How to Obtain a Real Estate License in Florida

Taking third place regarding the population in the U.S., Florida is the most popular state where people tend to spend their retirement days. Due to this, it has become one of the best environments for real estate agents to kick-start their careers. On that note, starting a real estate career will require you to get a real estate license first. That being said, how do you become a real estate agent in Florida? First and foremost, you need to be at least 18 years old, finish the necessary course and pass the exam at the end, and lastly pass a criminal background check.

Now, if you are interested and are looking into becoming a real estate agent, you are in the right place. We will go over the entire process of obtaining a real estate license in Florida. Our goal is to help you by answering all of your questions and more regarding the topic. With our help, you will be on the right path in no time. Now, let’s not waste any more time and dive right into the topic.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Florida?

Obtaining a professional real estate license in Florida has several requirements that you need to complete first. As we have mentioned, first of all, you must be at least 18 years old. Additionally, you are required to complete 63 hours of real estate coursework which needs to be provided by an approved source or if you already have a four-year degree that you have obtained through a real estate school. You will also need to pass the final exam and lastly provide valid information about yourself in order to pass a criminal background check.

When it comes to the background check, you are required to provide all criminal convictions in the application. Here you can be disqualified solely depending on the crime you have been convicted for. Keep in mind that if you do not disclose your conviction, no matter how small the offense is, your application will be immediately declined.

The Examination Process

Once you complete the real estate course, you can apply for the final exam. This can be done through email or by mail. No matter which method you choose, you can easily complete the process on the official website. Once you send your application, the reviewing will take anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks. Once the review process is complete, you can finally schedule your exam. The examination process is done solely by Pearson VUE, meaning you can easily sign up online on your own.

When your application is approved you can sign up in order to schedule the exam. Here you will have two options, you can either take the exam in person or if you prefer you can do it online. No matter which one you pick, the exam will be the same. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions for which you are given three and a half hours to complete. In order to pass the exam you must correctly answer 75% of questions or more. If you happen to fail the exam on your first try, do not worry. You can retake the exam as needed until you pass; the only thing is that with each attempt you will have to pay a fee.

If you have any specific questions regarding this, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation made booklets containing the necessary detailed information that can help you.

Applying for the License

Congratulations! Now that you have passed the exam, the license is automatically issued and the only thing you have to do is to wait for it. This whole process usually takes around 7 but no more than 10 days. The one important thing you need to keep in mind is that as an agent you will have to submit an additional application in order to activate your license. This application needs to be filled out by your employer which can either be a broker or a real estate firm. Your employer needs to send the application to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation.

Post-Licensing Education

Your newly acquired Florida real estate license will be valid for the next two years. When your license gets close to the expiration date, you will be notified through your email. Renewing the license for the first time will require that you complete an additional continuing education course that will last 45 hours. After the first renewal, each one after that will also require a continuing education course but this time it will only take 14 hours to complete.

Now, the only thing you need to do is focus on building your career as a real estate agent. With enough effort, you can achieve your dream of becoming a real estate agent in Florida.