How to apply for a Florida salesperson license online
Want to be a part of a top-of-the-line profession and earn a six-figure income without worrying about growth prospects?
A career in Florida real estate can turn your dreams into a reality and set you on the path to becoming a successful, high-earning professional.
Real estate agents work with clients and help them in buying and selling residential and commercial properties.
Florida’s real estate landscape is flourishing with exciting opportunities and avenues for growth and profitability. The Peach State has emerged as one of the most popular real estate markets in the last few years.
Be it the picturesque beaches and scenic natural views or the myriads of entertainment options and diverse cultural mix, Florida continues to attract homebuyers, skilled workers, and real estate investors.
Florida real estate agents and brokers can earn as high as $200K annually and make extra commissions on top of it.
The best part about becoming a real estate professional is that you do not need a bachelor’s degree to work in the industry. Plus, the entire process can be completed online nowadays.
If you are eager to work with people and help them in making real estate decisions, all you need is a Florida real estate license and you will be on your way to a successful and rewarding career path.
Starting a new career in real estate might seem overwhelming, especially if you are a complete beginner and have limited knowledge about the industry and its rules and laws.
This article will cover all the key aspects of becoming a licensed salesperson in Florida real estate and will prepare you for all the steps involved in starting your real estate career.
From the job duties and responsibilities of a real estate agent to the licensing requirements and best practices, you will get answers to all your questions in our in-depth guide.
The job profile of a real estate agent
Real estate agents are licensed professionals who help individuals in buying and selling properties in a structured, lawful way.
It is estimated that around 80 percent of homebuyers prefer working with a real estate agent or broker.
Agents help buyers and sellers make the right offer, negotiate terms, and conditions and close real estate deals to help their clients get the best value for their money.
As a real estate agent in Florida, you can represent both buyers and sellers and provide them with your skilled assistance.
You will act as their trusted representative and earn a commission based on the final deal price.
For example - if the selling price of a home in Florida is worth $250K, you will earn around 5 to 6 percent of the total value i.e. around $15K in commissions.
As a real estate agent, a day in your life will involve juggling multiple tasks and duties about your job profile. Some of your key job responsibilities will include:
- Replying to calls, and text messages and meeting potential and existing clients to answer their queries or inquiries
- Scheduling property visits, site tours, and open house showings to potential buyers
- Working with real estate brokers, underwriters, and property appraisers to negotiate terms, prices, and sale agreements
- Answering all the questions and doubts posed by your clients and helping them understand the process of a real estate transaction
- Finding potential homes and properties for sale using the local property listing services and databases
- Preparing and submitting bids on behalf of buyers to the seller’s agent
- Completing the paperwork on behalf of a buyer or a seller to complete a deal
- Maintaining compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations
- Market properties using the right promotional materials and marketing tools
- Staying updated about the industry trends, forecasts, and developments at the local and federal level
As a real estate agent, you will be working through administrative, operational, and marketing duties based on your employer’s discretion.
Typically, real estate agents are employed by independent brokers and brokerage firms in the starting years of their careers.
However, as you gain experience and expand your clientele, you can start your real estate agency or brokerage.
Now that you have an idea about what are the common tasks and responsibilities shared by real estate agents, let us give you an overview of real estate licenses in Florida.
How to apply for a Florida salesperson license
To start your career in real estate and work with clients, you will need to obtain a Florida salesperson license by fulfilling the licensing requirements.
The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) is the state’s official authority for managing and overseeing real estate professionals and firms.
As per the FREC eligibility requirements, every applicant must meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Florida real estate license which are as follows:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the United States or a lawfully residing alien
- You must possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education
If you meet the above statutory requirements, you can proceed to completing the next crucial licensing requirement which is completing the pre-licensing education in Florida.
According to FREC, all aspiring real estate agents are required to complete 63 hours of pre-licensing education to qualify for a salesperson license.
Completing 63 hours of state-approved education is essential if you want to earn your license. As part of the total credits, you must complete mandatory courses which include:
- Principles of Real Estate
- Laws of Real Estate
- Agency Relationships
- Property Laws
- Real Estate Finance
- Contract Forms
To complete your education, you can choose to join an in-person, real estate college or school in Florida or enroll in an online pre-licensing course provider depending on your preferred medium of learning.
Many students opt for an online Florida real estate course as it offers more flexibility in terms of learning on your own schedule and completing the coursework at your own pace.
However, you must keep in mind that you should only learn from a state approved education provider.
You can visit the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website to find a list of all the approved courses and schools.
Once you have successfully completed the Florida real estate course and obtained a certificate of completion, you will be eligible to apply for the FL salesperson license exam.
You can schedule the licensing exam by visiting the FREC website and choosing a suitable date and time to take the test at any of the Pearson VUE centers in the state.
Florida requires applicants to prove their knowledge and understanding of the state and federal laws, industry rules, and regulations along with the core concepts of working in real estate by taking a licensing exam.
The Florida salesperson licensing exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and you must score at least 75 percent or above to pass the exam.
It will cost you $36 to take the state licensing exam and if you are unable to pass the exam on your first attempt, you can reschedule it after paying the exam fees for a new attempt.
After successfully passing the exam, you can apply for a salesperson license by completing a mandatory background check.
Like most states, Florida requires all students to undergo a criminal verification and background history check to ensure applicants meet the minimum standards of ethics, good conduct, and integrity.
To complete your background verification, you need to register to get an electronic scan of your fingerprints through a state-approved live scan vendor.
You can apply for a scan appointment online or via phone and choose your preferred location, date, and time.
Note that it will cost you $58 to get your electronic fingerprint scan done and once you obtain a copy, you can submit it along with your FL salesperson licensing application for approval.
It will cost you $40 to process your licensing application and you can submit the fee online via credit card.
Once your licensing application is approved, you will receive your Florida salesperson license within a few weeks.
However, your new license will remain inactive until you find a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm to work with.
The Florida DBPR requires newly licensed agents to find employer sponsorship and work under the supervision of a senior broker to activate their license.
Congratulations on becoming a licensed real estate salesperson in Florida! You are all set to be a part of a fulfilling and challenging career.
However, to make your mark and attract opportunities for growth, simply having a license is not enough as you will be competing with thousands of licensed professionals like yourself.
You need to develop essential skills, gain knowledge, and keep yourself updated with the latest developments in your profession.
In the next section, we will dive deeper into what it takes to become a successful real estate agent in a competitive market like Florida.
Skills to become a successful Florida real estate agent
Let’s take a look at some of the important skills and must-have qualities that you must inculcate to build a thriving career.
1. Confident Personality:
Skilled agents offer not just advice and assistance, but they help their clients navigate through various stages of closing a real estate deal.
To work with clients from different backgrounds, you need to have a confident and approachable personality.
2. Industry Knowledge:
Real estate is an ever-evolving dynamic industry and to stay on top of your game, you must continue to add to your knowledge of the industry trends, regulations, and best practices.
Successful agents understand that an investment in knowledge pays the best dividends so they continue to take additional courses.
Hence, they duly complete post-licensing training and continuing education to update their knowledge of real estate laws, guidelines, markets, trends, and industry updates.
3. Self-motivation:
Working in real estate can be challenging, especially when the market is filled with competition.
The industry can be brutal at times and working in the industry has its share of tough days and low patches.
To sustain through difficult times, you need self-motivation and an innate will to succeed