Steps For Getting A Florida Real Estate License

Becoming a real estate agent is a very lucrative career option regardless of the state you choose to practice in the USA. 

However, being an agent in Florida is especially rewarding because of the many options on offer. You have luxury properties on one hand and simple single-family homes on the other, you have properties in metropolitan cities as well as stunning beachfront ones. Hence, you will never be short of buyers and sellers looking to dispose of their real estate or get their hands on a dream home. 

However, to kickstart your profession in the industry in the state, you must first obtain a Florida real estate license. 

In this post, we will go through all the steps of getting a Florida real estate license as well as the costs related to it. 

# The first step is to ensure that you are a citizen of the USA and at least 18 years old to be eligible to apply for a license in the state. Migrants who have been legally admitted into the country and given working rights can also apply for a Florida real estate license. 

# The next critical step is to complete the 63 hours of pre-licensing education. This is mandated by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), the controlling body for the real estate industry in Florida. 

The purpose of the coursework is to ensure that as an aspiring real estate agent you gather adequate knowledge to provide quality and ethical services to your clients in the future. 

However, FREC closely monitors the course providers and only study materials that meet the standards of FREC will be counted as fulfilling educational eligibility norms to appear for the licensing exam. Before investing in a course, visit the portal of the FREC to know the list of state-approved providers.

The following subjects form a part of the 63 hours of coursework for getting a Florida real estate license.          

• Real Estate Business
• Real Estate Laws and Licenses
• Real Estate Contracts
• Federal and State Laws
• Real Estate Commission Rules
• Real Estate Brokerage and Procedures
• Real Estate Appraisal
• Authorized Relationships, Disclosures, and Duties
• Violations of Real Estate Laws, Penalties and Procedures
• Types of Mortgages
• Titles, Deeds, and Ownership Types
• Real Estate Financing
• Market and Industry Analysis

The complete 63 hours of coursework is available in either a classroom setting or online from different providers. You can select one as per your preferred learning style. However, online courses have the flexibility to be studied anytime from anywhere provided you have an Internet-enabled device with you. Online courses also offer the convenience of studying without upsetting your daily routine. 

One of the leading online real estate pre-licensing course providers is RealEstateU. They offer top-quality study materials designed by leading real estate professionals. They also have study guides and test prep that have questions that replicate the licensing exam. You will thus know the structure and the format of the questions in the licensing exam. 

The cost of a real estate licensing course ranges between $100 to $400 approximately. RealEstateU courses are the most affordable in this niche. 

# After completing the 63 hours of coursework, submit your fingerprints for verification to the FREC. This is mandated by the body to check for any past criminal records. A real estate agent must maintain high standards of morality and trustworthiness. Any adverse fingerprint result may lead to an applicant’s Florida real estate license application being rejected by FREC. The background check fee is $58.12. 

# Schedule a licensing exam on the website of the FREC. You will be informed of a specific center where the test will be held. Though the exam is held online, you have to be physically present at the exam center on the day of the test. The exam fee is $57.75. 

# On the appointed date, appear for the test and pass it. The questions are in a multiple-choice format and consist of two sections. One is the national section that tests your knowledge about the real estate industry in general throughout the USA. The other is the state-specific section that focuses on the real estate sector in Florida and the rules and regulations applicable to the state. 

You must score a minimum of 75% to pass the exam. Since the exam is held online, the results are known after the close of the test at the center itself. They are declared in a pass/fail format only. 

The exam is proctored by PearsonVUE, a third-party provider. 

# After you have passed the licensing exam, apply for a Florida real estate license on the website of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). You must enclose proof of having completed the 63 hours of pre-licensing education and the fingerprint clearance certificate. Pay the fee of $87.75 online to FREC. You will now be issued a provisional real estate license but you cannot start your practice till you complete the last and final step. 

# Find a real estate broker to sponsor and mentor you during the initial stages of your career. This is very useful as a new real estate agent as the brokerage firm will provide the necessary infrastructure to kickstart your career. You will be provided office space and stationery and even a few referrals from the brokerage firm. More often than not, these referrals will be your first clients in your career.

Now inform the FREC that you have joined a brokerage firm. After verifying your employment status, they will now issue you an active Florida real estate license.