Are you looking for a Florida school to help you earn your real estate license? RISMedia’s Rookie of the Year finalist, Sasha Valdes, was living in Colorado when she purchased Gold Coast School’s online prelicensing classes. At that time, Valdes was the mother of a newborn and one-year-old who planned a move to South Florida. She completed her required courses online, moved to Florida, passed the licensing exam, and started her real estate career in a matter of a few months.
“Gold Coast is a phenomenal company, and they’re phenomenal in person,” Sasha Valdes said. “When I went to visit them and told them I got certified online, they greeted me with the biggest, warmest smile, as if I had been walking through their doors day in and day out.”
We asked Jose Rodriguez, Education Manager for Gold Coast Schools and 20-year real estate veteran, how he and other Gold Coast instructors help agents like Valdes succeed in the industry. Here are some of the insights Rodriguez shared with us.
Gold Coast Schools helps students pass the real estate licensing exam.
“As instructors, we focus on helping our students pass the real estate exam,” Rodriguez said.
Passing the Florida salesperson exam is a crucial part of the licensing process, which also includes pre-licensing coursework, a background check, and finding a brokerage to oversee your transactions.
Valdes moved to Florida in February, passed her real estate exam in March, and was fully licensed and placed at a real estate brokerage by April.
“It was so easy. I took the exam, and I passed it on the first try. So, thank you, Gold Coast! They did a phenomenal job with training,” Valdes said.
Rodriguez recommends taking the licensing exam within 30 days of finishing the pre-licensing course, similar to how Vales completed the licensing process. However, some students wait to complete this milestone. One of the benefits of enrolling in Gold Coast for real estate school is that you can access all the content included with your package for two years.
Gold Coast Schools helps you discover different career opportunities within the real estate industry.
When some people go into real estate focused on full-time residential sales, Rodriguez reminds his students that there’s more than one way to make money in the industry. For example, some property management tasks require a real estate license.
Additionally, Gold Coast Schools offers a Community Association Manager (CAM) license course. A CAM oversees the daily operations of homeowner associations (HOAs) and condominium communities, managing finances, maintenance, compliance, and resident relations.
Rodriguez also reminds his students there’s nothing wrong with working part-time in real estate. “Plenty of new licensees do two or three transactions per year, and they’re fine with that. They have a full-time job, and that’s all they want from their real estate license. That’s fantastic. If I can help them succeed and achieve their goals, that’s perfect.”
Having additional income streams helps real estate agents make it through tough times in the industry. Learn more about the housing market in 2025 as you consider a real estate career.
Gold Coast Schools helps you find the right brokerage.
One of the requirements of working as a real estate agent is that you must work under the supervision of a brokerage. The choice of a brokerage is critical, and Rodriguez recommends to his students that they interview four small and four large brokerages before making a decision.
Rodriguez also provides a list of questions to his students who are interviewing brokerages, which include the following:
- What kind of training and support can new sales associates expect from your firm?
- Who can I contact if I have a question about putting together an offer/listing agreement?
- What fees or services might I be responsible for outside of a transaction? (Desk fees, etc.)
Gold Coast Schools also hosts Career Fairs and invites companies looking to hire new licensees.
There are many choices that you must make as someone interested in a real estate career. Carefully consider your options when choosing a real estate school and brokerage. However, Rodriguez likes to remind his students that the good thing about working in real estate is that your success “depends on you.”
Are you excited to get started in real estate, an industry that allows you to be in control of your career, income potential, and professional growth? Gold Coast Schools provides the pre-licensing courses, support, and resources you need to pass your exam and get started in the real estate industry.
Ready to launch your real estate career with expert guidance? Join thousands of successful agents—enroll in Gold Coast Schools today!