A career in real estate can be very rewarding, with many different job opportunities to choose from. Real estate agents usually have flexible hours and can work on their own or as part of a group. Getting started in real estate in Florida involves completing coursework and earning a license.
Pre-Licensure Coursework
In order to be a real estate agent in Florida, you must be at least 18 years of age, have a Social Security Number, and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Once those basic requirements are met, the first step of earning your real estate license in Florida is to complete the educational requirements outlined by the state.
In Florida, you will need to complete a 63-hour pre-licensure course that has been approved by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FERC). A college degree is not a prerequisite to securing your real estate license. Instead, the FL Real Estate Sales Associate Licensing Course fulfills the educational component of your real estate industry training.
Many real estate programs offer online courses that provide flexibility for both your schedule and learning style so you can get started in your career as a real estate agent in Florida. It also is recommended that you. At the same time that you begin the pre-license course, we recommend submitting your state application and electronic fingerprints so that your final exam can be scheduled close to the end of your course.
Find a Broker
All states require that beginning real estate salespersons work under a broker. A broker is an experienced real estate agent who took additional courses and passed a broker exam. After passing the exam, a broker can oversee other real estate agents’ transactions.
Although it may seem a bit out of order, you actually need to find a broker to hire you as a real estate agent before you pass the salesperson exam. Part of the exam application asks you to enter the information for the company you plan to be associated with when working as an agent. The form asks for the broker’s company file number and contact information.
State Real Estate Exam
Once you complete the pre-licensure coursework, you need to apply for and pass your state’s real estate licensure examination. Though each state exam varies, you’ll need to pass the national and state-specific portions of the real estate salesperson exam. You will need to meet the minimum time requirement for passing the exam with a score of at least 70%. Within one year of the original examination, you can retake the exam once. If you don’t successfully pass, you must repeat the course prior to being eligible to take the exam again.
Post-License Requirements
After you obtain your Florida real estate license, you must complete post-licensing education prior to your license renewal date. Your license renewal date is between 18 and 24 months after you receive your initial license.
- If you have a Sales Associate license, you must complete 45 hours of post-licensing education.
- If you have a Broker license, you must complete 60 hours of post-licensing education.
Continuing Education
Continuing education courses help you stay up to date on any changes in real estate laws and regulations. In Florida, after completing the post-license education, real estate agents are required to complete 14 hours of Florida real estate continuing education during every two-year license period thereafter.
Now what?
So you are a licensed real estate agent…now what? While a successful career is certainly within your grasp, it requires a plan of action and a dose of reality on what you can and should expect within your first couple of years. Be sure to check out How to Run a Successful Real Estate Business.
We are here to help
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