How To Get Your Florida Real Estate Sales Associate License
Pursuing a real estate career can be a pretty lucrative career move.
But do you know the steps you will need to take to become a licensed real estate sales associate in the state of Florida? Read on to learn what you need to do to get licensed and begin a brand new career!
Step 1: Meet the basic requirements
There are some basic requirements an applicant must meet in order to be eligible for a real estate license in Florida These include:
Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or equivalent, and
Have a social security number
Step 2: Complete Pre-Licensing Education
In order to become a licensed real estate sales associate in Florida, you must complete a FREC-approved 63 hour pre-licensing education course. This course covers information regarding practicing real estate in the state of Florida, Florida real estate rules and laws, and other topics FREC (the Florida Real Estate Commission) deems important.
This course can be taken online, in-person, or through distance education, but must be FREC-approved. Click here for a list of current approved pre-licensure education providers.
You will need to pass the end-of-course exam in order to successfully complete the course.
Your pre-licensing course is good for 2 years from the date of completion. Keep this in mind when creating a timeline for your license application.
Step 3: Pass the State Exam
Each licensure candidate must successfully pass the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate licensure exam offered by Pearson Vue. The exam can only be scheduled after successfully completing your pre-licensing course.
There are 100 multiple choice questions on the exam, and you must correctly answer 75 questions to pass.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) offers a Candidate Information Booklet with useful information about the real estate sales associate exam. You can access the latest edition of the booklet by clicking here.
Step 4: Complete the Licensure Application
In order to become an officially licensed real estate sales associate in Florida, you must submit an application to DBPR, which is the licensing body in Florida. The application can be submitted electronically or by mail, and will be reviewed in the order in which it is received.
In order for your application to be processed, there are two crucial things you must do:
Pay the required application fee
Submit your fingerprints using a Livescan provider that is approved by FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement).
Once your application has been submitted, it usually takes DBPR about 30 days to process it.
If there are any deficiencies, you will receive a letter letting you know the corrective actions that need to be taken. If your application is good to go, it will be approved, and you will receive communication from DBPR with your license.
And that’s…it?!
Not so fast. Yes, it may seem like you can get a real estate license and change your life in 4 easy steps (cue the clickbait ads!), but the process is more intensive than that.
Time-wise, it can take anywhere from weeks to months just to complete pre-licensing courses. Of course, much of this is determined by your learning style and motivation. Those who want to finish quickly can realistically complete the 63-hour mandate in 1 to 2 weeks if pursuing studies full-time.
Those who like to take their time and process the information are usually given a six month window by the FREC-approved school.
You will also need to give DBPR time to review the application during each step of the process. Barring no errors or hiccups, it usually takes DBPR about two weeks to review a real estate licensee application.
My application was approved…now what?
First of all, congrats!
Once your application has been approved by DBPR, you will receive an electronic version of your license through email. Your license will be issued on inactive status, but it does not have to stay that way for long!
With a valid license, you are now able to interview for real estate roles offering compensation. From joining a traditional brokerage and becoming a Realtor®, to becoming a referral agent or property manager, you now have options. Learn more about some of your options as a real estate licensee.
If you interested in joining Mint Refer as a Referral Agent, please visit mintrefer.com/join or email us at join@mintbrokerage.co.
Florida Licensure FAQ’s
Must I complete the steps in order?
No, but you need to be aware of important dates in the application process. For instance, your pre-licensure course expires 2 years after completion. If you do not gain licensure within that 2-year period, you will need to re-take the course if you want to obtain a license.
Does Florida offer reciprocity with any other states?
Currently, Florida has mutual recognition with 10 states: Arkansas, Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. If you are licensed in one of these states, you may not need to complete the 63 hour pre-licensing course. However, you will still need to complete the application process, including the required fee and fingerprints.
How do I check the status of my application?
Once, submitted, you can check the status of your Florida Real Estate Sales Associate license application through DBPR’s website using your name and social security number. You can check your license status by clicking here.
Must I be a Florida resident to seek licensure in Florida?
No. There are thousands of Florida licensees who live out of state, or even out of the country! But if you have any intentions of conducting real estate business in Florida, you will need to be licensed in the state, even if you are licensed somewhere else.