How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Florida (2026 Guide)
Thinking about getting your Florida real estate license?
The Florida real estate market is one of the most remarkable in the country. There are year-round residents, snowbirds, and investors lining up to own a little piece of the Sunshine State. If you want to become a real estate agent in Florida, it’s a great time to make a career change. We’re going to share everything you need to know about getting your Florida real estate license, including:
Requirements for Getting a Real Estate License in Florida
The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) has some basic requirements you have to meet in order to secure your state real estate license:
- Have a high school diploma or GED.
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a US Social Security number
- Pass a background check
- After passing the exam, you’ll need to submit your fingerprints to the Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) at least 5 days prior to submitting your license application. Find out where to get this done.
- Successfully complete 63 hours of pre-licensing classes with a state approved real estate school
- Pass the course exam with a score of 70% or higher
- Once you’ve completed your Florida real estate course and passed the school exam, you can apply to take the state exam by submitting an application to the DBPR.
- Schedule the state exam
- You can take the exam in person at a Pearson VUE testing center! Schedule the exam at Pearson Vue online or call 888.204.6289.
- Pass the Florida state real estate exam with a score of 75% or higher
Overall, the process to become a real estate agent in Florida is fairly simple. It’s also an incredible opportunity to build a lifelong business of your very own.
Finding the Best Real Estate Schools
In order to get your Florida real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by FREC. There are quite a few approved real estate schools in Florida. Most are online courses, but there are a few that still offer classes in person. Please note that a few of these schools are our affiliate partners, so we may earn commission, as no additional cost to you!
Here are a few of the most popular real estate schools:
- AceableAgent (online, mobile-friendly app)
- Kaplan Real Estate Education (online with easy instructor access)
- Florida School of Real Estate (online and in person)
- The CE Shop (online)
- Cameron Academy (online and in person)
To figure out which school will work best for your budget, schedule and learning style, don’t miss:
PRO TIP: When you are shopping for the best real estate schools, make sure that they offer additional support for exam preparation. Some Florida real estate schools even offer weekend cram sessions or exam prep courses or online support/chat to ensure that you pass the state exam with flying colors.
How to Select a Florida Real Estate Broker
In Florida, you must affiliate with a real estate brokerage in order to activate your real estate license.
Once you’ve completed the pre-licensing real estate course and are waiting to take your state exam, we would recommend starting to research and interview potential brokerages. There are a few ways to find the best brokerage for your new business:
- Ask for referrals. Find out which brokerages your friends have worked with in the past and also connect with other local agents in your area to see what they like most about working with their broker.
- Start Googling or Ask AI! Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to 4 or 5 brokerage firms, do some research online. You should be able to easily find videos and testimonials from other agents sharing what they love (or don’t love) about their current brokerage.
- Search Facebook Groups or Redit. There are quite a few forums for new and aspiring agents and we’re sure you’ll get quite a bit of honest feedback from agents at different companies in your area.
- Schedule interviews. We highly recommend meeting with three real estate brokerage firms, because the benefits and compensation plans can be dramatically different at each brokerage.
A Few Things to Consider…
Keep in mind that many brokerages are independently owned franchises. So one Remax or Coldwell Banker office could be completely different from another down the street. The training, culture, and sometimes the commission splits vary from office to office, even though they share the same franchise name.
The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they support brand new real estate agents. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you?
Don’t miss our latest article…
How Much Does It Cost to Get A Real Estate License in Florida?
There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in Florida…
- Florida Pre-License Real Estate Course – $125 to $300
- PearsonVUE Exam Fee – $36.75
- Background Check / Fingerprinting – $50 to $80
- Application to take Florida Real Estate Exam – $62.75
- If you don’t pass the first time – don’t worry! You can take the exam again without having to retake the course, you just have to pay the exam fee again. There’s no limit on the number of times you can retake it.
** Total Cost to Get Licensed in Florida = $275 to $480
More Expenses to Expect as a New Florida Realtor
Getting licensed is just the beginning! There are several other expenses to consider when you are becoming a real estate agent. After all, you are building a brand new business and there are always costs associated, whether you are opening a coffee shop or launching your real estate empire.
