How to Get a Real Estate License in Florida

In order to kickstart your real estate career in Florida, it’s essential to obtain a Florida Real Estate License. However, despite the fact that the application process is mainly completed online nowadays, many applicants can still find it quite confusing and complicated.

For this reason, this How to Get a Real Estate License in Florida article will break down the main steps involved in the licensing process, covering everything from educational requirements to exam preparation and having your fingerprints taken.

Florida Real Estate License

In order to get your Florida real estate license and start working in the real estate industry, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Licensing Eligibility Requirements
2. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
3. Passing the Florida Real Estate Exam
4. Submitting a License Application
5. Passing a Background Check

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.

Step 1: Meet the Florida Real Estate License Requirements

Before continuing ahead with your application for a Florida real estate license, you’ll first need to confirm that you’re actually eligible for it by ensuring you meet the following prerequisites:

• You will need to have reached the age of maturity, which is 18 years old in Florida
• You will have to possess a Social Security Number
• You will need to hold a high school diploma — or its equivalent — to qualify

After ensuring that you meet the necessary prerequisites, there are several additional steps you will need to complete before you can submit your real estate license application — known as the Sales Associate Initial Application (RE 1) in Florida.

Step 2: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

In addition to the general requirements outlined above, there are certain educational prerequisites you’ll be expected to meet in order to be able to apply for a Florida real estate license.

In particular, you’ll be expected to complete 63 hours of pre-licensing education that’s approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Once that is completed, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which you must present at the exam site in order to sit for your state licensing exam.

Keep in mind that this certificate will remain valid for a period of two years, meaning that after this period you will be required to retake a pre-licensing course in order to continue with the licensing process.

If you hold a four-year degree or higher in real estate, you may be exempt from the pre-license education requirement.

To confirm this exemption, you must submit an original certified transcript with your application for review to the Division of Real Estate at the following address:

Division of Real Estate, Attention: Education Section, 400 West Robinson Street, Suite N801 Orlando, Florida 32801.

Step 3: Pass the Florida Real Estate Exam

The next step you’ll need to complete is to pass the Florida Real Estate Exam, which is administered by Pearson VUE.

Before you can reserve a spot for the examination, you will first need to apply to the Florida Division of Real Estate (DRE) for authorization to take the exam.

Once your application is approved, the DRE will issue an official authorization letter, making you eligible to schedule an examination.

In order to schedule your real estate exam, you’ll need to head over to the Pearson VUE website and make an online reservation. If this is your first time using the platform, you’ll be required to create an account, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete the reservation.

Keep in mind that there’s a $36.75 fee that will need to be paid; you will have 3.5 hours to complete your exam and you will need a score of at least 75 out of 100 in order to pass.

Note: Right after sitting the exam, you will receive an official, photo-bearing score report documenting your performance.

Step 4: Submit a License Application

After passing the state real estate exam and satisfying all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move onto submitting your license application. This can be done in one of two ways:

• Online: You can submit your application online through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website
• Mail: You can print out this application form, complete it, and mail it to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at the following address:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1027

In either case, you will be required to pay a processing fee in order to do this, which is currently $39.37.

Step 5: Pass the Background Check

As part of the licensing process, you will be required to undergo a background check.

To do this, you will need to submit your fingerprints using a Livescan Service Provider that’s registered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

You can find a list of approved providers on this Livescan Service Provider List, which has been published by the FDLE.

Additionally, the DBPR offers fingerprinting services at their headquarters — located at 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee — for a fee of $37.25.

Note: It’s important to submit your application for licensure before your fingerprints because the FDLE requires your application to be on file before they can process your results.

Step 6: Application Review

If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations! With your application submitted and all the other licensing requirements satisfied, in most cases you should receive a letter from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation containing a license document within ten business days.

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Note: If you’re not sure what’s happening with your license and it’s been longer than expected, you can reach out directly to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation by phone or mail.

Florida Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your license valid and continue working as a real estate sales agent, you’ll need to renew your license every two years.

Your initial license renewal requires you to complete 45 hours of Post License Education for Sales Associates; this can be undertaken through either distance education or in a classroom setting.

For subsequent renewals, the requirement is reduced to completing 14 hours of continuing education, which must include: 3 hours of Core Law, 3 hours of Business Ethics Practices, and 8 hours of specialty education.

Both the initial and subsequent renewals can be completed online through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website.

We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

Note: If you’re considering practicing real estate in Florida and are already licensed in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, or West Virginia, Florida’s mutual recognition agreements mean you can become licensed in the state by passing the Florida laws section of the state exam only.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Mailing Address: 

Division of Real Estate
400 West Robinson Street, N801
Orlando, Florida 32801

Phone: (850) 487-1395

Fax: (850) 488-8040

Email: Contact Form

Website: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/real-estate-commission/