Who licenses real estate sales associates in Florida?
Two bodies are involved. The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) sets the education rules and approves courses. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) runs the Division of Real Estate, takes applications and issues licenses. Your entry-level license is called a sales associate license. The next step up is the broker license, which takes a separate 72-hour course based on the FREC II syllabus.
To apply you must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma. Section 475.17 of the Florida Statutes sets out the full qualifications, and the commission's licensure page points applicants to that section for detail.
The steps from course to active license
Start with the 63-hour pre-licensing course. It follows the FREC I syllabus and ends with a course exam you must pass. Schools can deliver it in a classroom or by distance education. Your course completion counts toward licensure for two years, so plan to apply and test inside that window.
Next, send DBPR a completed application, electronic fingerprints and the fee. Then pass the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate Examination with a score of 75 or higher. Your license is issued inactive. It becomes active when you file form DBPR RE 11, or when your broker activates you through the broker's online account once your license number is issued.
What happens after you are licensed?
Your first renewal period runs 18 to 24 months. Before that first license expires, you must complete at least 45 hours of FREC-approved sales associate post-licensing education, with the course exams. This applies to everyone, whether your license is active or inactive. Classroom and distance formats are both allowed.
After the first renewal, each renewal period is 24 months. You need 14 hours of continuing education each time: 8 hours of specialty credit, 3 hours of Florida law update and 3 hours of ethics and business practices. DBPR says it sends notice within 60 days before your expiration date. Keep your mailing address current in your online account.
Are there exemptions or shortcuts?
Active members of the Florida Bar in good standing who otherwise qualify are exempt from the pre-licensing course. They still apply and take the exam. Applicants with a permanent physical disability, as defined in FREC Rule 61J2-3.013(2), may qualify for a correspondence pre-licensing course if the disability prevents them from attending class.
Florida has mutual recognition with nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska and Rhode Island. If you hold an active license in one of those states and do not live in Florida when you apply, you skip the 63-hour course. You take a 40-question Florida real estate law exam instead and need a score of 30 or higher to pass.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. BLS OEWS May 2025, moved to 2026 with the Employment Cost Index, real estate sales agents series. BLS counts employees only, so most self-employed, commission-only agents are outside these figures, and actual earnings depend heavily on closed volume and your split with your broker. Refer to the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- Age and educationYou must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma, as set out in section 475.17, Florida Statutes.
- Pre-licensing courseComplete a 63-hour FREC-approved course based on the FREC I syllabus and pass its end-of-course exam. The completion is valid for licensure for two years.
- Application and fingerprintsSubmit a completed DBPR application, electronic fingerprints and the required fee to the department.
- State examPass the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate Examination with a score of at least 75.
- Broker activationThe license is issued inactive. You activate it with form DBPR RE 11, or your broker activates you online.
- Post-licensingFinish at least 45 hours of FREC-approved sales associate post-licensing education before your first license expires.
- Continuing educationEach later 24-month renewal requires 14 hours: 8 specialty, 3 Florida law update and 3 ethics and business practices.
How to get there
- StartTake the 63-hour courseEnroll with a FREC-approved school, classroom or distance, and pass the end-of-course exam.
- Within 2 years of courseApply and submit fingerprintsSend DBPR your application, electronic fingerprints and fee.
- After applyingPass the state examScore 75 or higher on the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate Examination.
- Once license issuesActivate with a brokerYour license issues inactive. File DBPR RE 11 or have your broker activate you online.
- First 18-24 monthsComplete post-licensingFinish 45 hours of sales associate post-licensing courses and exams.
- Every 2 yearsRenew with continuing educationComplete 14 hours of continuing education every 24-month renewal period.
Questions people ask
How many hours is the Florida real estate pre-licensing course?
The sales associate course is 63 hours, based on the FREC I syllabus, and includes an end-of-course exam. You can take it in a classroom or by distance education. Your completion stays valid for licensure for two years.
What score do you need on the Florida real estate exam?
You need at least 75 on the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate Examination. Out-of-state licensees applying under mutual recognition take a separate 40-question Florida law exam and need 30 or higher.
Can you work right after you pass the exam?
Your license is issued inactive, so you cannot practice yet. It becomes active when you file form DBPR RE 11, or when your broker activates you through the broker's online account after your license number is issued.
What is Florida post-licensing education?
New sales associates must complete at least 45 hours of FREC-approved post-licensing courses before their first license expires. The first renewal period is 18 to 24 months. The rule applies whether your license is active or inactive.
Do attorneys need the 63-hour course in Florida?
No. Active members of the Florida Bar in good standing who otherwise qualify are exempt from the pre-licensing course. They still need to apply, submit fingerprints and pass the exam.
Which states have mutual recognition with Florida?
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska and Rhode Island. You must be a nonresident of Florida when you apply and hold an active license in good standing in that state.