Here are some of the most common expenses:
| Expense | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Brokerage joining fee | Typically $0–$600, with approximately $250 being common |
| Monthly brokerage fees | Approximately $0–$300 per month |
| Local, state, and national REALTOR® associations | Costs vary by location and organization. See examples below. |
| Multiple Listing Service (MLS) | Approximately $30 per month |
| SentriLock or Supra eKEY access | Approximately $15–$20 per month |
| 45-hour post-license course | Approximately $100–$200. This course is required for your first license renewal only. |
| Business cards | Approximately $25–$100 |
| Real estate signs | Approximately $60 per sign |
| Other marketing materials | Varies based on how the agent chooses to promote their business |
After completing the 45-hour post-license course for your first renewal, subsequent Florida license renewals generally require 14 hours of continuing education.
Examples of Florida REALTOR® Association Dues
| Association | Estimated dues |
|---|---|
| Miami Board of REALTORS® | Approximately $980 per year |
| Suncoast Tampa Association of REALTORS® (STAR) | Approximately $1,071 per year, including MLS membership |
| Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® | Approximately $871 per year |
Estimated Total Cost
When you combine the expenses required to earn your license with the initial costs of officially launching your real estate business, you should plan to spend approximately $1,330–$1,915.
Learn more about the costs associated with becoming a Florida real estate agent, including marketing materials, software, printing costs, and lead generation:
Is it Easy to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent?
Now that you know how to become a real estate agent in Florida and have found the best real estate brokerage, it’s time to lay the foundation for your new business and get to work!
Your pre-licensing class is primarily focused on learning common terminology, ethics and laws when practicing Florida real estate. The courses don’t usually cover topics like writing contracts, building your database, learning your scripts, and how to promote your business.
As a new Realtor, you need to be highly motivated and laser-focused on learning as much about the real estate industry as you possibly can. When you wake up each morning, there won’t be anyone there telling you what to work on, as you are now the owner, manager, and boss! Your brokerage should have classes that will help you understand what you need to focus on first but if you want to have a successful first year in the real estate business, your primary focus areas should be:
- Build your network. This means that you have to get out and socialize on a regular basis and not be afraid to pick up the phone and connect with neighbors, acquaintances, and friends of friends.
- Become a neighborhood expert. If you want to be the go-to agent in your area, you need to know your market. This could include studying the home sales statistics in the MLS, touring homes, and letting as many people as possible know that you are here to serve them.
- Market yourself online. From building your online presence to blogging on your website, running ads on social media, and networking in local online groups. You have to find out what works best for you and get up every morning and take action!
- Understand scripts and contracts. It’s so important that you learn how to talk with people about real estate and how to overcome objections. You also have to know the basics of writing a contract, but also the strategies involved in positioning your offer in a way that will help your clients win in a bidding war.
The Building Better Agents team talks with dozens of newly licensed real estate agents each year. Most have no idea how challenging the first year or two can be and how much you need to learn to be successful. It’s not easy, but if you are a self-starter who is 110% committed to being successful and you have the support of a great brokerage and mentor, it can be a rewarding and profitable business.
Getting Your Florida Real Estate License: Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, you can take your entire 63-hour course online or via a mobile app. The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) requires a single 63-hour course called FREC Course I: Real Estate Sales Associate Pre-Licensing. Modern providers like AceableAgent feature dedicated mobile apps, while schools like The CE Shop and Colibri offer web-responsive portals. The course covers Florida real estate law, agency principles, contracts, and math. Keep in mind that while reading and quizzes can happen on a phone, your school’s proctored final exam requires a computer with a webcam.
Once you complete your 63-hour pre-license course, you’ll take the class exam and then apply to take the state exam. Usually, it takes a few weeks to get your background check and your appointment for the exam, but you could potentially get your license within 6 weeks and then you’d need at least another 6 weeks to select your broker and get up and running on all the tools and systems at your new brokerage.
