Florida Real Estate Licensing

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 ($105), have electronic fingerprints taken through PearsonVUE ($57.25) and successfully complete the state examination ($31.50).

To become a Florida real estate broker, you must successfully complete the 72 Hour Broker Pre-License Course, submit an application with fee ($115), have electronic fingerprints taken through PearsonVUE ($57.25) and successfully complete the state examination ($31.50).

Click below to view more details about how to get a license.

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 9 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana,  Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee, meaning if you are licensed in 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 below to view more about our Florida Mutual Recognition Exam Preparation products.

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 by clicking below.

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 your initial license renewal and post-license education requirement has been met (18 to 24 months after receiving your license), the Florida department requires an active broker, broker associate, or sales associate to submit proof that the licensee has completed at least 14 hours of continuing education during the two years prior to renewal.

Click below to view more information about license renewal and continuing education.