You may still apply for a real estate license in Florida if you have a criminal history. Rather than restricting those with certain convictions from applying, the Florida Real Estate Commission considers each applicant on their own merits.
It is important, however, that you disclose your prior arrests and convictions when making your initial application for a real estate sales associate license. On the application, you will be asked to answer a series of background questions. You must disclose whether you have ever been convicted, found guilty of or entered a plea of no contest to a crime, or if you are currently under investigation for a crime.
Any criminal violation at the municipal, county, state or national level, including felonies, misdemeanors and traffic offenses (other than parking, speeding, inspection or traffic signal violations) must be disclosed. This information should be disclosed even if you were put on probation, were withheld judgement, were paroled or pardoned.
You will need to include a copy of the arrest report, copies of the disposition or final order(s), and documentation proving all sanctions have been served and satisfied. This documentation is necessary for each incident. If you are unable to supply the required documentation, you will need to get a certified statement from the clerk of court for the relevant jurisdiction, stating the status of your records.
If you are still on probation, you will need to include a letter from your probation officer, on official letterhead, stating the status of your probation.
In addition to your criminal history, you will need to disclose whether you’ve had any judgement or court decree entered against you in any state or jurisdiction related to the practice and profession of real estate, including any pending cases or investigations.
You will need to provide a copy of the judgment or decree. You must also supply documentation proving all sanctions have been served and satisfied, or if not, stating the current status of any proceedings.
In addition, you will need to disclose if you have ever had an application for licensure denied in Florida or elsewhere. Again, this includes pending proceedings and investigations. If you have, you will need to supply copies of documentation explaining the denial or pending action.
Finally, you will need to document if you have ever had any license, registration or permit to practice any regulated profession, occupation, vocation or business revoked, annulled, suspended, relinquished, surrendered or otherwise disciplined in Florida or elsewhere, including pending proceedings and investigations.
You will need to provide copies of the order(s) showing the disciplinary action taken against the license, or documentation showing the status of the pending action.
For criminal convictions, you will need to complete information on the offense, location of the crime, the penalty or disposition for the crime, the date of the offense and a description of the offense when making your application. For judgements or actions against you regarding a professional license, you will need to disclose the location, license number or application type, and an explanation of the incident.
All applicants are fingerprinted for a criminal background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The results will be forwarded to the Florida Real Estate Commission. You can expect the Commission to check the answers on your application against local, state and federal records. Your application may be denied if you fail to answer truthfully.