Questions & Answers

How do I become a licensed Florida real estate sales associate or broker?

To become a Florida real estate sales associate, you must successfully complete Course I: Sales Associate License Course, submit an application with fee ($39.37), have electronic fingerprints taken through PearsonVUE ($58.02) and successfully complete the state examination ($57.75).

To become a Florida real estate broker, you must successfully complete the 72 Hour Broker Pre-License Course, submit an application with fee ($43), have electronic fingerprints taken through PearsonVUE ($58.02) and successfully complete the state examination ($57.75).

Click to view more details about how to get a Florida real estate license.

How to Obtain a License

How does the Florida Real Estate Pre-Licensing Classroom Course differ from the Pre-Licensing Online Course?

The difference between classroom education and online education is quite significant.

Classroom Courses

With our classroom courses you will be taught by professionally trained instructors who are not only experts in the real estate industry, but they also understand how to prepare you for success on the exam. In a classroom setting you are able to ask questions, get clarification on subject matter that you may not understand, network with other professionals and HAVE FUN!

We understand that "going back to school" is not at the top of your to-do list, so we make sure you have a comfortable learning environment that is geared toward your comfort, and our interactive and energetic instructors make sure you have an enjoyable experience. Our reputation for high-quality classroom experiences is the reason why we are the market leader in Florida real estate education.

Online Courses

The online courses are geared toward those individuals who have previous real estate experience, have been licensed in another state or are very comfortable in an online learning environment. Online learning is not right for everyone, but it can be a very convenient way to complete the required education. Keep in mind, however, if you do choose to complete the education in our online format, that it is up to you to determine when and where you will proceed through the course, as opposed to the classroom course where the schedule is already laid out for you and our instructors will tell you how to proceed through the course material.

Please call us at (239) 344-7510 if you have further questions about the difference between classroom and online education or need guidance in making a selection.

Will Florida recognize my license from another state?

If you have had an active license in another state for 2 out of the previous 5 years, you can use that experience to bypass the Florida Sales Associate License and you may go right to obtaining a Florida Broker License. You will be required to complete all of the Florida Licensing requirements, including:

  • Application
  • Fingerprints
  • Education (complete the 72 Hour Broker Pre-License Course)
  • Examination

View more detailed licensing requirement information by visiting our How to Obtain a License page.

Florida also has MUTUAL RECOGNITION with 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island and West Virginia meaning if you are licensed in one of these states, you can bypass the education requirement and just complete the licensing requirements for an equivalent license (meaning Sales Associate to Sales Associate or Broker to Broker). An added bonus is that you only have to pass a 40-question Florida specific real estate law exam rather than taking the entire 100-question exam.

Click to view more about our Florida Mutual Recognition Exam Preparation products.

What do I need to include with my application if I am using my real estate license from another state to apply for the Florida Broker License?

If you are going to use experience from a state other then Florida, you will need a Certificate of License History from that state. The certification must contain all of the following:

  • your initial license exam type,
  • current license status,
  • disciplinary information, and
  • how many active months of licensure within the preceding five years.

How do I get fingerprinted if I live out of state?

For Sales Associate and Real Estate Broker out-of-state applicants: You should request that a Division of Real Estate Sales Associate/Broker fingerprint card be mailed to you. A fingerprint card may be obtained from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation by contacting the Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395.

Once the fingerprint card is received, you may then go to a local law enforcement office in your area to have your fingerprints rolled onto the card.

In the “Reason Fingerprinted” section of the fingerprint card, please ensure that "Florida Real Estate License F.S. 475.175" is entered, and in the “ORI” section of the card please ensure that “FL920010Z FL Real Estate Comm Orlando, FL” is entered. All other information will be completed at the local law enforcement agency.

Do I need to take any additional classes to get my Florida real estate license?

No, but you will need to complete post-licensing education within your first 2 years of being licensed. It is a 45 Hour post-licensing requirement for a Sales Associate and a 60 Hour post-licensing requirement for a Broker.

View our Florida Real Estate Sales Associate and Broker Post-Licensing Courses.

Post-Licensing Courses

Is it possible to hold more than one real estate license in Florida?

In Florida, a licensee may have only one license status at a time and a sales associate or broker associate may have only one registered employer at any one time. A licensed broker may be issued upon request additional licenses as a broker, but not as a sales associate or as a broker associate.

It must be clearly shown that the requested additional licenses are necessary to the conduct of real estate brokerage business and that the additional licenses will not be used in a manner likely to be prejudicial to any person, including another licensee.

What’s the difference between a ‘license’ and a ‘registration’?

A license is a privilege that must be earned and may be revoked. A registration is simply an acceptance of notice regarding name, location and status. All licensees—brokers, broker-associates and sales associates—are also registered with the DBPR. Owner/employers, brokerage entities, and branch offices are registered but not licensed.

