With the recent population growth in Florida, the real estate market has been surging. Those with a Florida real estate license are making the most of this impressive growth!
Thinking about becoming a Florida real estate agent and taking advantage of the real estate boom? Here’s everything you need to know about how long your Florida real estate license will last and what is required to renew your license.
How Long Does a Florida Real Estate License Last?
Generally speaking, your Florida real estate license is good for 24 months. However, your first renewal period is treated differently.
Your first renewal period can be as little as 18 months and as long as 24 months. Renewal periods after your first successful renewal will always be 24 months.
Florida Real Estate Course Requirements for Renewals
Your pre-license Florida real estate course is just the beginning of your real estate education. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) requires you to complete additional Florida real estate courses to renew your license.
Your First Renewal Period
During your first renewal period, you need to complete 45-hours of post-licensure courses, which cover topics like:
Ethics
Law
Valuation
Contracts
Financing
Property management
The actual topics can vary slightly from one real estate school to the next, but as long as the courses are approved by DBPR, they'll count toward your renewal requirements.
Subsequent Renewal Periods
During each subsequent renewal period, you’ll need to complete 14 hours of Florida real estate courses (also known as continuing education). These include:
Three hours of legal updates
Three hours of ethics and business practices
Eight hours of specialty credits (also referred to as elective courses)
When to Enroll in Your Post-License and Continuing Education Courses
Completing your post-license and continuing education courses on time is critical. If you don't complete your courses within your renewal period, your real estate license will expire. You won't be able to practice real estate until you complete your courses and the renewal process.
The DBPR does not extend renewal deadlines for incomplete real estate coursework. We recommend enrolling in your post-license and continuing education courses three to six months before your license expiration date. This should give you plenty of time to complete the coursework, pass the course test, and submit your completion records to the DBPR. It can take the DBPR a week or two to review your proof of course completion.
How to Enroll in Real Estate Courses for Your Florida Real Estate License Renewal
Any state-approved real estate school can offer a Florida real estate course online. Each course must be approved by the DBPR before being offered to students.
You can use the DBPR’s Continuing Education Course Search to find a qualified course provider. It lists both 45-hour post-licensure courses and 14-hour continuing education courses. Most schools will allow you to enroll online, and many give the option of enrolling by phone as well.
How to Renew a Florida Real Estate License
Once your real estate courses are complete, the hard part of renewing your Florida real estate license is over. From there, you simply need to renew your Florida real estate license online via the DBPR portal.
You can start on the path to getting your Florida real estate license today by enrolling in your Florida real estate course. Don’t wait another day to launch your new career!