Florida Real Estate License Requirements (FREC)
The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) requires 63 hours of pre-licensing education. Florida is known for its high reciprocity (Mutual Recognition) with other states.
The Pre-Licensing Requirement (63 Hours)
Florida has one of the shortest pre-licensing requirements in the country. You must complete a single 63-hour course (FREC Course I) from an approved provider.
Note on the Course Final Exam: To pass the 63-hour course and get your certificate of completion, you must pass the course's final exam with a score of 70% or higher. If you fail the course exam, Florida law requires you to wait 30 days before you can try again.
The Application Pipeline
- Submit your application to the DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation). Fee: $83.75.
- Get electronic fingerprints taken through a Florida-approved Live Scan vendor.
- Wait for application approval (usually 10-30 days).
- Once approved, schedule your state exam with Pearson VUE.
Exam Structure
- Format: 100 multiple-choice questions (45 real estate principles, 45 Florida state laws, 10 math questions).
- Time Limit: 3.5 hours.
- Passing Score: 75% (75 correct answers).
- Cost: $36.75 per attempt.
Mutual Recognition Agreements
If you hold an active real estate license in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Nebraska, or Rhode Island, you do not have to take the 63-hour course or the national portion of the exam. You only have to pass a 40-question Florida State Law exam.
Post-Licensing Trap
Florida has a strict post-licensing requirement. You must complete a 45-hour post-licensing course before your initial license expires (18 to 24 months after issue). If you fail to complete this, your license becomes null and void, and you must start the entire process over from scratch.