Getting Your Real Estate License in Florida

If you want to get your Florida real estate license, you'll have to meet some educational requirements and pass an exam. Here's what you need to know.

Major Real Estate Markets in Florida

From Orlando to Miami to Key West, Florida is used to big, lucrative real estate markets. CNN Money projects that in 2007, Jacksonville and Tampa-St. Petersburg will top the state markets, with Orlando-Kissimmee, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale close behind.

How to Get a Real Estate License in Florida

To become a real estate agent in Florida, you must be over 18, hold a high school diploma, and complete a pre-licensing course approved by the Florida Real Estate Commission. The class completion remains valid for two years. Any active member of Florida Bar is exempt from the educational requirement.

You may then submit your application to become an agent, along with a fingerprint card and an application fee. Upon approval, you will take the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate exam. To pass you must score over 75 points.

Mutual Recognition and Florida Real Estate Licenses

Florida has entered into a Mutual Recognition agreement with 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. This means that if you are already licensed in one of these states, you do not need to fulfill the criteria above. Instead, as a licensed agent in a state with a mutual recognition agreement, you must pass a Florida-specific real estate law examination, correctly answering 30 out of 40 questions. A few states have additional requirements, so check the mutual recognition page of the Florida Real Estate website.

Activating Your Florida Real Estate License

To become an agent, you must activate your license by submitting a completed RE 2050-1 form. Otherwise, your license will be issued with an inactive status.

Continuing Education

You must complete a post-licensing course before your initial sales associate license expires.

Sources:
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Real Estate
CNN Money, "Hot Spots, Cold Spots"