The easiest way to start a flourishing career in Florida real estate

By Ciprian Morariu Published: February 4, 2025

The easiest way to start a flourishing career in Florida real estate

Florida’s real estate landscape continues to attract the interest and investment of homebuyers, tourists, retirees, migrant professionals, and high net worth individuals.

The Peach State has garnered popularity due to its beautiful beach properties, pleasant climate, world-class entertainment options, and strong economic outlook.

Florida is home to some of the fastest growing real estate markets in the country, including Miami, Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Orlando.

Even newer markets like Haines City, Sarasota, Cape Coral, and Leesburg are emerging as popular choices for buying property in the Peach State.

Due to the growing population and net positive migration rate, the demand for residential, vacation, and commercial real estate in Florida is booming.

These trends indicate a bright and prosperous future ahead for real estate agents and brokers who want to work with clients in Florida and help them buy and sell properties.

Did you know that the top real estate professionals in FL can make $110K annually and even the starting base pay is a good $60K in a year for agents who are just entering the market.

If you dream of a career where you can achieve autonomy in your schedule, enjoy an independent flexible work-life balance and be your own boss, then working in real estate might be a great place to be.

Imagine earning a six-figure income while helping people achieve their goals and realize their dreams - a career in real estate offers financial and emotional fulfillment.

The best part is you do not need to spend years getting a college degree or any advanced education - all you need to do is complete pre license education to get licensed.

Getting your Florida real estate license is the most important step of starting a career in real estate. It is both a mandatory requirement as well as a professional step to success.

If you are wondering how to get your FL real estate license easily, this article will answer all your questions and clear your doubts.

We have put together all the key aspects of becoming a licensed professional - from qualifying pre-requisites to educational requirements, costs and much more in this guide.

What does a real estate agent do

Starting a new career is an important decision, one which requires careful consideration and planning, especially if you are interested in getting licensed.

Before you embark on your career journey, it is important to learn about the job role of a real estate agent and understand their duties and responsibilities.

A real estate agent is a professional who works with buyers and sellers to help them buy and sell properties.

Real estate agents work with brokerages or independently to find clients and assist them in navigating through the various steps of closing a deal.

Based on the value of the property and the deal size, real estate agents earn a commission in exchange for providing their services.

In addition to your core job duties, the job of a real estate agent involves a mix of marketing, sales, customer service, and networking-related tasks. Some of these are:

  • Search for buyers and sellers in a locality, region, or state and generate relevant leads on behalf of a brokerage.
  • Respond to inquiries and queries from prospective clients and leads via text, email, or in-person meetings.
  • Represent buyers and sellers in a real estate deal and act as a liaison between both parties to facilitate the deal.
  • Liaison with industry professionals such as home appraisers, property inspectors, underwriters, mortgage brokers, and other service experts to enable the transaction.
  • Educate clients about real estate market trends, interest rates, and other best practices to make a sound investment decision.
  • Negotiate on behalf of your clients to help them meet their financial objectives.
  • Attend networking events and industry presentations to build your network and grow your influence in a local and regional market.
  • Upskill yourself by researching market trends, industry updates, and completing continuing education courses

From fulfilling client needs to collaborating with industry professionals, a day in the life of a real estate agent is never dull or monotonous.

If you are ready to start an exciting and dynamic career and want to know how to get an FL real estate license easily, keep on reading till the end to get all the answers.

Why choose a career in Florida real estate

Before starting a new career, it is prudent to evaluate whether you are making a sensible, informed decision based on facts or simply chasing your whims and fancies.

The good news is that a career in Florida real estate can be a solid profession if you want to achieve financial freedom and achieve your goals.

Whether you are a complete beginner looking for your first professional job or someone who wants to switch careers, a career in FL real estate can be advantageous in many ways.

Yes, it will take time, money, and dedication to obtain your license and grow in a competitive industry. However, it will all be well worth the efforts due to the growth potential of the job.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most exciting and promising benefits of working in FL real estate.

