Requirements, steps, costs and timeline, in one place
Everything you need to get your Florida real estate license as a sales associate: the 63-hour FREC-approved course, the DBPR application, fingerprints and the Pearson VUE state exam.
Start Your 63-Hour Course — from $97 →Getting a Florida real estate license takes four things: a 63-hour state-approved course, an application to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), a background check, and a passing score on the state exam. This guide walks through how to get a real estate license in Florida step by step, what it costs, how long it takes, and what you need to do after you’re licensed as a sales associate (Florida’s term for a new real estate agent).
We’ve taught Florida licensing courses since 2014, and most of the questions our students ask come down to the same few things: what the steps are, what it costs, and how long it takes. This guide answers all three.
MLS Campus is a FREC-approved Florida real estate school (DBPR provider license ZH1002474). Our 63-hour sales associate course is 100% online and self-paced: 60 hours of instruction plus the 3-hour course final.
Real Estate License Florida Requirements
To qualify for a Florida real estate license as a sales associate, DBPR requires that you meet all of the following.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or older |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent (GED) |
| Social Security number | A U.S. Social Security number |
| Residency | Not required. You don’t need to live in Florida to hold a Florida real estate license |
| Pre-license course | 63 hours from a FREC-approved school (60 hours of instruction + a 3-hour course final, 70% to pass). If you hold a 4-year degree or higher in real estate, you may be exempt; DBPR decides from your certified transcript |
| Application | DBPR Form RE 1, $62.75 |
| Background check | Electronic fingerprints (Livescan) |
| State exam | 100 questions at Pearson VUE, 75% to pass, $57.75 per attempt |
Which Path Is Right for You?
| Your situation | Your route to a Florida real estate license |
|---|---|
| New to real estate, studying full-time | Take the 63-hour course (about 2 weeks full-time). Apply to DBPR and get fingerprinted in your first week, so approval arrives as you finish. 63-hour course → |
| Studying part-time around a job | Plan on 3–4 weeks or more for the course. Online study fits around work, and audio lets you learn on the go. 63-hour course → |
| Licensed in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island or West Virginia | You may skip the 63-hour course through mutual recognition and take a Florida real estate law exam instead (non-Florida residents only). Reciprocity → |
| Licensed in any other state | You’ll need the 63-hour course and the full state exam, like a new applicant. 63-hour course → |
| Holding a 4-year degree or higher in real estate | You may be exempt from the course. Send DBPR a certified transcript with your application. Requirements → |
| Already a licensed Florida sales associate | Complete the 45-hour post-license course before your first renewal, then look at the broker path. 45-hour post-license → · become a broker → |
| Your Florida license has gone inactive | Check whether you need a reactivation course before you can return to work. License reactivation → |
How to Get a Real Estate License in Florida: 6 Steps
Follow these six steps to earn your Florida sales associate license and start working as a real estate agent.
Complete the 63-hour pre-license course
Enroll in a FREC-approved 63-hour sales associate pre-license course. It follows the Florida Real Estate Commission’s 19-section syllabus, from license law and agency to contracts, mortgages, closing calculations and real estate math.
You can take the course in a classroom or online. Every approved course covers the same state syllabus, so the choice comes down to how you learn best: online courses let you study around work and family, while classroom courses suit people who want a fixed schedule. With MLS Campus, the course is fully online, you can read, listen or watch the lessons, and you have six months to a year to finish, depending on your package.
Apply to DBPR (Form RE 1)
Submit your fingerprints
Pass the course final exam
Pass the Florida state exam
Activate your license with a broker
The Florida State Exam: Format, Fee and What It Covers
The state exam is the last big hurdle to your Florida real estate license. It’s administered by Pearson VUE for DBPR and has 100 multiple-choice questions across the same 19 content areas as your course. You need 75 correct (75%) to pass, and you have 3½ hours. Expect questions on Florida license law and commission rules, real estate principles and practices, and real estate math. The fee is $57.75 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE.
Give extra practice time to real estate math and Florida license law until both feel routine.
