How to Get Your Florida Real Estate Broker License

Does your career bucket list include these items: More income, greater responsibility and increased recognition?

If so, start planning for a future as a real estate broker or broker associate. To get started, you’ll need some experience as an active sales associate, and you’ll need to take additional classes. Here’s the plan to get you there.

How much experience do I need?

First things first: If you are a licensed sales associate in Florida, you need to have an active license for 24 months during the preceding five years, and you need to complete the sales associate post-licensing education requirement before getting your broker license.

If you are a broker who has real estate experience in another state, jurisdiction or territory, you may apply that experience toward a Florida real estate broker license. In this instance, your broker license must have been active for at least 24 months during the preceding five years.

If you want to use your license credentials from another state, send your application to the DBPR and attach your current certification. See Section 475.17(2) (b), F.S. for complete experience requirements. You’ll still have to complete the 72-hour pre-license broker education class and pass the state exam in Florida.

All applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. Social Security number and also must complete the electronic fingerprint process. Learn more about the fingerprinting process and requirements.

Step 1: Fulfill pre-licensing education requirements

If you are upgrading from sales associate to broker or applying from out-of-state, you must complete the Florida 72-hour pre-licensing course and pass the exam with 70% correct answers. Classes are available throughout the state – online and in the classroom. Call your local board for course providers or check out the DBPR list of approved course providers.  Costs vary from $250 to $500.

Exemptions from pre-licensing education: If you have a four-year degree in real estate, you’ll need to submit an original college transcript with your application to the DBPR.  

Step 2: Apply to take the Florida real estate broker exam

• Application: Complete the DBPR RE-2 Application for Broker License. You’ll need to provide this information along with your grades from the pre-licensing class and fees to the DBPR. (The application fee is $91.75. This breaks down to $14.75 for a nonrefundable application fee, $72 license fee and $5 unlicensed activity fee.) It may take four-to-six weeks for the state to process and approve your application, so keep that in mind when planning this phase of your career move.
• Get your electronic fingerprints: The Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) needs them in order to run a background check. You’ll need to have your fingerprints taken at least 5 days before you send your license application. See where and how to get electronic fingerprints (PDF). Each fingerprint vendor sets the price for their services, but the typical cost is $50 to $80. You will need to provide your Social Security number and the following ORI number: FL920010Z.

Step 3: Take and pass the state real estate exam

Pearson VUE oversees the state broker exam process and offers the course in a variety of formats and locations. The cost is $36.75 per exam.

After your application is approved, check your email for a notification from Pearson VUE entitled Authorization to Test letting you know that you are eligible to take the test. This email includes your 9-digit Candidate ID number, which you need in order to sign up for the exam with Pearson VUE.  To schedule an exam, call 888.204.6289 or visit PearsonVUE.com.

You must pass the exam with at least 75 out of 100 points.

After passing the exam, submit a completed DBPR RE 13 Broker Transactions form so your license can be activated.

Once your license is activated, you may download and print your license through your secure account at the DBPR website. Once your initial broker’s license is activated, it is valid for 18 to 24 months, depending on the date you pass the state exam. 

First renewal broker post-licensing requirements

Your initial real estate broker’s license expires in 18 to 24 months, depending on the date you pass the state real estate exam. The expiration date is located on the bottom of your license.

Before your license expires during the first renewal cycle, you must complete and pass a state-approved 60-hour course curriculum. Don’t put your license at risk: If you don’t complete the 60 hours of post-licensing training prior to your first renewal deadline, your license reverts to a sales associate’s license.

Classes are available from a variety of vendors, and you can take either a 60-hour packaged course, or choose from several state-approved 30-hour classes. Classes are offered in an online or classroom setting. Costs vary from $150 to $400.

You must achieve at least 75 percent on your final exam, and it may be taken twice in order to pass. You’ll need to wait 30 days – but no more than one year – before retaking the test.

If you don’t complete the broker’s 60-hour post-license education requirements before the expiration date, your license reverts to a sales associate’s license.

Continuing education compliance

After completing the 60-hour post-license requirements, brokers and broker associates need to complete 14 hours of FREC-approved continuing education (CE) classes each two-year renewal period.

If your license renewal date is before Sept. 30, 2018, you’ll need to take 11 hours of specialty education and three hours of Core Law. After that date, you still need to complete 14 hours of CE training, but the course breakdown is different. You’ll need a three-hour Ethics and Business Practices course, three-hour Core Law class, and eight hours of specialty CE training. Costs for each class vary and start around $10 each.

Classes are available online, at local boards/associations and through approved real estate school vendors. Check out the Florida Realtors Education Calendar for times, prices and course options.

After completing the 14-hour requirement, you can go to the DBPR website and download your updated license. Renewal fees can be paid online or by check or money order.