The Ultimate Guide On How To Get A Florida Real Estate License
If you are looking for an answer to how can I get my real estate license in Florida, this post is your one-stop point for all information. We will go into whether it is beneficial to launch a career in this niche and what the scope of earnings is. Most importantly, we will help you navigate the various steps involved in how to get a Florida real estate license in detail.
Florida Real Estate Market
Let us start with the current state of the Florida real estate market and projections. It will help to evaluate whether becoming a real estate agent in Florida is lucrative or not.
The Florida real estate market is presently on a high with two critical parameters on the upswing. These are inventory and listings. With more inventory, that is, houses available, it is boom time for buyers as prices cool and they do not have to compete for a few units.
Additionally, home prices have substantially eased with median prices 4% less than what it was in April, 2024. This brings in more buyers who had been waiting for their dream homes to become affordable. Mortgage rates, too, are projected to fall a few points, further making mortgage loans to buy homes more attractive.
This market trend is the ideal scenario now to take the plunge and get to learn more about how do I get a real estate license in Florida. The current market trend is not a one-time matter; traditionally, the real estate market in the state has always been above the national average. The Sunshine State draws people in hordes, looking to buy some of the most beautiful real estate in the world, dotted with glorious beaches and a sunny climate year-round.
So, how does a booming real estate market help you as a real estate agent? We will now examine this in the next section.
Why Should You Know How To Get Your FL Real Estate License
Earnings of a real estate agent
As we have seen, the Florida real estate market is perpetually on the rise to the benefit of real estate agents, also called Sales Associates in Florida. This is because the earnings of real estate agents are not salary-based, as in most professions in the world. It is based on a commission on the sale price of a property in a real estate transaction.
For example, the median price of a house in Florida is around $420,000. When you close a deal, the commission earned is 6% of the sale price, divided equally between the seller’s and the buyer’s agents. At 3%, your share of the commission comes to $12,600, a very lucrative amount by any standards.
Just imagine, once you know how to get a Florida real estate license and become an agent, closing only 8 deals a year will give you a six-figure income. While the city you practice your trade in plays a big part in the level of your earnings, newly-licensed agents can expect to rake in $95,250 annually. Agents with about 10 years of experience in the field earn upward of $140,000 per year.
The sky is the limit for real estate agents’ earnings in Florida.
Lifestyle benefits
Typically, most people are tied down to 9 to 6 jobs with little leeway to spend the type of lifestyle they desire. However, once you get past the process of how to get a FL real estate license and become an agent, there are no restrictions on the work front.
As a real estate agent, you are your own boss. You get to decide the number of hours you work and on which days. You fix your work schedules and can thus leave plenty of time to be with friends and family. This freedom and flexibility make it worth the time and effort to learn about how to get your FL real estate license.
These two points are enough to push you towards initiating the process of how do I get my real estate license in Florida and launch a career in this niche.
How To Get A Florida Real Estate License Step-By-Step
Before getting down to the process, a quick word on the agencies that control the real estate sector in Florida.
The guidelines of how to get your FL real estate license are laid down by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC). This agency falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). This body issues and renews licenses for all professionals in Florida, including real estate. Hence, while DBPR is a general licensing body, the responsibilities of FREC are focused on real estate only.
FREC has wide-ranging powers over the real estate sector in Florida. It issues and renews real estate licenses, sets the pre-licensing course curriculum, and takes disciplinary action on real estate professionals if any complaint is received from clients. It is also mandated by the FREC that you must have a license in Florida to deal in any form of real estate transaction on behalf of others for a commission.
Let us now get the answer to how do I get a real estate license in Florida, step by step.
Step 1: Fulfilling Basic Requirements
There are a few basic eligibility norms to meet before applying for a real estate license in Florida.
First, and most critical, is that you must be a citizen of the USA with a Social Security Number. Aliens who have entered the country legally and have been granted working rights in the USA can also apply for a real estate license in Florida.
Next is the age bar. FREC rules that you must be at least 18 years old on the date that you apply for a license. You can be below this cut-off point, though, when you complete other formalities, like going through the pre-licensing course.
Finally, you must have a minimum high school diploma as an educational qualification to apply for a real estate license. An equivalent qualification, such as a GED, will also work in this regard.