- The real estate business
- License law and qualifications for licensure
- License law and commission rules
- Authorized relationships, duties and disclosure
- Brokerage activities and procedures
- Violations of license law, penalties and procedures
- Federal and state laws pertaining to real estate
- Property rights: estates and tenancies; condominiums, cooperatives, community development districts, homeowner associations and time-sharing
- Title, deeds and ownership restrictions
- Legal descriptions
- Real estate contracts
- Residential mortgages
- Types of mortgages and sources of financing
- Real estate related computations and closing of transactions
- Real estate markets and analysis
- Real estate appraisal
- Real estate investments and business opportunity brokerage
- Taxes affecting real estate
- Planning, zoning and environmental hazards
Exam Day: What to Bring and What Happens
- Arrive 30 minutes early. That’s DBPR’s instruction, so there’s time for check-in.
- Bring the identification DBPR requires. The current DBPR candidate information booklet lists exactly what’s accepted.
- Expect a photo at check-in and a short computer tutorial before the exam starts.
- Need to reschedule? Contact Pearson VUE at least 2 days before your appointment, or you may forfeit the exam fee.
How Much Does a Florida Real Estate License Cost?
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| 63-hour pre-license course | from $97 | Your school (MLS Campus Basic package) |
| DBPR application (Form RE 1) | $62.75 | Florida DBPR |
| State exam | $57.75 per attempt | Pearson VUE |
| Electronic fingerprints | about $50–$80 | Livescan provider (varies) |
| Estimated total | about $265–$300 | plus optional exam prep |
Fees are current as of October 2026. You may see $83.75 quoted for the application in older guides; DBPR’s current Form RE 1 lists $62.75. Check DBPR before you apply, because state fees can change.
Study online at your own pace and get ready for the Florida state exam.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Florida Real Estate License?
Most people get their Florida real estate license in 1 to 3 months. It can take longer if your application needs extra review, for example for a criminal record:
- Weeks 1–4: complete the 63-hour course (about 2 weeks full-time, 3–4 weeks part-time).
- Weeks 2–6: DBPR processes your application and fingerprints (typically 10–30 days).
- Weeks 5–8: sit and pass the Pearson VUE state exam.
- Weeks 6–9: activate with a broker and start working.
The easiest way to shorten the timeline is to apply to DBPR and get fingerprinted in your first week of study. Then the application processes while you finish the course, instead of after.
Mistakes That Delay a Florida Real Estate License
- A wrong or missing ORI number at fingerprinting. Use FL920010Z, or DBPR never receives your results.
- Fingerprinting too early. FDLE keeps results for six months, so prints taken long before you apply can lapse.
- Letting the course completion expire. It’s valid for two years; after that, you’ll need to retake the course.
- Not disclosing a criminal record. Disclose everything the application asks; the background check will show it anyway.
- Forgetting to activate. Passing the exam isn’t the finish line; your license must be activated under a Florida broker before you can work.
- Missing the 45-hour post-license deadline. If it isn’t done before your first renewal, the license becomes null and void.
Can You Get Licensed With a Criminal Record?
A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. You must disclose any convictions on your DBPR application, and your fingerprints are used for a background check. The Florida Real Estate Commission then reviews each application on its own facts. If you have a record, gather your court documents and any evidence of rehabilitation before you apply, and contact DBPR if you’re unsure how to answer a question.
What If You Fail the State Exam?
You can schedule a retake with Pearson VUE and pay the $57.75 fee again for each attempt. Because your 63-hour course completion is valid for two years, a failed attempt doesn’t mean repeating the course. Use your score report to see which areas to review, then practise with timed exams before you rebook.
Florida Real Estate License Reciprocity (Mutual Recognition)
According to DBPR, Florida has mutual recognition with 9 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island and West Virginia. If you hold an active license from one of these states (earned through that state’s own education and exam, not by reciprocity), you can apply for a FL real estate license without retaking the 63-hour course. You must pass a written Florida-specific real estate law exam, and you must not be a Florida resident when you apply.
Licensed in another state that isn’t on this list? You’ll need to complete the 63-hour course and the full state exam.
After You’re Licensed: Post-License and Renewal
Before your first renewal, every new Florida sales associate must complete the 45-hour post-license course. If you miss it, your Florida real estate license becomes null and void. After that, you renew every two years with 14 hours of continuing education.
