Broker and Real Estate Agent: How to Get a Florida License
13 min read·
Getting a Florida real estate license involves finishing 63 hours of pre-licensing education, applying to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), passing the state exam, and activating the license under a sponsoring broker. Most applicants finish within 1 to 3 months, with total costs varying based on the course provider and delivery format. Florida regulates both the broker and real estate agent professions through the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), which sets education, examination, and background-check standards for every licensee in the state.
To get a Florida real estate sales associate license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a U.S. Social Security number. The process involves completing a 63-hour pre-licensing course based on the FREC Course I syllabus and passing the end-of-course exam with at least 70%, submitting an application to the DBPR with electronic fingerprints through an FDLE-registered Livescan provider, and passing the state licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE with a score of at least 75 out of 100 points. The license is issued in inactive status and becomes active once the licensee affiliates with a sponsoring broker, who activates it using the DBPR RE 11 form.See the answer for every state
The full process typically takes 1 to 3 months. Florida allows applicants to submit the license application before completing the 63-hour pre-licensing course, so the DBPR can process the application while the applicant studies. The DBPR generally takes 10 to 30 days to approve a complete application, and after passing the state exam, the license is issued automatically within 7 to 10 business days. The fastest realistic timeline is about 4 to 6 weeks for a focused candidate who completes an intensive course and has no application complications.See the answer for every state
Who qualifies for a Florida real estate license
Florida's sales associate license is open to anyone who meets three basic thresholds involving age, education level, and Social Security number. No prior real estate experience or college degree is required, according to the DBPR Sales Associate Initial Application Checklist[1].
A Florida sales associate applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a U.S. Social Security number. The applicant must complete a 63-hour pre-licensing course based on the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) Course I syllabus and pass the end-of-course exam with a score of at least 70%. The applicant must also submit fingerprints through a Livescan Service Provider registered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and pass the state licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE, with a score of at least 75 out of 100 points. A 4-year degree or higher in real estate exempts the applicant from the pre-licensing education requirement, and Florida Bar members are also exempt.See the answer for every state
Florida does not require applicants to be state residents or U.S. citizens. Non-citizens must have legal permanent residency or work authorization and a valid Social Security number; an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) cannot substitute for an SSN.
Two categories of applicants are exempt from the pre-licensing course requirement. Holders of a 4-year degree or higher in real estate from an accredited institution are exempt from both pre-licensing and post-licensing education under Florida Statutes section 475.17(7)[2]. Members of the Florida Bar are exempt from the pre-licensing course under Rule 61J2-3.008(8)[2] but must still pass the state exam and complete post-licensing education, as confirmed by the DBPR FREC education page[2].
Military veterans, their spouses, and Florida National Guard members may be eligible for fee waivers, fee reimbursement, or fee discounts, according to the DBPR checklist.
Complete the required pre-licensing education
The state requires FREC-approved pre-licensing education and a passing end-of-course exam before an applicant can sit for the state licensing exam. The course completion certificate remains valid for two years from the completion date; an expired certificate will not be accepted at the exam site, per the DBPR application checklist[1].
Florida requires sales associate applicants to complete a 63-hour pre-licensing course based on the FREC I syllabus (effective January 1, 2023) and pass the end-of-course exam with a score of at least 70%. Broker applicants must complete a 72-hour pre-licensing course based on the FREC II syllabus (effective January 1, 2020). Both courses may be taken in classroom or distance education formats, and a 4-year degree or higher in real estate exempts the holder from the pre-licensing education requirement.See the answer for every state
Applicants can choose between classroom and online providers.
Yes, Florida real estate pre-licensing courses can be completed online. The DBPR permits pre-licensing courses to be conducted in both classroom and distance education environments, and multiple FREC-approved providers offer the 63-hour sales associate pre-licensing course in a self-paced online format. The course final exam must be passed with a score of at least 70%.See the answer for every state
Total licensing costs include the course, application, fingerprinting, and exam fees.
Total cost varies primarily because the 63-hour pre-licensing course price depends on the provider and format, with packages ranging from approximately $100 to $500. Fixed costs include the DBPR application fee of $83.75 ($14.75 application fee, $64 license fee, $5 unlicensed activity fee), the Pearson VUE exam fee of $36.75 per attempt, and fingerprinting that typically costs $50 to $80 through a Livescan vendor. Most people spend between $180 and $700 to get licensed, depending on course choice and whether exam prep materials are purchased.See the answer for every state
Applicants may submit the license application before completing the pre-licensing course, which allows the DBPR to process the application while the applicant studies. Proof of course completion must be presented at the exam site before sitting for the state exam.
Submit your license application and fingerprints
The DBPR charges $83.75 for a sales associate license application, according to the DBPR FAQ[3] updated September 12, 2025.
Applicants submit fingerprints using a Livescan service provider registered with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) immediately after submitting the application. The ORI number for real estate fingerprinting is FL920010Z, as listed by Florida REALTORS®[4]. The background check includes fingerprinting and criminal history screening through FDLE. Fingerprint results may take up to five days to reach the DBPR after submission, per the application checklist[1].
The DBPR does not set a uniform fingerprinting fee; typical vendor charges range from $50 to $80, according to Florida REALTORS®[4].
Application processing generally takes 10 to 30 days, after which Pearson VUE notifies the applicant by email that they are eligible to schedule the exam.