What are my license renewal and continuing education requirements?

After you obtain your Florida Real Estate Sales Associate or Broker License, you must complete post-licensing education and submit a license renewal request to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The time period for when you need to renew your license for the first time will be between 18 and 24 months after you obtained your license. Based on the date of your licensure, you will need to renew either by March 31 or September 30. In order to renew, you must complete the Post-Licensing education (45 Hours for Sales Associates and 60 Hours for Brokers) and pay the license renewal fee ($48 for Sales Associates and $54 for Brokers).

If you have more specific questions about post-licensing and license renewal, read through our Florida Real Estate Post-Licensing Questions and Answers page.

After your initial license renewal and post-license education requirement has been met (18 to 24 months after receiving your license), the Florida department requires you to complete at least 14 hours of continuing education during the two years prior to your next license renewal date.

If you have more specific questions about continuing education and license renewal, read through our Florida Real Estate Continuing Education Questions and Answers page.

Post-Licensing FAQ
Continuing Education FAQ

Is anyone EXEMPT from the pre-licensing education requirement?

Attorneys in good standing with the Florida Bar are exempt from the 63-hour sales associate pre-licensing course (Course I), but must pass the state licensing exam. Such attorneys seeking licensure as a sales associate should include their Florida Bar license number and information in Section III of the state application.

Applicants who hold a four-year Real Estate Degree are exempt from the 63-hour sales associate and 72-hour broker pre-licensing courses (Course I and Course II), but must pass the state licensing exam. Applicants wishing to claim this exemption should have the relevant educational institution submit official transcripts demonstrating the applicant meets the qualifications for exemption. Applicants holding a Real Estate Degree are also exempt from the Post-Licensing education, but they are NOT EXEMPT from continuing education.

Summary of Education Exemptions

What is the difference between a “Sales Associate”, “Broker Associate” and “Broker”?

In the state of Florida, there are only two real estate licenses that you may hold.

Real Estate Sales Associate

A Sales Associate is a licensee who has attended a 63 Hour Sales Associate Pre-Licensing Course, applied to the state and paid licensing and background check fees and passed the Sales Associate state licensing examination. Also, a sales associate must register his/her license to a Florida licensed Real Estate Broker.

Real Estate Broker

A Broker is a licensee who has a minimum of 24 months of experience as a Sales Associate either in Florida or another state, has attended a 72 Hour Broker Pre-Licensing Course, applied to the state and paid licensing and background check fees and passed the Broker state licensing examination.

A Broker who manages and is responsible for a real estate brokerage is known as the "Qualifying Broker".

A Broker who registers his/her license with another Broker is known as a "Broker Associate".

When I submit my Florida real estate license application, what are they looking for to be able to approve me for the licensing test?

The applicant must make it possible to immediately begin the inquiry as to whether the applicant is honest, truthful, trustworthy, of good character, and bears a good reputation for fair dealings, and will likely make transactions and conduct negotiations with safety to investors and to those with whom the applicant may undertake a relation of trust and confidence. The applicant is required to disclose:

  1. Whether the applicant has ever been convicted or found guilty of, or entered a guilty plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction or if applicant is currently under criminal investigation;
  2. Whether the applicant has ever done business under any other name, or alias, than the name signed on the application, with sufficient information to enable the Commission to investigate the circumstances;
  3. Whether the applicant has had any license, registration or permit to practice any requested profession, occupation, vocation or business revoked, annulled, suspended, relinquished, surrendered or otherwise disciplined in Florida or in any other jurisdiction or if any such proceeding or investigation is now pending; and
  4. Whether the applicant has had an application for a real estate license denied in Florida or in any other jurisdiction or if there is a pending proceeding to deny such application.

What do I need to submit with my state license application if I answer “yes” to one of the background questions?

Failure to disclose information on the state application may be cause for denial of your license. You will need to provide a written explanation of each disclosure as well as submit additional documentation.

Question 1

If you answer “yes” to this question, you must provide a copy of the arrest report, copies of the disposition or final order(s), and documentation proving all sanctions have been served and satisfied. You must supply this documentation for each occurrence. If you are unable to supply this documentation, a certified statement from the clerk of court for the relevant jurisdiction stating the status of records is required. If you are still on probation, you must supply a letter from your probation officer, on official letterhead, stating the status of your probation.

Question 2

If you answer “yes” to this question, you must provide a copy of the judgment or decree. You must also supply documentation proving all sanctions have been served and satisfied, or if not, stating the current status of any proceedings.

Question 3

If you answer “yes” to this question, you must supply copies of documentation explaining the denial or pending action.

Question 4

If you answer “yes” to this question, you must supply copies of the order(s) showing the disciplinary action taken against the license, or documentation showing the status of the pending action.