Under FREC rules, if you fail your online course final exam (a score under 70%), you must wait at least 30 days before taking an alternate re-test. Florida law strictly prohibits taking the same end-of-course test twice. If you pass the re-test within one year, you receive your certificate. However, if you fail the second attempt, state law mandates that you must re-enroll and retake the entire 63-hour course from scratch before taking the course final again. Choosing a school with comprehensive end-of-module practice quizzes helps ensure you pass on your first attempt.
Apply to the DBPR while taking your course. You do not have to wait until you finish your 63 hours to submit your application and background check. Submit your electronic Live Scan fingerprints and complete the DBPR Sales Associate application (Form RE 1) about halfway through your course. Background processing and application approval typically take 1 to 3 weeks. Applying early ensures that Pearson VUE issues your Notice of Exam Eligibility right around the time you finish your course, avoiding a long idle period.
Yes, the Florida licensing exam has a high failure rate. Official DBPR pass rates show that first-time pass rates typically hover around 50%. The 100-question Pearson VUE exam tests heavily on Florida-specific license laws, FREC rules, authorized brokerage relationships, real estate math, and contracts. Generic national study guides fail to capture Florida’s unique legal nuances (such as Transaction Broker vs. Single Agent disclosures). Using a dedicated Florida-specific exam prep tool with targeted state practice banks is essential for passing on the first try.
Your license becomes completely null and void. Florida requires all newly licensed sales associates to complete a 45-hour FREC-approved Post-Licensing course prior to their very first license renewal (which occurs 18 to 24 months after passing the state exam). Unlike standard continuing education where late fees apply, missing this deadline cancels your license entirely. If that happens, state law requires you to retake the 63-hour pre-licensing course, pass the state exam, and start over from scratch.
It’s not uncommon for people to fail on the first try. You can easily take the real estate exam again, you just have to wait 24 hours to reschedule a new exam date. The cost is $36.75 to retake the exam, and there’s no cap on how many times you can retake it.
Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. DBPR requires a background check as part of your application and reviews each situation individually based on the nature of the offense and how much time has passed. If you have concerns about your background, we’d recommend contacting DBPR directly before investing in a pre-license course.
If you’d like to quickly get your real estate license, we would recommend signing up for a self-paced online course at one of the real estate schools above. The online real estate courses have come a long way over the last few years, so you’ll get a top notch education in the field of real estate. When deciding on the best online real estate course, be sure to check their “average pass rate.” You want to make sure you sign up with a Florida pre-license course that will fully prepare you for the state real estate exam so that you can pass the first time you take it!
You do not need a college degree to become a real estate agent in Florida. You just need to have a high school diploma or GED, be at least 18 years old and successfully complete the 63 hour pre-license course.
Absolutely! As long as you’ve passed the pre-license course and received your license application approval, you can take the state exam before you have a sponsoring brokerage.
If you’ve been an active Florida real estate agent for at least 24 months over the last 5 years, you can qualify to become a broker in FL. You’ll have to enroll in a 72 hour approved broker licensing course and pass the Florida Real Estate Broker exam.
Most states refer to this as “reciprocity” but in Florida, it’s called “Mutual Recognition.” Florida currently has an agreement with Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. If you hold an active real estate license in any of these states, you can become a real estate agent in Florida just by passing the State portion of the real estate licensing exam.
According to Indeed.com, the average Florida real estate agent makes about $104,237 a year (based on 8,600+ reported salaries). This can fluctuate dramatically based on the home prices in your area, as the larger the sales price the larger your commission check will be. Market conditions can play a role in how much Realtors can make, but ultimately what you earn is up to you. To give you a better idea of what real estate agents make in Florida, here are a few examples from Indeed:
Tampa – $106,817 average
Orlando – $100,062 average
Sarasota – $129,223 average
Popular Articles + Resources for New Agents:
- What Expenses to Expect as a Real Estate Agent
- 20 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Brokerage
- Can You be a Successful Part-time Agent?
- What You Can Do BEFORE You’re Officially Licensed (free guide)
- Should New Agents Join a Real Estate Team
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC)
- Board of Realtors
- List of all the local Realtor Boards + Associations in FL
Let's Work Together
I’ve helped hundreds of agents build successful businesses, generate more leads, and expand their teams into multiple states.
Receive exclusive monthly training emails
DMCA Notice