Florida real estate license renewal and continuing education requirements

Florida real estate licenses must be renewed every two years, with deadlines on March 31 or September 30 depending on the license issue date. Each renewal requires both a fee payment to the DBPR and completion of state-mandated education: post-licensing education for the first renewal, then 14 hours of FREC-approved continuing education (CE) for every renewal after that. Real estate CE requirements in Florida are established by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and all education may be completed online or in a classroom.

Florida real estate license renewal cycle and deadlines

Florida real estate licenses renew on a two-year cycle, with expiration dates on March 31 or September 30. The FREC homepage^[1] states that both the renewal fee and education requirements must be completed by midnight Eastern Standard Time on the expiration date. If the expiration date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day.

The first renewal period is longer than subsequent cycles. An initial license expires 18 to 24 months after issuance, depending on when the licensee passed the state exam, according to Florida REALTORS®^[2]. This extended first cycle gives new licensees time to complete post-licensing education. After the first renewal, every subsequent cycle runs a full 24 months.

The DBPR emails renewal notices 60 days before the expiration date, as stated on the FREC homepage^[1]. Licensees can verify their expiration date and view their education history through the DBPR online services portal^[3].

Post-licensing education for your first renewal

The first license renewal requires post-licensing education instead of standard continuing education. Sales associates must complete 45 hours of FREC-approved post-licensing education, and brokers must complete 60 hours, before the initial license expiration date, per the DBPR education requirements^[4]. Both courses include an end-of-course exam.

Broker post-licensing education may be taken as a single 60-hour course or as two 30-hour courses covering Broker Investment and Broker Management, as stated on the FREC homepage^[1]. Post-licensing courses may be completed in a classroom or through distance education, including fully online formats, per the DBPR education requirements^[4]. Sales associate post-licensing courses cost $150 to $250, according to Florida REALTORS®^[2]. Broker post-licensing courses cost $150 to $400, per Florida REALTORS®^[5].

A licensee who holds a four-year degree in real estate from an accredited institution is exempt from the post-licensing education requirement, per Section 475.17(7), Florida Statutes^[4]. Attorneys who are Florida Bar members in good standing are exempt from pre-licensing education but must still complete post-licensing education, as confirmed on the FREC education page^[6].

Failure to complete post-licensing education before the expiration date renders the license null and void. The licensee must then restart the entire licensing process, including retaking the pre-licensing course and passing the state exam again, according to the FREC homepage^[1].

After completing post-licensing education, licensees transition to the standard CE requirement for each subsequent renewal cycle.

Continuing education requirements for ongoing renewals

Florida requires 14 hours of FREC-approved continuing education per 24-month renewal cycle for licensees who have completed their first renewal. The FREC education page^[6] states that the commission amended Rule 61J2-3.009(2), Florida Administrative Code, to require 14 hours consisting of 3 hours Core Law, 3 hours Ethics and Business Practices, and 8 hours specialty education, effective for licenses expiring September 30, 2018 or thereafter.

The same requirement and breakdown apply to both sales associates and brokers, per the DBPR education requirements^[4]. The 8 hours of specialty education allow licensees to choose topics relevant to their practice, such as investment real estate, property management, or fair housing.

FREC conducts 100% monitoring of CE compliance, a practice that began April 1, 2003, according to the FREC education page^[6]. Licensees who attend a full FREC legal session and register at least 7 days in advance can earn 3 hours of specialty education credit toward their CE requirement, per the same source.

Renewal fees and how to renew

The biennial renewal fee is $64 for sales associates and $72 for brokers, per Florida Administrative Code Rule 61J2-1.011^[7], effective November 22, 2022. Both the fee and education requirements must be satisfied by the license expiration date.

Licensees renew online through the DBPR online services portal^[3], where they can pay fees, update contact information, and verify CE completion. The portal requires an email address and linked license number to access renewal services. Online renewal is processed immediately, while paper renewals submitted by mail take longer.

A late fee is assessed for renewals completed after the expiration date, though the FREC homepage^[1] does not publish a specific amount. The penalty varies based on how overdue the renewal is.

Exemptions from continuing education

Florida Bar members in active, good standing are exempt from the continuing education requirement for license renewal, as stated on the FREC homepage^[1]. This exemption applies only to CE, not to post-licensing education.

A licensee who holds a four-year degree in real estate from an accredited institution is exempt from both pre-licensing and post-licensing education, per Section 475.17(7), Florida Statutes^[4]. This exemption does not extend to the ongoing CE requirement for subsequent renewals.

Active-duty military members, their spouses, and Florida National Guard members may qualify for fee waivers, reimbursements, or discounts on certain licensing requirements, per the DBPR sales associate checklist^[8]. No CE exemptions exist for senior licensees.

FREC does not grant hardship extensions for continuing education, as stated on the FREC education page^[6]. Hardship extensions are available only for post-licensing education and the reactivation course.

Late renewal, inactive status, and reactivation

A Florida real estate license that is not renewed by the expiration date enters inactive status. Licensees have two years from the expiration date to reactivate before the license becomes null and void, according to Florida REALTORS®^[2].

Voluntary inactive status occurs when a licensee chooses not to renew but maintains the license. If the license has been voluntarily inactive for less than one year, the licensee can reactivate by completing 14 hours of CE. If inactive for more than one year but less than two years, the licensee must complete 28 hours of CE, including core law requirements, per Florida REALTORS®^[2].

Involuntary inactive status occurs when a licensee fails to complete the prior renewal cycle's CE or fee requirements. These licensees must complete a 28-hour Reactivation Education Course on or before the expiration date to prevent the license from going null and void, as stated on the FREC homepage^[1].

A license that remains lapsed for more than two years becomes null and void, requiring the individual to restart the licensing process from the beginning.

CE course formats and providers

Florida real estate CE courses are available from FREC-approved providers in online, classroom, and live virtual formats. Local REALTOR® associations, accredited colleges, technical centers, and real estate schools all offer approved courses. Florida REALTORS®^[9] provides classroom CE through local associations, live virtual classes through its CORE series, and on-demand courses through its AscendR platform.

Individual CE courses typically cost $15 to $60, and full renewal packages range from approximately $30 to $75, based on pricing from multiple FREC-approved providers. Course costs vary by format, provider, and included features.

Tracking your CE compliance

Florida real estate schools and course providers must electronically report course completions to the DBPR. The FREC education page^[6] states that providers must submit a course attendance roster within 5 business days after the course completion date, and correspondence courses must be reported by the fifth day of the following month.

Despite electronic reporting, licensees should retain paper copies of all completion certificates. Post-licensing courses are not treated as CE courses and may not appear as posted hours on the DBPR portal, so paper records serve as the primary proof of completion for those courses.

The DBPR sends a Continuing Education Deficiency letter if its records show uncompleted hours, according to Florida REALTORS®^[2]. Licensees who receive a deficiency letter should verify their records against their certificates and contact the course provider if a reporting error occurred.

Licensees can check their compliance status through the DBPR online services portal^[3], which displays posted CE hours and renewal status. To verify compliance accurately, licensees should confirm the required education hours for their license type and renewal stage.

Next steps

Log into the DBPR online services portal^[3] to confirm your license expiration date and review your education records. If you are in your first renewal period, enroll in a FREC-approved post-licensing course well before the deadline to avoid losing your license. For subsequent renewals, select a FREC-approved CE provider, complete all required hours, and verify that your completions appear in the DBPR system before submitting your renewal payment. Keep copies of every completion certificate in case of audit.