Becoming a real estate agent in Florida is a lucrative job that will expose you to more opportunities in the property business. However, to practice realty in Florida, you must acquire a real estate license from an accredited school. Like any profession, getting a real estate license comes with associated costs.
The good thing is that you have the option of attending online classes, which makes the program affordable for many people. In this article, we look at the various steps involved and the total cost of a real estate license in Florida.
Pre-Licensing Education
Completing your pre-licensing coursework is the first step toward becoming a licensed realtor in Florida. The 63-hour-long coursework is offered by real estate schools approved by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC). Pre-licensing education can cost $200-500 depending on the school.
Ensure that the school is accredited by the relevant body before registering and paying for the lessons. Also, read reviews from past students to see if the school is worth the money. While you’re at it, consider things like course content, flexible lesson plans, and availability of practice tests.
State Exam Fees
After you are done, the next step is sitting for the Florida real estate licensing exam. The Florida real estate license exam fee is around $36.75. However, we recommend visiting the Florida Real Estate Commission website for any updates on the exam fee.
The exam is offered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Florida Real Estate Commission. You can take the exam online from your home or office on Pearson VUE’s website. This is a plus as it allows you to save the cash you would have spent traveling to the exam center.
License Application Fees
If you have passed the state exam, the next step is submitting your license application to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Florida real estate license costs between $83.75 and $105. This fee is subject to change, and you can find more info on the official website.
During this stage, you must submit your fingerprints for the state to run a background check. You have to pay for fingerprint collection and submission.
Continuing Education
Realtors in Florida are required to take continuing education courses to maintain an active real estate license. The extra classes involve 14-17 hours of coursework related to changing trends in the real estate industry. The cost of the lessons will vary depending on the course and the institution offering it.
Other things like paid seminars and webinars will also add to your Florida real estate license cost. The webinars will also earn you CPD points, improving your professional repertoire.
Wrapping Up
Obtaining a real estate license in Florida involves several costs, including education fees, exam fees, application fees, background checks, and ongoing education requirements. A budget of around $1000-1500 can cater for all real estate license in Florida costs.
We recommend taking online classes as they are cheaper and more flexible. In addition, you don’t have to worry about extra expenses such as traveling, as you can learn from anywhere.