Real Estate Licensing Requirements in Florida

Sept. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- All 50 states across the U.S. have adopted separate requirements for real estate agents, real estate brokers, and instructors, etc.  We are going to focus mainly on the Sunshine State, Florida.  This article will offer some assistance to anyone looking for information about a real estate license in the state of Florida.  A seven member Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) operates under The Florida State Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Real Estate.   The commission is made up of five real estate licensees that have each been licensees for at least five years, and two persons that have never been licensees.  The Florida Real Estate Commission regulates and imposes the real estate laws of the state that affect all facets of a Florida real estate license.

The license requirements for real estate agents in Florida include having a high school diploma or equivalent GED, being at least 18 years of age, and having a clean arrest/police history.  In addition, fingerprints that are no more than 60 days old must be provided.  Upon meeting all of these requirements an applicant can send in his application to the state for processing while he or she completes the required education requirements.   Real estate license applicants must complete 63 classroom-hours for a real estate associate license.  Each course is valid for a two year period.  Once the education hours are complete the applicant must pass the Florida real estate exam for sales associates with a grade of at least 75.  After passing the exam the applicant needs to submit DBPR RE-10 to activate the license.   The fee to take the exam is $105.   Once licensed there are continuing education requirements.  Applicant must complete a 45-hour post-licensing course, within the initial renewal period, prior to the license expiration date.  So the learning process never really stops.

The differences for a real estate broker license in Florida are the applicant must already hold an active sales associate license and have actively completed at least 12 months of real estateexperience during the 5 year period before his or her application. Experience from other states will be accepted.  Also, the applicant is required to have 75 hours of specific Florida real estate courses.   Just like the associate license, broker applicants need to pass the Florida real estate exams with a grade of at least 75. The fee to take the exam is $115 and after passing the exam the applicant needs to submit DBPR RE-10 in order to activate their license. Once licensed, continuing education consisting of 60 classroom hours of specific Florida real estate courses is required before the expiration of the initial broker license.

Florida has mutual recognition, or reciprocity agreements with nine states.  This means if an applicant for a Florida real estate license is already licensed in one of these other states, the applicant may be eligible to waive educational and examination requirements in Florida. All Florida real estate agent forms are available online, as well as all license applications and renewal applications.  There are several Florida real estate schools, making the process of taking real estate courses fairly easy. Distance education is also available online for Florida real estate education courses, and continuing education in Florida, under special circumstances.

After their first license renewal, both Sales Associates and brokers are required to complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years.  You may renew a real estate license in Florida online, or by telephone (850-487-1395). When paying renewal fees you are automatically confirming that you have completed the required education courses. Education Certificates are not sent with renewals.  The fee is $65.00 for a sales associate or the fee is $72.50 for a broker to renew a real estate license in Florida. If you are late renewing there is a $45 late fee.

For more information, please visit: http://www.RealEstateSchoolKB.com