1. High earning potential

For most people, working in real estate offers a clear path to making a six-figure income annually and achieving financial independence.

Since income is a crucial factor in deciding a career choice, working as a real estate agent can help you maximize opportunities for earning commissions.

The best part is - when it comes to how much money you can make, the sky's the limit and the more deals you close, the more income you can generate.

Licensed real estate agents in Florida enjoy numerous income opportunities, whether they want to work on a part-time basis or as full-time professionals.

2. High degree of independence

If you dream of a job where you can be your own boss and achieve professional autonomy, then a career in real estate can be a good fit.

For most people who choose to join real estate, the allure of breaking free from the conventional nine-to-five job and monotony is very compelling.

Real estate agents can choose to define their own working hours and strike a consistent work-life balance.

3. Numerous growth opportunities

As a dynamic, fast-moving industry, real estate offers numerous growth opportunities, especially in a popular market like Florida.

After getting your Florida real estate license, you will start working as a salesperson which will be the first step of your career.

However, after gaining a couple of years of industry experience, you can advance in your career to become a broker and take on a more managerial role.

Many real estate professionals choose to expand their professional horizons by venturing into niche markets such as luxury real estate.

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you can even start your own agency or real estate brokerage firm in Florida in the future.

In addition to the above, working in Florida real estate will also open up networking opportunities and allow you to build a professional network for your career advancement.

If you like meeting new people and establishing professional connections, real estate can give you many opportunities to meet people from all walks of life.

All it takes is self-drive, discipline and sincerity and you can unlock a myriad of opportunities for growth and success in the industry.

The best part is that you only need to invest a couple of months to become licensed and the fact that you can complete most of the licensing steps online makes it even easier to start.

With that said, let us give you a deep dive into the FL salesperson licensing process and requirements.

The role of the Florida Real Estate Commission

The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) is the state authority in charge of issuing and renewing licenses to individuals.

As per the FREC licensing guidelines, every individual must fulfill a pre-established set of state and federal-specific licensing requirements to obtain a real estate license in Florida.

These guidelines and requirements are applicable to all and are enforced to ensure a minimum standard of professionalism and education.

However, the first and foremost step is to meet the minimum statutory requirements to become eligible for applying for a license.

Steps to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida

Step 1: Fulfill the pre-licensing eligibility criteria

  • You must be at least 18 years or older in age
  • You must have a high school diploma in education or a GED equivalent
  • You must have a legal proof of residency in Florida

Step 2: Complete pre-licensing education

As per the FREC, all applicants must complete 63 hours of mandatory education to qualify for a salesperson license.

Completing pre-licensing education will not only help you meet the educational requirement, but it will also prepare you for the real estate licensing exam in FL.

The coursework will consist of foundational topics and fundamental subjects such as - real estate principles, state and federal laws, consumer rights, ethics among many others.

You are free to choose between a physical classroom-based learning or an online real estate pre-license course to complete your education.

Irrespective of your preferred medium of learning, you must choose a state-approved education provider only.

Step 3: Take the Florida salesperson license test

Florida requires every individual to take the real estate licensing exam in the state and pass it to prove their competence.

To schedule the test, you can visit the FREC website and choose a preferred day and date as per your convenience.

The purpose of the licensing exam is to test your level of understanding and exam preparation by covering 100 questions covering both state and national specific portions.

You will get a total of 210 minutes to complete the test. To pass the exam, you must score at least 75% or above.

Step 4: Clear federal background check

The Florida law requires aspiring professionals to clear mandatory federal background and criminal history checks as part of the licensing process.

The Florida DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) requires individuals to prove a good moral standing and no history of felony or criminal activity.

To complete this step, you need to submit an electronic scan of your fingerprints taken at a live fingerprint scan center to the Florida DBPR for clearance.

Step 5: Find employer sponsorship

If you pass the licensing exam and successfully clear your background verification check, you will receive your Florida salesperson license.

However, you need to activate your license by finding a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm in Florida.

It is mandatory for newly licensed individuals to work and practice under the supervision of more experienced professionals.