How Do You Get Your Real Estate License In Florida: Complete Knowhow
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how do you get your real estate license in Florida, let us understand why you should launch your career in this field and the benefits attached to it. Incidentally, in Florida, the entry-level point as a real estate professional is a Sales Associate, but we will use the title of real estate agent for quick comprehension.
The Florida Real Estate Market
What connection does the Florida real estate market have with you going through the process of how to get a FL real estate license? Plenty, as you shall see now.
A flourishing real estate market is the ideal scenario for real estate agents to work. Florida offers precisely that, as the housing sector has always been above the national average. Florida draws people like a magnet to the state as the Sunshine State has lots to offer – a thriving tourist industry, sunny beaches, and a prosperous real estate market.
At present, the Florida real estate market is witnessing exponential growth with a rise in inventory and listings. This leads to a favorable situation for buyers as they do not have to compete with fewer houses for sale, a situation that pushes up prices. With more real estate transactions, the earnings of real estate agents also increase substantially.
Apart from more listings on offer, home prices in Florida have eased, a reduction of 4% over April 2024 levels. This is bringing in more buyers to the market. With a vibrant real estate market, now is the time to learn about how to get my real estate license in Florida and launch a very rewarding and successful career.
The Benefits of Knowing How To Get Your Real Estate License In FL
Let us look at why it is paying to learn about how do you get your real estate license in Florida from two perspectives.
Lifestyle changes
A real estate agent in Florida is not tied down to a 9-to-6 job; rather, they have the flexibility to set their work schedules. You are your own boss and can work independently without the stresses of a normal routine. This leads to a better lifestyle as you can schedule your life to spend more quality time with friends and family.
A word of caution here, though, you may have to work on weekends and holidays, adjusting your routine if clients want showings on specific dates. However, this is usually few and far between,
Monetary gains
The sky is the limit as far as the earnings of real estate agents are concerned. Let’s see where their income is sourced.
Real estate agents do not earn regular salaries; they are paid commissions based on the sale price of a property. This figure is typically 6% divided equally between a buyer’s and a seller’s agent.
For instance, let us base the calculation on the current median home price in Florida, which is $420,700. For a sale, the earnings from a single transaction work out to $12,621. Even if you take 8 deals per year, which is quite reasonable, the income crosses six figures.
With all these points in favor of the real estate profession, let us now dive into how do you get your real estate license in Florida.
How Do You Get A Real Estate License In Florida
Functioning of The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).
For how to get your real estate license in FL, you must follow the guidelines and the pre-licensing course content as decided by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC). This controlling body is a subsidiary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), a state agency that regulates the issuance of licenses and renewals of various professions, including real estate. FREC focuses on the real estate sector only.
The powers of FREC are multi-dimensional and varied. It is responsible for licensing, deciding the course curriculum of pre-licensing study materials, and starting disciplinary proceedings against real estate professionals in case of any complaints or misdemeanor.
Additionally, it is the FREC that has fixed that any person wanting to buy, sell, lease, or rent real estate in Florida, against commissions receivable from third parties, must have a real estate license in the state.
We will now explore the process of how to get the real estate license in Florida.
Step 1: Meet Preliminary Requirements
Before you can get down to how do you get your real estate license in Florida, certain basic requirements must be met.
The cutoff age to apply for a real estate license in Florida is 18 years. There is no bar, though, to going through other eligibility norms, such as completing the pre-licensing coursework, before that. However, your application for a real estate license in FL will not be accepted if you are not 18 years old on that date.
You must be a citizen of the USA with a Social Security Number to start the process of how to get a real estate license in Florida. Legally admitted migrants can also apply for a license provided they have been given working rights in the country.
On the educational front, a minimum high school pass is required to get a real estate license in the state. It will also meet the eligibility norms to get a license if you have an equivalent qualification, such as a GED.
Step 2: Complete the pre-licensing coursework
Aspiring real estate agents must go through 63 hours of pre-licensing study materials as fixed by the FREC. There are several reasons why so much importance is given to this aspect in how do you get your real estate license in Florida.
First, the real estate sector is founded on complex rules and regulations. They require a thorough understanding if real estate agents are to offer optimized services to their clients in the future.
