by taking the pre-license education required in each state and passing the full licensing exam, you should be approved for licensure by mutual recognition.  Then you will only have to take the Florida state law portion of the licensing exam.  (We are building a prep course for those approved for a mutual recognition license!)   

If approved, you will not have to take the 63-hour pre-license course.  If you are not approved, you will have to take the 63-hour pre-license course and the full state licensing exam.   

Exemptions and Other Considerations 

If you have a 4-year degree in real estate from a Florida university or if you have a law degree from an accredited law school, you may be exempted from taking the required pre-license education courses.  You would have to apply with your official transcripts with the DBPR. 

Also, if you are a military member on active duty, a veteran, a spouse of an active duty member or veteran, or a surviving spouse of a veteran, you will not have to pay the application fee and may not have to take the licensing exam.  Proof of service and marriage certificate for spouses will be required upon application.   

If you have any questions about getting licensed in Florida, do not hesitate to contact our License Law specialists.  And if you’re ready to become a sales associate in Florida, our course is waiting for you!