Are you ready to become a real estate agent in Florida? Getting your real estate license is a relatively simple process, and we’ve broken down each step to make it even easier. Follow our guide and you’ll be selling homes in sunny Miami, Orlando, Tampa or other major markets in just a few months.
It’s no surprise that Florida boasts one of the strongest housing markets in the country. Why not take advantage of the boom and learn how to become a real estate agent in Florida yourself? Let’s get started!
How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Florida
The state of Florida requires those seeking a Real Estate Sales Associate designation to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a Social Security number
- Have a high school diploma
If you checked all three boxes above, you are ready to take the first step toward a career in real estate. But if you want to learn more about where the industry is heading, check out Pinnacle Realty Advisors’ e-book containing the brokerage’s 2023 predictions for real estate. This educational report is chock full of historical data and trend charts to give you insight into the changing market you’ll be diving into.
Ready to learn how to become a real estate agent in Florida? Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
1. Complete a 63-Hour Prelicensing Course
Cost: $100 – $500
Time Commitment: 1 month
Your first step in becoming a real estate agent in Florida is to complete a 63-hour prelicensing course. If you have a four-year degree in a real estate-related field or you’re a member of the Florida Bar Association, you may be eligible to skip your prelicensing requirements.
Plenty of schools offer in-person or online courses. If you prefer an online program that lets you study at your own pace, we recommend checking out Colibri Real Estate. It’s our top pick for the best overall online real estate school in Florida.
Their classes are both flexible and affordable, with a range of options to choose from. Colibri Real Estate offers four packages ranging from $132 to $439, and every package includes support from Florida instructors as well as a Satisfaction Guarantee.
For more info about choosing a Florida real estate school, check out our buyer’s guide and see our section below about class formats.
6 Best Real Estate Schools in Florida for 2023
2. Pass a Background Check
Cost: $50 – $100
Time Commitment: 2 weeks
In Florida, you must complete a background check before you can sit for your license exam. Your national background check must be performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and include a fingerprinting check.
At least five days before submitting your application, submit your fingerprints to a Livescan service provider. You must provide the Livescan provider with the correct code (Real Estate Sales and Brokers—FL920010Z) when submitting your fingerprints. Otherwise, the application process will be delayed.
The charge for fingerprinting varies with each location, but expect to pay around $50. You’ll need to bring two forms of ID when fingerprinted. Results can typically take up to two weeks to be processed. for more information, check out the DBPR’s helpful FAQ sheet for fingerprinting checks.
3. Apply for Your License
Cost: $83.75
Time Commitment: 1 Hour
You must complete your real estate license application before you take your license exam. Start by creating an account with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to apply online. You can also apply with a printable application.
The application fee is $83.75. Military members and their spouses may be eligible for a fee waiver—visit out the DBPR website for more information.
Besides providing your Social Security number and legal name, you’ll also have to answer a series of background questions regarding your criminal history, legal investigations, and previous licensures. You may be required to provide supporting legal documents with your application.
4. Pass the Florida License Exam
Cost: $36.75
Time Commitment: 4 Hours (3 1/2 for the exam, arrive 30 min early)
The Florida real estate license exam is administered by Pearson VUE. Once your application is approved by the DBPR, you’ll receive an official authorization letter from Pearson VUE with instructions to schedule your license exam.
You can schedule your exam online or by phone at (888) 204-6289. The exam fee is $36.75. In Florida, you can take your real estate license exam in person or online. Visit Pearson VUE’s online proctored website to schedule your online exam.
When you’re ready to study for your exam, consider a helpful exam prep course. We recommend Gold Coast School’s Weekend CRAM Review Course. There are 14 course locations in Florida, or the sessions can be live-streamed.
For in-person exams, you’ll need to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled exam. You’ll have 3½ hours to complete the 100-question, computer-based exam. You’ll need to get 75 questions correct to pass the exam.
Free Real Estate Practice Exam + 7 Hacks to Help You Ace Your Real Estate Exam
Bring the following items to the Pearson VUE testing site:
- Two forms of valid signature identification, one of which is government-issued (driver’s license, state identification card, passport, or military identification card).
- Proof that you have completed the necessary educational requirements to take the exam (Florida Division of Real Estate Authorization Notice and the Certificate of Pre-Licensing Education Completion). Even if the original copy of these documents was mailed to the Division of Real Estate, bring a photocopy of the documents to your testing center.
- A silent, hand-held, battery-powered, non-printing calculator without alphabetical buttons.
Leave every other item (phones, purses, wallets, snacks, and drinks) in your car or a locker provided by Pearson.
You’ll receive your “photo-bearing” exam result report immediately following your exam. If you fail the exam, you can schedule a review session with Pearson within 21 days to review the questions you answered incorrectly (there’s a charge for this review).
5. Find a Principal Broker to Hire You
Cost: No cost
Time Commitment: 1-3 months
Congratulations! If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve completed all the steps to get your real estate license in Florida. The only thing you need to do now is to get hired by a Florida real estate brokerage.
As a real estate agent in Florida, you’ll be required to work under a broker to assist clients in buying or selling real estate. You may need to knock on doors and introduce yourself to find a brokerage to oversee your work. Here is our assessment of the best real estate companies to work for to help you in your search.
What’s the Best Real Estate Company to Work for?
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Florida?
