Licensing & state law

How to become a real estate agent in Florida

To get a Florida real estate salesperson license you complete 63 hours of state-approved pre-license education, pass the Pearson VUE-administered exam, clear a background check and affiliate with a sponsoring broker. The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) sets the rules and issues the license.

What are the requirements for a Florida real estate license?

Florida requires 63 hours of approved pre-license education, a passing score on the Pearson VUE salesperson exam, a background check and sponsorship by a licensed broker. The table lists each requirement, the published fees WealthyBud could source and the regulator.

Florida real estate license facts
RequirementFlorida
Pre-license education63 hours
Exam administratorPearson VUE
License / application feen/a
Exam feen/a
RegulatorFlorida Real Estate Commission (FREC)
Payroll-employed agents (BLS)26,790
Agent median pay (BLS May 2025)$49,310

What are the steps to get licensed in Florida?

Getting licensed in Florida takes six steps: meet eligibility, finish 63 hours of pre-license education, pass the Pearson VUE exam, clear a background check, affiliate with a sponsoring broker, then apply and activate with the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).

1/ 6

Meet the basic eligibility

Be at least 18 and hold a high-school diploma or equivalent; the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) lists any residency or other conditions.

2/ 6

Complete 63 hours of pre-license education

Florida requires 63 hours from a state-approved real estate school, in a classroom or online.

3/ 6

Pass the Florida salesperson exam

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE and covers national real estate principles plus Florida law.

4/ 6

Clear the background check

Submit fingerprints or a criminal-history check as required by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).

5/ 6

Affiliate with a sponsoring broker

A new Florida salesperson must work under a licensed broker before practicing.

6/ 6

Apply and activate the license

File the application and pay the license fee to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), then activate under your broker.

How much does a Florida real estate license cost?

Florida's published costs in WealthyBud's sources are: license fee: n/a (not published in our sources); exam fee: n/a. Pre-license course tuition is set by each school and is not regulated, so it is not listed. Confirm every fee with the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) before applying.

How much do licensed agents earn in Florida?

Payroll-employed real estate sales agents in Florida earned a median of $49,310 in May 2025 (BLS); the bottom 10% earned under $31,190. See the full Florida agent salary breakdown.

What are Florida’s housing markets like for new agents?

WealthyBud tracks 31 Florida housing markets. Their median listing prices have a midpoint of $379,000 as of September 2026, from $284,950 in Sebring to $1.28M in Boca Raton; 25 of 31 are below last year's asking price.

Largest tracked Florida housing markets by active listings — September 2026
MarketMedian list priceYoYDays on marketActive listings
Miami, FL$490,000-2.0%8541,277
Fort Lauderdale, FL$490,000-2.0%8541,277
Tampa, FL$385,398-6.6%7617,965
Orlando, FL$410,000-2.5%7713,869
Palm Beach, FL$472,000-2.7%799,942

All tracked markets: Florida housing market hub.

Florida real estate license FAQ

How many hours of education do you need for a real estate license in Florida?
Florida requires 63 hours of state-approved pre-license education before the salesperson exam, according to WealthyBud's compilation of Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) requirements.
How much does a Florida real estate license cost?
Published fees in WealthyBud's sources: license fee: n/a (not published in our sources); exam fee: n/a. Course tuition varies by school. The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) publishes the current fee schedule.
Who administers the Florida real estate exam?
Pearson VUE administers the Florida salesperson exam.
Do you need a college degree to get a real estate license in Florida?
No. Florida requires pre-license education and a passing exam score, not a college degree. You must generally be 18 with a high-school diploma or equivalent.
Who regulates real estate agents in Florida?
The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) licenses and regulates Florida real estate salespersons and brokers and is the authoritative source for current rules.
Licensing rules and fees change. Always confirm current requirements with the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) before enrolling.

Naomi Whitfield Real Estate Data Analyst

Naomi Whitfield is a real estate data analyst who builds metro-level price, inventory and days-on-market datasets from public MLS aggregates and county records. She reviews WealthyBud's market pages for data accuracy before they publish.

Editorial persona: WealthyBud bylines are editorial personas, not real individuals. Pages are produced by the WealthyBud research team from the public data cited on each page.