Although some of our real estate students are knowledgeable of the industry before starting the process, many come in cold and approach us with the fundamental question of how to become a real estate agent in Florida:
- What are the steps?
- Are there prerequisites?
- What qualifications will I need?
- Is it difficult?
- How long will it take?
Does this sound like you?
Like any career, becoming a real estate sales associate (more commonly known as a real estate agent) requires hard work and commitment, but it doesn’t need to be complex or confusing. However, with so much information on the web about where to go and what to do to get licensed, the process can quickly feel overwhelming - so much so that some end up abandoning the idea altogether.
To help you kick off your real estate agent journey as seamlessly as possible, we’ve split the process into four straightforward parts:
- Education
- Fingerprints
- Application Submission
- State Exam
The only prerequisites to get started are as follows:
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You have a valid Social Security Number
- You have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Education: get in the know
The process to become a real estate agent is an investment (of both time and money, as there’s a fee to take the exam). To give it your best shot the first time you sit for your exam, you’ll want to take a pre-licensing course that is Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) approved. View Approval Letter Depending on your learning style, you can take your course online or in-person, self-paced or with a set schedule, or a hybrid of the two. Be sure to look for a course that offers robust prep materials and resources, practice exams, and certified instructors that are available whenever you need them.
The course can take a few weeks to a few months to a year; the pace at which you complete it can be entirely up to you! When selecting a program, look for one that has different options and packages that suit your needs, schedule, learning style, etc. Once you pass, you will receive a Course Completion Certificate. If you’d like to see a breakdown of what this could look like - Click here for breakdown
- Fingerprints: get verified
The next step is to submit your fingerprints to the state of Florida for a background check. Even if you’re out-of-state, you can still complete this step! Your information will take a few days to process, so we recommend completing this at least five days before moving to step three.
- Application Submission: get approved for the exam
Complete your online Florida Real Estate Application through the state’s website. Click “Apply for a License” and select “Real Estate Sales Associates.
Once submitted, expect to wait about 30 days for your approval notice to arrive. When it does, take note of the candidate ID (FLREAPP ID) that you'll receive with it, as you’ll need this to schedule your Florida state exam.
- Exam: get licensed!
Now it’s time to reap the benefits of your hard work and make it official! You can schedule your exam in-person or online; either way, you’ll need to have your Course Completion Certificate and your candidate ID handy. To pass the exam, you’ll need a score of at least 75%.
When you consider the freedom, flexibility, and work-life balance that a career as a real estate agent offers - not to mention how lucrative it can be See estimates here - it’s a pretty easy sell! If you live in the sunshine state or are planning to move here, and are considering a career in the real estate industry, we hope this blog helps simplify the process for you!
Have more questions or want to take a deeper dive? You can visit our FAQ page here or download our eBook below.
Download the Candidate Information Booklet for the Real Estate Sales Associate Exam