Pre and Post Licensing Requirements

 If you have a high school diploma, your Florida real estate career begins with a 63-hour classroom-format salesperson pre-license course, its final exam, and then the state's real estate salesperson license exam.

Then there's a salesperson 45-hour classroom post-license course to be competed within two years after obtaining the salesperson license.  After you've done the salesperson post-license course and been licensed for at least 12 months, you can take the state's classroom-format broker pre-license course, its final exam, and then the state's real estate broker license exam. Then there's a broker 60-hour classroom post-license course to be competed within two years.

Are you a member of The Florida Bar?

If you are approved to practice law in Florida, you are exempt from the pre-license education requirement.  You may take the salesperson's examination by affixing a copy of your current Bar card to the examination application.  Any active member in good standing with The Florida Bar and who is otherwise qualified under the real estate license law is exempt from the continuing education requirements for real estate licensees.

Do you have a bachelor or higher degree with a major emphasis in real estate?

If you have a bachelor or higher degree with a major emphasis in real estate, you are exempt from the pre-license and post-license education requirement.

Who is allowed to offer the pre-license courses?

These Commission-prescribed courses may be offered by accredited universities, colleges, community colleges and area technical centers in this state or by real estate schools pursuant to s. 475.451, Florida Statutes

Can I take a number of "specialty" continuing education courses until they add up to 45 or 60 hours to fulfill the post-licensing requirements for salespersons or brokers?

NO. Post-license courses for brokers and salespersons are specifically approved for that purpose and are designed to build on the academic body of knowledge acquired during the pre-licensing education courses. A salesperson's or broker's license is provisional until the completion of the post-license education requirement.

Can I fulfill the post-licensing requirements for brokers or salespersons by taking a correspondence course?

NO. Post-license courses consist of 45 classroom hours of instruction with an exam for salespersons, and 60 classroom hours of instruction with an exam for brokers. A passing grade of 75% is required on the end of course examination. Notice of satisfactory completion shall only be issued to any student attending a minimum of 90% of the classroom hours for each course.

If I fail the salesperson's post-license course exam, can I re-take the exam?

Yes. Effective July 23, 2000, students failing a post-licensing education end of course examination must wait at least thirty days but no more than one year from the date of the original examination to retake the examination. Only one retake is permitted. Otherwise, students who fail the end of course post-licensing examination must repeat the course before being eligible to again take the course examination.

If I miss a post-licensing session due to illness or a family members' illness, can I make up the missed sessions?

Yes. Make-up classes to enable a student to take the prescribed end of course examination due the student of family illness may not extend more than 30 days beyond the class scheduled end of course examination without approval of the Commission. Make-up classes must be the classes missed by the student and must consist of the original Commission-prescribed course material

What happens if I do not complete the salesperson's 45-hour post-license education requirement before the expiration of my initial salesman's license?

Your license becomes void, and you have to retake the pre-license course, pass its exam, and retake the state exam. In effect, you have to start from scratch.

What happens if I do not complete the broker's 60-hour post-license education requirement before the expiration of my initial broker's license?

Your license reverts to a salesperson's license.

What are the continuing education requirements for an active or inactive broker licensee?

A minimum of 14 hours of commission-approved classroom instruction during each license renewal period (excluding the first renewal period of your current license when 60 hours of post-license education is required.)

A minimum of three of the fourteen required hours must consist of the commission-prescribed Core Law. The other 11 hours may consist of "specialty" courses on real estate practices approved by the Commission. A licensee who takes the 3-hour Core Law course in each year of the renewal period shall be allowed a total of 6 hours toward the 14-hour requirement. In such event, the "specialty" course hours need total only 8 hours.

Can the 14-hour continuing education requirement by fulfilled by correspondence course?

Yes. A Commission-approved equivalent correspondence course or other Commission-approved forms of distance learning may substitute for live instruction.

What are the continuing education requirements for an active or inactive salesperson licensee?

A minimum of 14 hours of commission-approved classroom instruction during each license renewal period (excluding the first renewal period of your current license when 45-hours of post-license education is required).

A minimum of three of the fourteen required hours must consist of the commission-prescribed Core Law. The other 11 hours may consist of "specialty" courses on real estate practices approved by the Commission. A licensee who takes the 3-hour Core Law course in each year of the renewal period shall be allowed a total of 6 hours toward the 14-hour requirement. In such event, the "specialty" course hours need total only 8 hours.

Can the 14-hour continuing education requirement by fulfilled by correspondence course?

Yes. A Commission-approved equivalent correspondence course or other Commission-approved forms of distance learning may substitute for live instruction.

Did you know?

A licensee can earn 3 of the required 11 continuing education hours in the "specialty" area by attending a meeting of the Florida Real Estate Commission where disciplinary cases are considered. Licensees must attend the entire day of hearings to earn the credit.  Seven days advance notice must be given to the Education Section of the Division of Real Estate so attendance may be monitored.  However, if you are a party to one of the cases, you're out of luck!

License Reactivation

If you hold an involuntarily inactive license, make sure you complete the reactivation education within two years of the first day you failed to hold a valid and active license.  After the second year, the broker's or salesperson's right to reactivate automatically expires.

If time elapsed is less than one year, the reactivation requirement can be fulfilled by satisfactorily completing 14 hours of continuing education as described in Rule 61J2-3.009.

If time elapsed is more than 12 months but less than 24 months, the requirement is 28 hours of prescribed classroom hours of the prerequisite course for licensure as a salesperson. The subjects emphasized are real estate law and license law, and a 70% grade on the quiz is required to pass.