It can cost as little as $300 to get your Florida real estate license. Some of these costs are set, such as the license fee and exam fee. The price for the prelicensing courses and exam prep materials will vary depending on the school you choose.
Florida Real Estate License Costs
| Prelicensing Classes (63 hours) | $132.00 (Colibri Real Estate) |
| Exam Cram Session | $199.00 (Gold Coast School) |
| Florida Real Estate License Exam Fee | $36.75 |
| License Application Fee | $83.75 |
| Fingerprinting Fee | $54.55 |
| Total Cost | $506.05 |
Compensation
How much do real estate agents in Florida make? In March 2022, they made an average of $93,709 per year in Florida. Remember that real estate is a commissioned-based career, so the sky is truly the limit on your earning potential.
Once you’ve decided which companies to interview with, inquire about your split, or how you and the brokerage will divide the commissions you earn. Some brokerages will ask for a 50/50 split on commissions. Usually, brokerages that offer an even split will not charge monthly desk fees.
Other brokerages may allow you to keep between 70% and 100% of your commissions. However, those brokerages will often charge higher monthly desk fees. Some brokerages may offer you 70% of your commissions until you reach a cap, which means you’ll receive 100% of your commissions for the rest of the year after earning the pre-specified amount.
As a new real estate broker, finding the right balance between commissions and desk fees may be tricky. Keep in mind that real estate brokerages do not offer any payment to their agents, so these negotiations with the managing broker are essential. Negotiating a lower cap for yourself will mean you’ll be able to put more of your earned commissions into your own pocket.
Since real estate agents are paid solely on commission, some hesitate to quit their day job and jump with both feet into their new careers. To help you decide whether you should work full-time or part-time, check out our guide on being a part-time real estate agent.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
Choosing a Florida Real Estate School
Your classes will cover the legal and financial aspects of buying and selling property. You’ll learn everything you need to know to pass the exam and answer questions from future clients. Here are some of the class formats you’ll encounter at Florida real estate schools.
| Types of Instruction | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| In-person Classes |
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| Livestream Classes |
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| Online Classes |
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How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Florida – FAQs
We hope we’ve provided a comprehensive view of how to become a real estate agent in Florida. We’ve assembled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the process here. If you have additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you!
How long does it take to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida?
It takes about three months to become a real estate agent in Florida. Your 63-hour prelicensing course is the most time-consuming part of the licensing process.
If you complete the prelicensing course at your own pace, you may need longer to finish. You’ll have to decide how taking the course will affect your lifestyle and schedule. Once you’re finished, you’ll only need time to get your background check (about 2 weeks), apply for your license, and study for and take the license exam.
What will I learn from my real estate prelicense course in Florida?
Take a look at the topics covered in the 63-hour prelicensing course:
- The real estate business
- License law and qualifications for licensure
- Real estate license law and commission rules
- Authorized relationships, duties, and disclosures
- Real estate brokerage activities and procedures
- Violations of license law, penalties, and procedures
- Federal and state laws pertaining to real estate
- Property rights: estates, tenancies, condominiums, cooperatives, community development districts, homeowner associations, and time-sharing
- Titles, deeds, and ownership restrictions
- Legal descriptions
- Real estate contracts
- Residential mortgages
- Types of mortgages and sources of financing
- Real estate-related computations and closing of transactions
- Real estate markets and analysis
- Real estate appraisal
- Real estate investments and business opportunity brokerage
- Taxes affecting real estate
- Planning and zoning
What is the fastest way to get a real estate license in Florida?
The fastest way to get your Florida real estate license is to sign up for the required 63-hour prelicensing course and complete it as quickly as you can without jeopardizing your understanding of the material. Decide if you’ll finish the course quicker if you work through the material at your own pace or with scheduled class times.
If you’d prefer a self-paced course, we recommend trying Colibri Real Estate. They are our top pick for best overall online real estate school in Florida. They offer tons of useful features with their packages so you get extra support while studying from home. Plus, use can use promo code TheClose25 and save 25%.
Can I get my Florida real estate license online?
Yes! You can complete most of the necessary steps to become a real estate agent in Florida without leaving your home. You can take online prelicensing courses, online test prep courses, and even take your Florida real estate exam while a live proctor monitors your workstation through a webcam.
Where can I take my Florida real estate license exam?
Pearson VUE currently has 18 Florida test-taking locations and an online-proctoring exam option. They also have testing sites on military bases and now allow you to take the test at home while monitored by a proctor through a webcam.
To schedule your online real estate license exam in Florida, visit Pearson VUE.
You can take an in-person exam at the following Florida test locations:
- Avon Park
- Boynton Beach
- Daytona Beach
- Ft. Lauderdale
- Fort Myers
- Gainesville
- Hollywood
- Jacksonville
- Lakeland
- Lake Mary
- Melbourne
- Miami
- Ormond Beach
- Orlando
- Sarasota
- St. Petersburg
- South Miami
- Tampa
We hope you have a clear understanding of how to become a real estate agent in Florida after reading our step-by-step guide.
More Career Resources From The Close
At The Close, we’re here to celebrate your success and encourage your professional growth at every step. To get articles directly to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter. When you’re ready to upgrade your skills, check out The Close Pro. Lastly, don’t forget to join our Facebook Mastermind Group to get tips from seasoned agents about starting your real estate career.
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