Schedule and take the state licensing exam
Pearson VUE administers the Florida real estate licensing exam on behalf of the DBPR at physical test centers across the state. Candidates become eligible to schedule within 72 hours after the DBPR approves the application, according to the DBPR examination information page[5].
The Florida real estate sales associate exam is a 100-question multiple-choice test administered by Pearson VUE at physical test centers, with a time limit of 3.5 hours. The exam covers real estate law, principles and practices, and real estate mathematics as a single combined test. A passing score requires at least 75 out of 100 points, and candidates receive an official photo-bearing score report immediately upon completion. Candidates who fail must wait 24 hours before scheduling a retake.See the answer for every state
The exam fee is $36.75 per attempt, payable by credit card or electronic check at the time of reservation, as listed in the Pearson VUE Florida DBPR Fact Sheet[6]. Payment is not accepted at the test center, and examination fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Exams are available in English and Spanish at no additional cost.
Candidates schedule, reschedule, or cancel exams online through the Pearson VUE Florida real estate page[7] or by phone at 888-204-6289. Cancellation or rescheduling without penalty requires at least two full calendar days before the appointment. No walk-in testing is permitted.
On exam day, candidates must bring two forms of signature identification, one of which must be government-issued with a photo and address. Permitted calculators must be silent, hand-held, battery-operated, nonprinting, and without an alphabetic keypad.
The Florida sales associate exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions with a 3.5-hour time limit, and a passing score of 75 out of 100 points is required. The exam covers real estate law, principles and practices, and real estate mathematics as a single combined test rather than separate national and state portions. Pearson VUE offers official practice tests for $19.95 each, though these cover general real estate topics and contain no Florida-specific content. Education providers also offer paid exam prep packages and practice question banks.See the answer for every state
Pearson VUE, the official exam vendor for Florida DBPR, offers Broker and Salesperson practice tests for $19.95 each, delivered online with 30 days of access from the date of purchase. These practice tests cover general real estate topics but contain no Florida-specific content. Some education providers also offer free practice questions and paid exam prep packages for the real estate licensing exam.See the answer for every state
Candidates who fail must wait 24 hours before scheduling a retake. Score reports are provided immediately upon completion.
Activate your license with a sponsoring broker
Florida issues new sales associate licenses in inactive status. The holder cannot perform any brokerage services until a licensed broker activates the license through the DBPR system.
In Florida, a real estate license is issued in inactive status and cannot become active until a licensed broker agrees to supervise the agent. To activate the license, the sponsoring broker submits the DBPR RE 11 form or adds the agent through the DBPR online portal. When evaluating brokerages, consider the commission split structure, training and mentorship programs, lead generation support, monthly desk or technology fees, and company culture. Brokerage types range from large franchises with brand recognition and structured training to independent boutiques and virtual brokerages with lower overhead and potentially higher commission splits.See the answer for every state
An agent may work under only one employing broker at a time. The license remains inactive until this affiliation is established.
In Florida, a sales associate is a person who performs brokerage acts under the direction, control, or management of a broker, as defined in Florida Statutes section 475.01. A broker is licensed to operate independently, manage a real estate business, and employ and supervise sales associates. To become a broker, a sales associate must have at least 24 months of active experience during the preceding 5 years, complete a 72-hour pre-licensing course, and pass the broker exam. A broker associate is a person who holds a broker license but chooses to work under another broker rather than independently.See the answer for every state
After licensure: post-licensing education and next steps
New sales associates must complete 45 hours of FREC-approved post-licensing education before their first license renewal deadline, which falls 18 to 24 months after the license is issued. If the post-licensing requirement is not met before the deadline, the license becomes null and void. The DBPR educational requirements page[8] states that "all sales associates must complete 45-hours of approved sales associate post licensure courses and required exam(s) within their first renewal period."
Yes, Florida real estate continuing education courses can be completed online. The DBPR permits continuing education courses to be conducted in both classroom and distance education environments, and multiple FREC-approved providers offer 14-hour CE packages online. All CE must be completed and reported to the Florida Real Estate Commission before the license expiration date.See the answer for every state
Becoming a REALTOR®
REALTOR® status is voluntary and separate from state licensure. NAR national dues were $156 annually in 2024, according to the NAR membership page[9]. Members must follow NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics coursework on a three-year cycle.
To become a REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent must join a local REALTOR® association, which enrolls them in a three-way agreement with the local association, the state association (Florida REALTORS®), and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). NAR national dues are $156 per member for 2027, plus a $45 special assessment for the Consumer Advertising Campaign, and members must also pay local and state association dues. Members must adhere to NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three-year cycle.See the answer for every state
Upgrading to a broker license
A sales associate may upgrade to a broker license after meeting experience and education requirements set by FREC.
To become a Florida real estate broker, an applicant must have been registered as an active sales associate for at least 24 months during the preceding 5 years, complete a 72-hour pre-licensing course based on the FREC II syllabus, and pass the state broker exam with a score of at least 75 out of 100 points. The broker application fee is $91.75, and applicants must submit fingerprints through an FDLE-registered Livescan provider. A 4-year degree or higher in real estate exempts the applicant from the pre-licensing education requirement, and the course completion is valid for 2 years from the date of completion.See the answer for every state
Career outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics[10] reports a median annual wage of $56,320 for real estate sales agents and $72,280 for brokers as of May 2024. Employment in the field is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 46,300 job openings per year on average. Most real estate brokers and sales agents are self-employed (54%).
If you are ready to start, the first step is enrolling in a FREC-approved pre-licensing course and submitting your DBPR application.
