Your beginner’s guide to getting a Florida real estate license

Introduction

Florida’s real estate market is one of the country’s fastest growing and it continues to attract homebuyers and investors alike.

The state is home to beautiful beaches, picturesque views and a year-round pleasant climate.

Thanks to the growing economy and stable job outlook, Florida has emerged as the 2nd most popular real estate market in the U.S.

If you are looking for your entry steps into Florida’s booming economy and real estate market, now is the time to get started.

To start your career, you will need a real estate license Florida as it will open multiple doors for progress in your profession.

Whether you wish to work as a real estate salesperson or a broker in Florida, it is mandatory to have a state approved license.

According to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), if you want to assist clients in selling, buying or leasing of real estate in Florida, you must obtain a license first. 0

The easiest way to get started in the real estate industry is to become a sales associate. A sales associate license requires you to complete mandatory education and fulfill a specific set of eligibility requirements.

In this article, we are going to give you a detailed overview of how to obtain your Florida real estate salesperson license.

We will share exact licensing requirements to help you prepare for your FL licensing journey so you can achieve your goals with confidence.

Florida Real Estate Licensing Eligibility Requirements

Irrespective of whether you want to become a real estate salesperson, broker or REALTOR in Florida, you are required to fulfill the statutory eligibility requirements first. These are:

You must be at least 18 years of age or older
You must be a legal resident of the U.S. with a valid social security number
You must have a high school diploma in education or GED

In addition to the above requirements, every applicant must also fulfill the pre-licensing education requirements established by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).

To get your Florida state sales associate license, you must complete 63 hours of state approved coursework.

Completing the coursework is mandatory and it must be done by enrolling in a state approved and accredited real estate college, school or online course.

Typically, completing a pre-licensing course in Florida can cost you anywhere from $300 to $600. The price depends on various factors such as – course duration, content delivery type, course package and so forth.

It is recommended that you take time and carefully evaluate the various education providers before deciding whether or not it is right for you.

Many students prefer signing up for an online course as it helps them learn at their own pace from anywhere.

If you too are looking for a self-paced, state approved online education provider, you can explore RealEstateU to start preparing. Click here to learn more about their courses.

To help you set your expectations, we have listed some of the key topics and subjects you will learn about in your pre-licensing course:

Real Estate Business
Federal and State Laws
Real Estate Laws and Licenses
Real Estate Commission Rules
Real Estate Financing
Contract Forms

In order to clear the Florida licensing test, you must score at least 75 percent or above in the exam.

Note that if you fail to clear the exam, you can re-appear for it by paying the exam attempt fee of $37 again.

Once you have successfully cleared the Florida sales associate test, you will be required to submit an electronic copy of your fingerprints along with a background verification check.

This is a mandatory requirement by the FREC to ensure that every applicant has a clean record without any history of criminal activity or felony.

Note that you must visit a Florida approved live scan vendor such as a Pearson Vue center to get your electronic fingerprints processed.

It will cost you a one-time fee of $58 to get your electronic fingerprints.

Tips to prepare for the Florida Sales Associate licensing exam

For many aspiring sales associates, clearing the Florida licensing exam might seem like a herculean task.

However, with proper preparation, you can easily achieve your goals and clear the test on your first attempt.

We have put together some practical and actionable tips to help you prepare better:

Use study prep materials such as previous years’ question papers, mock tests and sample tests. This will help you get a sense of the type of questions to prepare for. Many course providers offer simulated tests to give you a real-world exam experience.

Practice time management techniques to manage your learning schedule better. Since you will be required to tackle multiple subjects during the pre-licensing training, you should set aside specific time for each and prepare accordingly.

Seek expert tips and guidance to boost your preparation. In order to maximize your chances of clearing the test, you must seek out the advice of teachers, especially for complex topics. Many students make study groups to keep themselves motivated.