As a Florida real estate licensee, you will never need to take a 28-hour reactivation course so long as you complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years prior to your specific March 31st or September 30th renewal deadline. However, things happen and you may find yourself in a situation where your license has become involuntarily inactive and you want to make it active again. This article will let you know the timeframes and process for doing so to avoid having your license become null & void forcing you to start over from the beginning.
For more information about how to check your license status with the State of Florida, read our article “How to Verify a Florida Real Estate License Renewal Date”
Your first license renewal:
You obtained your Florida real estate license and know that by the first expiration date, you must complete a license renewal course. The education requirement for the first renewal is called post-license education and is extremely important because failing to complete it will automatically make your license null & void. Learn more about post-license education in this article, “Florida Sales Associate and Broker Post-license Education Explained”.
Your second license renewal:
Based on your first renewal deadline, either March 31st or September 30th, you will now need to complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years for your second and all subsequent renewals. Remember, renewing your license is a two-step process: 1) complete your continuing education and 2) pay your DBPR renewal fee.
What happens if I don’t fulfill my continuing education during the required 2-year window?
Your real estate license will automatically become involuntary inactive and you will not be able to practice real estate. Remember, you can complete your education requirement at any time during your 2-year renewal cycle. You can also pay your renewal fee at any time, but it’s best to wait until you receive your renewal invoice from the DBPR. Invoices are sent to licensees approximately 60 days before their renewal date and even if you renew early, your renewal date will not be extended on the DBPR website until your cycle ends.
Can I have my license returned to active status?
Yes, depending upon the timeframe. If your license has been involuntary inactive for 1-12 months, you simply need to complete 14 hours of continuing education and pay an additional late fee. If your license has been involuntary inactive for 13-24 months, you must complete a 28-hour reactivation course and pay a late renewal fee. Gold Coast offers this course both in class and online for your convenience.
What if my license is involuntary inactive for more than 24 months?
Unfortunately, at this point your real estate license is null & void. Sales associates must retake the sales associate pre-license class and pass the state exam again in order to obtain an active license. If a broker allowed his or her license to remain involuntarily inactive for 24 months or more, the license would also become null and void. The (former) broker would have to start again with the sales associate course.
More information:
For more information about 28-hour reactivation, 14-hour continuing education, or any other Florida real estate course or education requirement, contact Gold Coast Schools at 1-800-732-9140. A helpful Career Counselor is available to assist you.