What are the factors that typically make up a dream job? While the parameters might vary between people, some things are common. Having the option to set your work schedules and being your own boss tops the list. Having a perfect work-life balance follows closely.
The icing on the cake is if you can have all these benefits while earning six figures. Sounds absurd? Yes, you can make it happen if you are a real estate Sales Associate in Florida.
To launch your career in this niche, your first goal must be to get a Florida real estate license. This is mandated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The law says that any person selling, buying, renting, or leasing real estate properties in Florida on behalf of others and getting paid for it must have a real estate license.
In this post, we will go through the various steps to get a Florida real estate license and launch a very lucrative career. Though the entry-level designation in the industry in Florida is Sales Associate, we will refer to it as a real estate agent for brevity.
Step 1: Completing The Basics
Before being eligible to apply for a real estate license in Florida, ensure that you are at least 18 years old. You may complete other formalities like going through the pre-licensing coursework before you turn 18 but you must attain this benchmark on the date of applying for a Florida real estate license.
You must also be a citizen of the USA with a high school diploma or an equivalent educational qualification such as a GED. Legally admitted aliens with working rights in the country may also apply for a real estate license in Florida.
Step 2: Going Through the Pre-Licensing Coursework
This step is critical to getting a real estate license in the state since it imparts knowledge about the various aspects of the real estate sector which will help you offer superior and error-free services to your clients in the future. The following subjects are covered in the pre-licensing coursework.
- Florida license and state laws
- Real Estate contracts and closing
- Real estate ethics
- Real estate marketing
- Property management
- Real estate finance
- Industry rules and violations
- Foreclosures
How to Choose A Florida Real Estate Course
The course duration is 63 hours and you can go through it at your own pace. However, this is possible only if you choose an online course over the conventional classroom-based one.
Online courses offer the flexibility of any time study from any location as they can be downloaded onto any Internet-enabled device without compromising your normal life routines. Further, you do not have to waste time commuting from physical classes in real estate schools. Additionally, the cost of online courses is generally much lower than classroom-based courses.
While selecting a course provider, ensure that they are on the approved list of DBPR. This is important as otherwise, your 63 hours of studies and hard work will not be counted as having completed the 63-hour study norm to appear for the licensing exam. To be doubly sure, visit the DBPR portal and check the list of approved pre-licensing course providers in Florida.
Among the leading pre-licensing course providers in Florida is RealEstateU. Their study materials are of the highest quality as they are designed by top real estate professionals. Even then, the courses are among the lowest-priced in this niche. The benefit of RealEstateU course packages is that they have mock tests and practice questions. By going through them, you have a fair idea of the type and format of the questions in the licensing exam.
Step 3: Submitting Fingerprints For Background Check
Real estate agents handle deals of substantial worth, even millions. Hence, they are expected to have high moral standards, ethics, and financial integrity, and what better way to verify it than checking fingerprints for past criminal records or an act of felony? An adverse fingerprint scan record might nullify your application for a Florida real estate license.
Submit your fingerprints to DBPR through a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) approved Livescan Service Provider. The scanned fingerprint images will be sent by the Provider to FDLE using an Originating Agency Identification (ORI) number which is FL920010Z for real estate Sales Associates and Brokers.
Step 4: Scheduling the Licensing Exam And Passing It
Visit the DBPR portal and apply for a Florida real estate license. With the real estate application ID number, schedule the licensing exam on a suitable date. Even though the licensing exam is held online, you must appear physically at a designated center.
The test has 100 multiple-choice questions to be answered in three and a half hours. The pass grade is 75% and the result in pass/fail format will be announced soon after the test is over. An official email will be sent with the result in 2 to 3 weeks by DBPR.
Step 5: Applying For A Florida Real Estate License
Visit the DBPR portal and apply for a Florida real estate license. Upload proof of completing the 63 hours of coursework, passing the licensing exam, and the Fingerprint Clearance Certificate. You will now be awarded a provisional license but not allowed to practice as a real estate agent.
Step 6: Finding a Licensed Broker To Sponsor You
Find a licensed broker to sponsor you. This is necessary as the infrastructure provided will help you launch your trade. The broker will also teach you the practical aspects of the real estate sector and provide referrals too.
Inform DBPR about your employment status. Your provisional license will now be converted into an active one to start your practice.
