Sales Associates and Brokers are required to complete post-license education for their first license renewal. Sales Associates need 45 hours and Brokers need 60 hours. The course subject matters are specified by FREC and courses must be approved by FREC for licensees to earn credit. Licensees must successfully complete the post-license education prior to their first license expiration. Licensees are divided into four renewal cycles over two; license expiration dates are March 31 and September 30 of even and odd years.
Licensees must pay their license renewal fee and attest to successful completion of their continuing education requirements prior to their license expiration date.
Subsequent License Renewals
Sales Associates and Brokers must complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years after their first license renewal. The education must include 3 hours of Core Law, an update on Florida real estate license laws and rules.
Licensees must pay their license renewal fee and attest to successful completion of their continuing education requirements prior to their license expiration date.
Late Renewal
Alicensee who fails to complete the 14 hours of continuing education will become involuntary inactive. If a licensee has been involuntary inactive for 12 months or less, the licensee may activate by completing the 14 hours of continuing education. A licensee may reactivate a license which has been involuntary inactive for more than 12 months but less than 24 months, by satisfactorily completing 28 hours of Commission-prescribed education course for licensure as a sales associate (Rule 61J2-3.008). An individual may remain involuntary inactive for only two years. At the end of the two-year period, the license will be null and void.
Exemptions from Education Requirements
An active member in good standing with the Florida Bar and who is otherwise qualified under the real estate license law is exempt from the continuing education requirements (61J2-3.009, F.A.C.).
Any licensee who has received a four-year degree in real estate from an accredited institution of higher education is exempt from the post-license education requirements (61J2-3.020, F.A.C.).
The pre-license and post-license education requirement for a Sales Associate or Broker is waived for any individual who has obtained a degree with a major in real estate as long as licensure is obtained within five years of obtaining such degree (61J2-3.012, F.A.C.).
Mutual recognition allows the FREC to enter into written agreements with similar licensing authorities. Such agreements allow nonresidents of Florida to complete a 40-question examination on Florida real estate license law with no pre-license course requirement. Applicable post-license education is still required (Chapter 475.180, F.S.; 61J2-26.001, F.A.C.).
North Carolina
All NC licensees must pay renewal fees by June 30th of each year. These fees can be paid online at www.ncrec.state.nc.us. Students who do not pay the appropriate fee will have an expired license.
In addition, NC licensees who wish to maintain their active status must take 8 hours of approved continuing education courses each license year. The 8 hours is comprised of two courses: one 4-hour update (which must be taken in a classroom) and one 4-hour elective (which can be taken online or in a classroom). Students must complete their continuing education requirement by June 10th of every year.
Students who do not fulfill this requirement will be placed on inactive status. For more information, go to www.ncrec.state.nc.us.
