Real estate is an attractive career due to its low barrier to entry, both in terms of the cost of real estate school (approximately $600-$1,000, depending on your school and class format) and the time it takes to get your license, which we’ll explore in this article.
Key Takeaways
- To obtain a Florida real estate license, you must complete a 63-hour pre-licensing course from a state-approved school and pass the license exam with a score of at least 75%.
- While you can start your education at 16, you must be 18 or older to practice real estate in Florida.
- Depending on the course format (in-person, online, self-paced), you can finish the required education in as little as one week, with exam scheduling and processing adding to the timeline.
Whether you want to start your career right out of high school or quickly make a career switch, getting your Florida real estate license can help you achieve your unique career and financial goals.
This article answers the question, “how soon can you get your real estate license in Florida?” Learn how to become a real estate agent as soon as possible.
What Are the Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education Requirements in Florida?
To obtain your Florida real estate license, you first need to complete a 63-hour course from a state-approved real estate school, which will teach you what you need to know to legally (and successfully) practice real estate in Florida. Depending on your learning preferences and schedule flexibility, you can take this course in person, via livestream on a video conferencing platform, or in a self-paced online course.
After completing the course, you’ll need to pass the real estate license exam with a score of at least 75 out of 100. While not required, many students elect to take an exam-prep course that enables them to take practice tests similar to what you’d see on the actual exam. This extra preparedness can help make test day less stressful and increase your chances of passing the exam on the first try.
Learn about the overall costs of getting your license by reading How Much Is a Real Estate License in Florida?
How Early Can You Get Your Florida Real Estate License?
Although the working age in Florida is 14, you must be 18 or older to practice real estate in Florida. However, you can take your pre-licensing courses and the real estate exam before you turn 18. (It’s worth mentioning that you need to pass your real estate exam within two years from the date of course completion, so don’t start your courses too early.)
The only other requirements needed to obtain a Florida real estate license are a social security number and having completed high school or an equivalent level of education (such as a GED). Thus, if you meet these requirements, you can get a real estate license as young as 18.
Can you get your real estate license at 16?
No, in Florida, you must be at least 18 years old to get your real estate license. However, you can begin work on earning your real estate license before turning 18.
How Fast Can You Get Your Florida Real Estate License?
How quickly you can get your Florida real estate license primarily depends on how long it takes you to complete the pre-licensing education and how many times it takes to pass the Florida real estate license exam.
What is the fastest way to get real estate license in Florida? If you go the in-person classroom route, you can complete the course in as little as one week. For those who may have a less flexible schedule and can only attend class on the weekends, it takes approximately one month to complete the course. For those choosing self-paced courses, you could potentially complete your course requirements in less than a week. However, taking the time to learn and digest the information presented in the course and studying for the exam with an exam prep program can help you feel more confident on test day.
Once you complete the 63-hour course, you must schedule your real estate exam. The Florida real estate exam takes approximately three hours to complete. If you don’t pass the exam, you can schedule a retake exam 21 days from your initial test day. If you want to retake the exam before the 21-day exclusion period, you must reach out to the exam protector, Pearson VUE, for special permission.
Lastly, you must account for the time it takes to process your application. This processing timeline can vary depending on how many applications the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has to process.
Ultimately, if you are looking to get your Florida real estate license as soon as possible, you can potentially obtain your license in less than a month.
What Is the Expected Starting Salary for Florida Real Estate Agents?
Since real estate is a commission-based profession, real estate agents typically have no starting or minimum salary. However, this also means that there is no limit to what you can earn. According to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent salary in Florida, based on over 6,800 self-reported salaries, is $94,293, while the average salary for agents with over ten years of experience is $111,539. Thus, the more work experience you have as a real estate agent, the more you can expect to earn.
Many brokerages give new licensees ample support to launch their real estate careers. Some may even offer a base salary in exchange for a lower agent-brokerage commission split (i.e., the brokerage takes a greater percentage of your commission). As you work to get your real estate license, you will want to start researching brokerages in your area that might be a good fit.
What Realistic Goals and Timelines Can You Set for Obtaining a Florida Real Estate License?
Setting realistic goals and timelines for obtaining a Florida real estate license is key to starting your real estate career on the right foot. While getting your Florida real estate license in less than a month is possible, you want to account for unforeseen delays or setbacks, such as longer application processing wait times or not passing the real estate exam on the first attempt.
While you don’t have control over how long it takes to process your application, you can control putting yourself in the best position to pass your exam. Joining a study group, asking questions during your pre-licensing course, and taking advantage of exam prep programs are all ways to set yourself up for success on test day.
Is Becoming a Real Estate Agent Right for You?
Only you can decide if being a real estate agent is right for you. Before you get your license, you might want to chat with agents in your area who can give you the scoop on what it is like to work in real estate.
Moreover, you can get a good idea of what to expect working in real estate during your pre-licensing course. Your instructor will also be a good resource, as they often have decades of experience in the real estate field.
Additionally, Gold Coast Schools hosts monthly career fairs for Gold Coast students, during which you can talk directly with brokerages seeking to hire new licensees.
At the end of the day, the best way to determine if real estate is right for you is to take the plunge and see what it’s like for yourself. But you don’t have to go it alone. Gold Coast Schools is here to support you along your real estate journey. Get started today!
Source:
Real Estate Agent Salary in Florida. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career/real-estate-agent/salaries/FL.