With all the stunning properties across Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, it’s easy to imagine becoming a real estate agent in Florida. Well, getting your real estate license in Florida is a relatively simple process, and we’ve broken down how to tackle each step to make it even easier. Follow our guide and you’ll be selling homes in the Sunshine State in no time.
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 first, 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
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Cost: $100–$500 -
Time commitment: 1 month -
Helpful resource: 6 Best Real Estate Schools in Florida for 2023
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 pick for the best overall real estate school in Florida.
Readers of The Close can SAVE 25% on any Colibri Real Estate prelicensing course in Florida. Use promo code TheClose25 at checkout.
Their classes are both flexible and affordable, with a range of options to choose from. Colibri Real Estate offers four packages ranging from $147 to $447, 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
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Cost: $50–$80 -
Time commitment: 2 weeks -
Helpful resource: Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s fingerprinting page
In Florida, you must complete a background check before you can sit for your license exam. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement must perform your national background check, including fingerprinting.
At least five days before submitting your application, submit your fingerprints to a Livescan service provider. You must give the Livescan provider the correct code (Real Estate Sales and Brokers: FL920010Z) when submitting your fingerprints. Otherwise, the application process may 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 typically take up to two weeks to be processed. For more information, check out the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) helpful FAQ sheet.
3. Apply for Your Florida Real Estate License
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Cost: $83.75 -
Time commitment: 1 hour -
Helpful resource: Florida DBPR website
To apply online, create an account with the DBPR. You can also opt for a printable application (though please note the current application provided by the DBPR is from 2015 and includes outdated fee information).
The current application fee is $83.75. Military members and their spouses may be eligible for a fee waiver—visit 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 licenses. You may be required to provide supporting legal documents with your application.
4. Pass the Florida License Exam
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Cost: $36.75 -
Time commitment: 4 hours (3.5 for the exam, arrive 30 minutes early) -
Helpful resource: Florida DBPR candidate information booklet
Cost:
$36.75
Time to Complete:
3.5 hours
Format:
100 multiple-choice questions
What to Bring:
2 pieces of ID and a non-programmable calculator
Passing Grade:
75%
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 on how 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 guide to online proctored exams to determine which option will work best for you.
When you’re ready to study for your test, consider a helpful exam prep course. We recommend Gold Coast School’s Weekend CRAM Review Course, which is complimentary if you’re taking your prelicensing with them or $209 as a standalone package. The sessions are all livestreamed.
For in-person exams, you’ll need to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time slot. You’ll have 3.5 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 Licensing Test
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. The review costs $35.
5. Find a Principal Broker to Hire You
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Cost: No cost -
Time commitment: 1-3 months -
Helpful resource: What’s the Best Real Estate Company to Work For?
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.
What’s the Best Real Estate Company to Work For?
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Florida?
Prelicensing Course:
$150-$500
Background Check:
$40
License Application:
$83.75
Exam Registration:
$36.75
Total Cost:
$300-$700
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.
Sample Florida Real Estate License Costs
| Prelicensing Classes (63 hours) | $147 (through Colibri Real Estate) |
| Exam Registration | $36.75 |
| License Application | $83.75 |
| Fingerprinting | $37.25 |
| Total Cost | $304.75 |
(Florida real estate license costs as of June 2023)
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.
In-person Classes
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Livestream Classes
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Online Classes
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How Much Do Real Estate Agents in Florida Earn?
According to Indeed, real estate agents make an average of $94,049 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 agent, 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)
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 two weeks), apply for your license, and study for and take the license exam.
What will I learn from my real estate prelicensing course in Florida?
Take a look at the topics covered in the 63-hour prelicensing course:
- 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
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 21 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:
- Boynton Beach
- Coral Gables
- Doral
- Ft. Lauderdale (two locations)
- Fort Myers (two locations)
- Gainesville
- Hollywood
- Jacksonville
- Lakeland
- Lake Mary
- Melbourne
- Miami
- Oakland Park
- Ormond Beach
- Orlando
- Pensacola
- Sarasota
- St. Petersburg
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
More Career Resources From The Close
We hope you have a clear understanding of how to become a real estate agent in Florida after reading our step-by-step guide. 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. And don’t forget to join our Facebook Mastermind Group to get tips from seasoned agents about starting your real estate career.
