Post-licensing education for sales associates
Passing the state exam is not the end of school. A new sales associate must also complete a post-licensing course to keep the license.
Hours and deadline
Under Fla. Stat. 475.17(3)(a), the commission can require post-licensing education of up to 45 classroom hours, including the end-of-course exam, and it must be completed before the first renewal following initial licensure. Rule 61J2-3.020(1)(a) sets the sales associate requirement at one or more approved courses totaling no more than 45 hours, with each course at least 15 hours long.
A "classroom hour" in Florida real estate education is 50 minutes of instruction, not counting breaks (61J2-3.020(1)(c)).
Under 61J2-3.020(4) and (6), you pass by scoring 75% or higher on the course exam and missing no more than 10% of the instruction.
Missing the deadline
This is the part the exam loves. If a sales associate does not finish post-licensing before the first renewal, the license is null and void (475.17(3)(c)). It does not go inactive and it cannot be reactivated. To practice again, the person must requalify: take the sales associate pre-licensing course again and pass the state exam again.
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| Post-licensing finished before first renewal | Renew normally |
| Post-licensing not finished, no extension | License null and void; start over |
| Physical hardship, approved by FREC | Up to 6 extra months after the first renewal |
Exceptions
- Physical hardship. FREC may allow an extra 6 months after the first renewal for someone who cannot finish because of individual physical hardship, as defined by rule (475.17(5)(a); 61J2-3.020(9)). The request must be in writing with supporting statements.
- Real estate degree. Someone with a 4-year degree or higher in real estate from an accredited institution is exempt from both pre-licensing and post-licensing course requirements (475.17(6)). A degree in some other field does not qualify.
Post-licensing takes the place of continuing education for the first renewal. The 14-hour continuing education requirement starts with the second renewal (next lesson).