Step 2: Completing Pre-licensing coursework
Course content
This step is among the most critical to take on your way to how can I get my real estate license in Florida. This is because the coursework prepares you thoroughly for a successful career as a real estate agent in Florida.
The real estate industry is controlled by a host of complex rules and regulations that are constantly changing and in a state of flux. Since any deal involves huge monetary transactions, any slip-up in not precisely adhering to the laws can get you into serious financial and legal troubles.
To prevent these possibilities, it is essential to have a good grip on the subjects through the pre-licensing coursework. The real estate coursework in Florida is 63 hours in duration, split into two sections. One is the national section that deals exclusively with the real estate rules that are common to the USA in general. The other is the state-specific section that covers the laws, rules, and regulations exclusively for Florida.
The subjects of the pre-licensing courses 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
While there are several course providers in the market, you must select high-quality study materials to pass the licensing exam on the first try.
Here is how to select a top-of-the-line course to better understand how to get a Florida real estate license.
Selecting study materials
You should not select a course provider simply based on tall claims if you are to save your time and money. Follow these small tips to select the best course provider to easily pass the licensing exam.
# To start with, select a course provider approved by FREC. Any other course will not be counted as having completed the 63-hour eligibility norm to appear for the licensing exam. Ensure that you do not waste your time and resources; visit the FREC portal to check the list of approved providers before investing in one.
Among the leading FREC-approved course providers in Florida is RealEstateU. Their online courses are of the highest quality, having been designed by leading professionals in the field. The courses are also the most affordable in this niche.
# Next, select a course that has mock tests and practice questions included in the package. Mock tests have questions that replicate the form and structure of those of the licensing exam. Hence, not only will you get the added confidence to face the test, but you will also know how well prepared you are for the exam.
Mock tests are available in advanced packages that cost more than the basic ones. However, it is worth the investment as you ensure passing the licensing exam.
Finally, you must select a medium of study that is both convenient and flexible. While the decision depends on your preferred learning style, you have online and physical classroom courses to choose from.
Comparatively, online courses have an edge as they can be downloaded onto any Internet-enabled device for anytime studying from anywhere. On the other hand, you need to commute to real estate schools for fixed-time classes, which might be inconvenient for you.
Moreover, online courses are cheaper than classroom-based ones. While the RealEstateU online basic course costs $69 only, real estate schools charge a minimum of $300.
Step 3: Background verification
As a real estate agent, you will be handling huge sums in every property deal. Hence, to ensure credibility, you are expected to have high financial and moral standards and integrity. One way to ensure this is through a fingerprint check for past criminal records. You must inform the FREC of any adverse incident, even if a conviction has been expunged or overturned. FREC might refuse to issue a license in case of a criminal past.
The fingerprints must be submitted to DBPR through a live scan service provider approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The scan provider will send the fingerprints to FDLE using the Originating Agency Identification (ORI) number. It is FL920010Z.
Step 4: Schedule a licensing exam
After background verification, visit the DBPR portal and apply for a real estate license. A Customer ID will be generated with which you can schedule a licensing exam, a critical part of how to get a Florida real estate license. With this number, log into the Pearson VUE portal, the third-party proctor for conducting the exam. Select a date and the test center, currently Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville, to appear physically for this online test.
Step 5: Appear for and pass the licensing exam
On the appointed date, appear physically at the selected center to take the online test. The questions are in a multiple-choice format. There are 100 questions that must be answered in 210 minutes, with the passing grade being 75%.
The results of the licensing exam are announced at the center soon after completion of the exam. The official results are sent by email within a couple of weeks.
Step 6: Apply for a real estate license in Florida
After passing the exam, visit the DBPR portal and apply for a real estate license in Florida. Upload all documents related to license issuance, such as completing the coursework, fingerprint clearance certificate, and passing the licensing test. After the required fee is paid, a provisional and inactive license will be issued to you.
Step 7: Find a licensed broker for sponsorship
You have now come to the final step of how to get a FL real estate license. Find a licensed broker to sponsor you as mandated by FREC. Once done, inform DBPR about your employment status at the brokerage firm. The provisional license that had been issued to you will now be activated, enabling you to launch a career as a real estate agent in Florida.