Before applying for your real estate sales associate license in Florida, you must meet the following requirements:
·At least 18 years of age
·Able to provide proof of high school diploma or equivalent
·Possess a Social Security number
If you meet these three requirements, you will need to take the following steps to get your Florida real estate sales associate license:
1. Complete your Florida-approved 63-hour pre-license education requirement. As a real estate sales associate candidate, you are required to complete an approved 63-hour pre-license course unless you are exempt from the education requirement. The course consists of 60 classroom hours of 50 minutes each, plus a 3-hour final exam. The final course exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and you must get a passing grade of 70% to pass the course. The Florida Real Estate Commission allows you to take the final course exam twice before you need to repeat the course. You may take the course online or in-person, though most candidates prefer the online course because the can move along at their own pace.
2. Get fingerprinted. You will need to have your electronic fingerprint data when you submit your initial license application, which lets the Florida Real Estate Commission know you intend to get your real estate sales associate license. The Commission recommends getting fingerprinted at least five days before you submit your licensure application to enable time for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to process your fingerprints and submit the results to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Your fingerprints will also be used by the FBI to conduct a background check.
You will have to have your fingerprints take by a Florida-approved Livescan service provider. You will need to include the ORI number FL920010Z. The cost for fingerprinting ranges from $50 to $80, depending on which LiveScan location you use.
Please note that your fingerprints are only valid for up to 180 days.
3. Submit your application for authorization to take the exam. You will need to get approval from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Division of Real Estate before you can take the state exam. It typically takes the Department about 30 days to process your application. You have the option of making your application online or mailing in a hard copy. Either way, you will need to pay the $83.75 fee. If you decide to mail in your application, you will need to submit it to:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Pearson VUE is the approved state real estate sales associate exam testing vendor. DBPR will contact Pearson VUE once your license application has been approved. You will then be contacted via email by Pearson VUE with an authorization letter containing your candidate identification number (also known as FLREAPP ID). Once you have your authorization letter with your candidate identification number, you may schedule your exam online or by calling Pearson VUE customer service at 888-204-6289. Fee for the state licensing exam is $36.75 per attempt, paid directly to Pearson VUE.
4. Pass the state exam for real estate sales associates. You will need to sit for the state licensing exam within two years of successfully passing the 63-hour pre-license course. You will need to present a copy of your Certificate of Completion from the 63-hour pre-license course when you arrive for your state exam at the Pearson VUE testing center.
You will need to get a score of 75% on the state exam, which consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. You will be given 3 ½ hours to complete the state exam. Your results will be provided immediately following completion of the exam.
Pearson VUE will download your passing grade information to the Florida DBPR’s system, which will then issue your license number. You can expect your license to be issued automatically within 7 to 10 business days of passing the exam. Your license will first be issued in inactive status.
5. Activate your license. Once you’ve completed your 63-hour pre-licensure course, passed your background check and passed the state exam, it’s time to find a real estate broker if you have not done so already. Your new broker will need to sign your license activation application. Once this form has been submitted you will be ready to legally perform real estate services in Florida.