Florida real estate exam requirements and format

Last reviewed: November 2026

To take the Florida real estate sales associate exam you must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, finish a Florida-approved 63-hour course, apply to DBPR, submit fingerprints, and get approved. You then book the exam with Pearson VUE and take it in person at a test center.

The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, you get 3.5 hours, and you need 75 correct to pass. The rest of this page covers each step, with the source for every rule.

Short answer

Florida real estate license requirements

Under s. 475.17(1)(a), F.S., an applicant must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• hold a high school diploma or its equivalent;
• be honest, truthful, trustworthy and of good character, with a good reputation for fair dealing.

If a license was revoked or suspended elsewhere, or you engaged in conduct that would be grounds for discipline, you are deemed not qualified unless FREC finds that, given time passed and later good conduct, the public is not likely to be endangered (s. 475.17(1)(a), F.S.).

The 63-hour prelicense course

• The course is at most 63 classroom hours of 50 minutes each, including the course exam (s. 475.17(2)(a)1., F.S.).
• No completion notice is issued if you miss more than 8 classroom hours (same section).
• Online (distance learning) courses are allowed and end with a timed course exam (s. 475.17(2)(a)2., F.S.).
• Completion is valid for 2 years. An expired course is not accepted at the test center (s. 475.181(2), F.S.; DBPR candidate information booklet).
• A 4-year degree or higher in real estate exempts you from the course (s. 475.17(6), F.S.).

How to apply for the Florida real estate exam

1. Submit the application to DBPR. Use DBPR Online Services or the printable form RE 1 and pay the fee. You don't need the course certificate to apply; you show it at the exam (form RE 1; s. 475.175(1)(b), F.S.).
2. Get fingerprinted right after you apply. Use an FDLE-registered Livescan provider and give them DBPR's ORI number. Results usually reach DBPR in two to four days (DBPR Fingerprinting FAQ).
3. Finish the course. Keep your Certificate of Pre-licensing Education Completion; you must show it at the test center.
4. Wait for approval. You can schedule the exam within 72 hours after DBPR approves your application (DBPR Examination Information page).
5. Book the exam with Pearson VUE.

Watch the clock: the application expires 2 years after DBPR receives it if you haven't passed the exam (s. 475.181(2), F.S.). Fees are covered on our Florida real estate exam cost page.

Pearson VUE: scheduling the Florida real estate exam

• Book online at Pearson VUE or by phone at 1-888-204-6289 (DBPR booklet).
• Appointments can be made up to one calendar day before the test date, subject to availability (Pearson VUE Florida page).
• You pay when you schedule (DBPR Examination Information page). Pearson VUE's Florida candidate fact sheet adds that walk-in testing is not permitted and payment is not accepted at the test center.
• To cancel or reschedule without penalty, do it two full calendar days before the appointment (Pearson VUE Florida page).

Can you take the Florida real estate exam online?

No. Pearson VUE's Florida page states that all DBPR candidates must test in a physical test center. Only the prelicense course can be taken online.

Florida real estate exam dates and locations

There is no fixed statewide exam date. You choose a date and center when you book, based on open seats. Use Pearson VUE's "Find a test center" tool for current locations.

What to bring on exam day

• Two forms of valid signature ID, one of them government-issued: driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID. Student IDs, employee IDs and photo credit cards are not accepted. Name and address must match your application.
• Your course completion certificate, every time you test. If you mailed the original to DBPR, bring a photocopy. Without it you won't be admitted.
• A calculator (optional). It must be silent, hand-held, battery-operated, nonprinting, and without an alphabetic keypad. Financial calculators like the HP 12 or TI BA series are allowed.

You can't take briefcases, large bags, study materials, books or papers into the testing room. Arrive 30 minutes early. You get up to 15 minutes for a computer tutorial, which doesn't count against exam time. (All from the DBPR candidate information booklet.)

What's on the exam

The exam covers real estate principles, practice, law and math under Chapter 475, Part I, F.S. and Chapter 61J2, F.A.C. Questions fall into 19 content areas. The biggest are Brokerage Activities (12%), Real Estate Contracts (12%), Residential Mortgages (9%), Property Rights (8%) and Appraisal (8%). The full weight table is on our how to pass page.

The exam may include a few unscored "pilot" questions. They are not marked, and extra time is given for them.

Scoring, results and retakes

• All questions carry equal weight. 75 or higher passes.
• You get an official, photo-bearing result report right after the exam.
• If you fail, you may review only the questions you missed on your most recent attempt. Request the review within 21 days of the exam.
• If you want to retake within 21 days after a review, Pearson VUE requires you to call customer service for an override (Pearson VUE Florida page).
• Each retake requires a new exam fee (DBPR candidate information booklet).

After you pass

The result report tells you the next licensing step. To keep the license you must complete 45 hours of post-licensing education before the first renewal (s. 475.17(3)(a), F.S.). After that, you need 14 hours of continuing education each renewal period (s. 475.182(1), F.S.).

Practice in the same format

Our free Florida practice test has 50 questions spread across the exam outline, with an explanation and statute citation for each answer. When you're ready for full 100-question timed exams, see the paid question bank.

Real Estate Drill is an independent study tool. We are not affiliated with FREC, DBPR or Pearson VUE.