Florida licensing guide
How to Get a Real Estate License in Florida
A practical step-by-step guide to Florida licensing requirements, estimated costs, timeline, official resources, and what to do after you pass.
Florida licensing snapshot
Last reviewed May 25, 2026
- License type
- Sales Associate
- Minimum age
- 18
- Pre-license education
- 63 hours
- Exam provider
- Pearson VUE
- Estimated cost
- $350–$700
- Estimated timeline
- 4–6 months
- Renewal cycle
- Biennial (every 2 years)
Sales associates must complete a 45‑hour post‑licensing course during their first renewal and 14 hours of continuing education every two years thereafter. The continuing‑education requirement consists of 8 hours of specialty credit, 3 hours of Florida law and 3 hours of ethics/business practices.
Licensing path
Step-by-step licensing path
Use this as a planning sequence, then confirm each requirement with the official state source.
Meet basic requirements
You must be at least 18 years old and hold a high‑school diploma or equivalent.
Complete 63‑hour pre‑licensing course
Enroll in and complete a 63‑hour FREC‑approved pre‑license course covering real estate principles and law.
Submit application and fingerprints
Create an account at Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) website, submit the sales associate application, pay the application fee and fingerprint fee, and schedule fingerprinting.
Schedule and pass the state exam
Once your application is approved, schedule the exam with Pearson VUE, pay the exam fee and pass the multiple‑choice state exam.
Activate your license
Obtain sponsorship from a Florida‑licensed broker and request the broker to activate your license through the DBPR portal.
Complete post‑licensing education
Within your first renewal cycle, complete a 45‑hour post‑licensing course. For subsequent renewals, complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years.
Budget planning
Estimated costs
Estimated total cost: $350–$700. Actual costs vary by provider, application path, exam retakes, and local business setup choices.
| Cost item | Estimated amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre‑licensing course | $200–$400 | Varies by education provider. |
| Application & initial license fee | $57.75 | Includes $46.75 initial license fee and $11 application fee according to Florida administrative code. |
| Fingerprinting | $50 | Approximate fee for digital fingerprints required as part of the application process. |
| State exam fee | $36.75 | Pearson VUE examination fee. |
| Post‑licensing course | $100–$200 | Varies depending on provider and may be bundled with continuing‑education courses. |
| Continuing education | $50–$100 | Cost for 14‑hour CE package every two years. |
Renewal planning
Continuing education
Questions
FAQs
Who administers the Florida real estate exam?
The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation contracts Pearson VUE to administer the computer‑based sales associate examination.
How long is the license valid?
Florida real estate licenses must be renewed every two years. After the first renewal, licensees must complete 14 hours of continuing education during each two‑year cycle.
After you pass the exam
Passing the exam does not create an operating system. New agents still need to manage contacts, follow-ups, active deals, deadlines, client communication, partners, and daily priorities.
New Agent Checklist
Set up the business basics, contacts, partners, follow-up habits, and first-deal readiness.
First 30 Days
Build a practical launch rhythm for contacts, partners, client conversations, and daily work.
License Cost Calculator
Estimate state licensing costs, education, exam, application, background, and setup expenses.
First-Year Budget Calculator
Plan startup and operating costs before your first year gets noisy.
Agent Nook workflow
Licensed is only the beginning.
Agent Nook helps new agents keep deals, deadlines, clients, partners, and daily work organized from the first transaction forward.