Next, it is for the good of real estate agents, too. Any real estate deal is based on massive amounts of money, as well as drawing up contracts. Any mistake here will lead to serious legal and financial implications, affecting both real estate agents and clients.
To avoid these possibilities, completing the pre-licensing coursework is critical for those seeking answers to how to get my real estate license in Florida.
The 63-hour Florida pre-licensing course has two sections. The first is the general topics of real estate that are common to all the states in the USA. Followed by this national section is the state-specific part that deals with all the laws, rules, and regulations related to Florida only. The licensing exam for a real estate license has questions from both parts.
The subjects covered in the Florida real estate course are as follows.
- Florida license and state laws
- Real Estate contracts and closing
- Real estate ethics
- Real estate marketing
- Property management
- Real estate finance
- Industry rules and violations
- Foreclosures
To ensure that you pass the licensing course on the first try, you need to invest in a high-quality pre-licensing course. In the next section, we will know how to choose the best real estate course provider.
How To Choose The Best Licensing Coursework
To do well in your quest for how do you get your real estate license in Florida, select coursework that is of the highest quality without draining your bank account.
So, how do you go about it in this direction?
Course packages
Browse the various pre-licensing courses available in the market and check the packages on offer. Usually, for every provider, there will be a basic course that you can finish at your own pace and high-end course bundles. Advanced courses offer mock tests and practice questions to help you prepare better for the licensing exam and cost more than the basic courses.
Mock tests have practice questions that have the same structure and format as those in the licensing exam. Thus, you will be prepared to face the licensing exam with confidence. Moreover, by going through practice questions at the end of each chapter and checking the score, you can estimate how well you are prepared for each topic.
One of the top online course providers offering basic and advanced courses is RealEstateU. Their courses are designed by established real estate professionals with years of experience in this field. Further, their courses are one of the lowest-priced in this niche.
Online or physical classes
You can choose either an online course or a classroom-based one; it depends entirely on your preferred learning medium and your comfort zone. Let us now compare the two so that you can make a considered decision.
For classroom-based courses, you have to commute to physical schools, spending considerable time and money. You are also tied to fixed time classes, and this can upset your normal routine, more so if you have a job in another sector.
Online courses, on the other hand, are far more flexible and convenient. After buying a pre-licensing course to initiate the activity of how do you get your real estate license in Florida, simply download the study materials onto any Internet-enabled device. You now have the freedom to study from any location and at any time without disrupting your usual schedules.
The icing on the cake is that online courses are much cheaper than classroom-based courses. For example, RealEstateU offers its online Florida real estate courses at $69 only, while general school-based courses can set you back by $700.
FREC-approved courses
When you select a course, ensure that it is approved by FREC. Any unapproved course will not be considered as having completed the eligibility norm to appear for the licensing exam. Since it is a critical factor, do not go by assurances of any course provider; visit the FREDC portal to find out for yourself.
Step 3: Background verification
Real estate agents handle sensitive contracts amounting to thousands of dollars and must therefore have high moral standards and financial integrity. This is why a background verification is done on all aspiring real estate agents to check for any past criminal records. The live fingerprint scan is to be submitted to DBPR and verified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A clean chit is a vital step in how to get a FL real estate license.
Step 4: Schedule and pass the licensing exam
Visit the DBPR portal and apply for a license. An ID number will be issued with which you must schedule a licensing test. Proctored by Pearson Vue, you must visit a designated center physically to appear for the exam, though the test is held online. Among the test centers today are Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
The questions on test day are in a multiple-choice format. 210 minutes are allotted for 100 questions, with the pass grade being 75%. The results in pass/fail format are announced soon after completing the test.
Step 5: Apply for a real estate license
Visit the DBPR portal and apply for a real estate license in Florida. Upload documents of completing the coursework, fingerprint clearance certificate, and passing the licensing exam. A provisional license will now be issued, but you cannot start your practice yet.
Step 6: Find a licensed broker
Get a licensed broker to sponsor you. As a newly licensed real estate professional, the broker will provide the infrastructure and guidance to successfully launch your career. Now, inform DBPR about your employment status to and the provisional license will be activated.
The activated license will be in the broker’s name till the time you are linked to the firm. If you switch brokers, your license will be transferred to that name.
These are the 6 steps to how do you get your real estate license in Florida. Meticulously go through every step and carve out a lucrative real estate career in Florida.