See also: how to renew your Florida real estate license · 14-hour continuing education · license reactivation
Sales Associate, Broker or Realtor®?
- Sales associate: the first Florida real estate license. You work as a real estate agent under a broker.
- Broker: the next step, after at least 24 months as an active sales associate within the past five years and the 72-hour broker course. See how to become a real estate broker in Florida.
- Realtor®: not a license. It’s membership of the National Association of REALTORS®, which you can join once licensed. See how to become a Realtor® in Florida.
How to Look Up a License
Once your license is issued, you can look it up on DBPR’s license verification search at myfloridalicense.com, by name or license number. Clients and brokers use the same search, so keep your details current.
Why Get a Real Estate License in Florida?
Florida’s population growth, steady buyer demand and lack of a state income tax make it one of the most active places to use a real estate license. Income is commission-based, so earnings depend on the deals you close.
Salary data: ZipRecruiter (2026); career outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Individual results vary.
Tips for Passing the Florida Real Estate Exam
- Set a schedule. Block regular study time each week; online study fits around a job.
- Master the 19 sections. The state exam draws on your 63-hour course. Spend extra time on license law and real estate math.
- Practise under exam conditions. Timed 100-question practice exams are the best preparation for passing on your first attempt.
- Book the exam while it’s fresh. Schedule it soon after you finish the course.
- Test when you’re ready. Aim to score consistently above 75% in practice first.
Florida Real Estate License FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
How do I get a real estate license in Florida?
Complete the 63-hour FREC-approved course and pass its final (70%), apply to DBPR with Form RE 1 ($62.75), submit electronic fingerprints, pass the Pearson VUE state exam (75%), then activate your license under a Florida broker.
How much does a Florida real estate license cost?
About $265–$300 in total: the course from $97, the $62.75 DBPR application, the $57.75 state exam and about $50–$80 for fingerprints.
How long does it take to get a Florida real estate license?
Most people finish in 1–3 months, depending on study pace and DBPR processing (typically 10–30 days).
Do I have to live in Florida to get a Florida real estate license?
No. Florida residency isn’t required.
Can I take the Florida real estate course online?
Yes. The 63-hour sales associate course can be completed fully online and self-paced through a FREC-approved school such as MLS Campus.
Can I apply for my Florida real estate license online?
Yes. Form RE 1 can be submitted online through DBPR, and you can apply before you finish the course.
How long is my 63-hour course completion valid?
Two years for sitting the state exam.
What happens if I fail the Florida real estate exam?
You can retake it, paying $57.75 each time. Your course completion remains valid for two years.
What ORI number do I use for Florida real estate fingerprints?
FL920010Z, the ORI for real estate sales associates and brokers listed on DBPR’s fingerprinting page.
Can a college degree exempt me from the 63-hour course?
Only a 4-year degree or higher in real estate. Send DBPR a certified transcript with your application and it will decide.
What happens if I fail the course final exam?
Florida requires a 30-day wait before you can retake the end-of-course exam. Review the sections you missed in the meantime.
Are there fee waivers for veterans?
Military veterans, their spouses and Florida National Guard members may qualify for a DBPR fee waiver, reimbursement or discount.
Does Florida have real estate license reciprocity?
Florida has mutual recognition with 9 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island and West Virginia). Qualifying applicants take a Florida real estate law exam instead of the 63-hour course.
What do I need after I get my Florida real estate license?
Activate it under a broker, complete the 45-hour post-license course before your first renewal, then 14 hours of continuing education every two years.
Start Your Florida Real Estate Career Today
MLS Campus is a FREC-approved Florida real estate school (DBPR provider license ZH1002474), established in 2014, that has helped tens of thousands of students start their real estate careers. Take your 63-hour course online, at your own pace, with read, listen and watch options.
- Tips to pass the Florida exam on your first attempt
- How to get a real estate license: state-by-state guide
- How to become a Realtor® in Florida
- How to become a real estate broker in Florida
- Florida real estate courses
Ready to get your Florida real estate license?
Study online at your own pace with state-approved, instructor-supported courses. Browse the Florida packages or head back to our homepage to explore everything MLS Campus offers.