How to Get Your Real Estate License in Florida or Ohio
By Eric + Katelyn Gross · Updated
To become a real estate agent in Florida, you complete a 63-hour pre-license course, apply to the state with fingerprints, pass the state exam and activate your license with a broker. In Ohio, you complete 100 hours of college-level pre-license courses, apply with a sponsoring broker and a background check, and pass the state exam. Most people spend a few hundred dollars to get licensed in Florida and about $1,100 to $1,500 in Ohio.
We're Eric and Katelyn Gross, REALTORS® with eXp Realty in Florida and Ohio. People ask us all the time how to get started, so we put everything in one place: the steps, what it really costs, the schools we recommend, what happens after you pass, and how to choose where to hang your license.
We check these requirements against the official state sources, but rules and fees change. Before you pay for anything, confirm the current details with the Florida Real Estate Commission or the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.
Is a Real Estate Career Right for You?
Real estate can be a great career, and we want you to go in with clear eyes:
- You run your own business. Most agents are independent contractors. You set your schedule, but you're also responsible for finding clients, your own taxes and your business expenses.
- Income isn't guaranteed. Agents are usually paid by commission when a sale closes. What you earn depends on your effort, your market and many other factors, and the first few months are often spent building relationships before your first closing.
- There are startup costs. Beyond the license itself, plan for association dues, MLS access and marketing (see the cost table below).
- The people side matters most. If you like helping people through big decisions, can stay organized and don't mind evenings or weekends sometimes, you'll likely enjoy it.
The Requirements at a Glance
| Florida (sales associate) | Ohio (salesperson) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 or older | 18 or older |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Pre-license course | 63 hours (FREC-approved Course I), valid for 2 years after you finish | 100 hours: Principles and Practices (40), Ohio Real Estate Law (40), Appraisal (10), Finance (10), from a college that awards at least a two-year degree |
| Background check | Electronic fingerprints | State (BCI) and FBI background checks |
| Sponsoring broker | Not needed to apply; needed to activate your license | Needed when you apply for the exam |
| State exam | Pearson VUE; passing score 75 | PSI; state and national portions; passing score 70 on each |
| After you're licensed | 45-hour post-license course before your first renewal | 20-hour post-licensing course within 12 months |
| Continuing education | 14 hours every 2 years after your first renewal | 30 hours every 3 years |
Florida, Step by Step
- Take the 63-hour pre-license course. Choose a FREC-approved school, online or in person, and pass the course's final exam.
- Apply to the state. Submit your sales associate application and fee through the DBPR (MyFloridaLicense.com).
- Get fingerprinted. Use a Florida-approved fingerprint vendor so your results go straight to the DBPR.
- Pass the state exam. Once your application is approved, schedule the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate exam with Pearson VUE. You need a 75 to pass.
- Activate your license with a broker. Your license is issued as inactive until a Florida broker activates you. You can't practice real estate until it's active.
- Finish your 45-hour post-license course before your first license renewal, or your license becomes null and void.
Ohio, Step by Step
- Take the 100 hours of pre-license courses. Ohio requires these courses to come from a college or university that grants at least a two-year degree, which is why schools like Hondros College are common choices.
- Choose your sponsoring broker. In Ohio, a broker signs your exam application, so it pays to interview brokerages while you're in class.
- Complete your background checks. Ohio requires both a state (BCI) and an FBI background check. Instructions are on the exam application.
- Apply to take the exam. Submit the Salesperson Examination Application, the fee and proof of your coursework to the Ohio Division of Real Estate.
- Pass the state exam. PSI will email you instructions to schedule. You need a 70 on both the state and national portions.
- Complete your 20-hour post-licensing course within 12 months of getting your license, or the license is suspended.
Estimated Costs to Get Licensed
| Cost | Florida | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license course | About $100 to $450, depending on school and package | About $900 to $1,300 online, depending on school and package |
| State application | About $63 to $84 | $81 |
| Fingerprints or background checks | About $50 to $80 | About $50 to $80 |
| State exam | About $37 per attempt | About $63 |
| Estimated total | About $250 to $650 | About $1,100 to $1,500 |
Estimates as of November 2026, before any school discounts. Your post-license course is extra unless it's included in your package.
Costs once you're licensed
These vary a lot by area and by brokerage, so ask about each one when you interview:
- REALTOR® association dues: local, state and national dues, usually several hundred dollars a year.
- MLS access: often billed monthly, quarterly or yearly.
- Lockbox key: the app or key that opens listing lockboxes for showings.
- Brokerage fees: monthly fees, transaction fees, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and how commissions are split.
- Business basics: business cards, a CRM, marketing and mileage.
The Schools We Recommend
- Hondros College (Ohio): online or in person, with packages that can include exam prep and the 20-hour post-licensing course.
- ProLicense Florida (Florida): online, state-approved courses for the 63-hour pre-license and 45-hour post-license requirements.
- The CE Shop (Florida, Ohio and most other states): online pre-license, exam prep, post-license and continuing education.
Tip: pick a package with exam prep. The course teaches the material, and the exam prep teaches you how the state exam asks about it.
After You're Licensed
| Florida | Ohio | |
|---|---|---|
| First requirement | 45-hour post-license course before your first renewal | 20-hour post-licensing course within 12 months of licensure |
| If you miss it | Your license becomes null and void | Your license is suspended |
| Ongoing | 14 hours of continuing education every 2 years | 30 hours of continuing education every 3 years, including civil rights, core law and ethics |
How to Choose a Brokerage
Every agent works under a licensed broker. The right fit depends on how you want to learn and build your business, so interview more than one and ask:
- Training: What training do new agents get in the first 90 days, and who teaches it?
- Mentorship: Will I have a mentor? How often can I reach them, and can they come with me on early appointments?
- All-in costs: What are the commission split, caps, monthly fees, transaction fees and E&O insurance? What would I pay on a typical sale?
- Leads: Do you provide leads? If so, what do they cost and what's expected of me?
- Tools: What CRM, marketing templates and technology are included?
- Support: Who answers contract and compliance questions, and how fast?
- Culture and accountability: Are there regular meetings or check-ins? What are the expectations for part-time agents?
- Leaving: If it isn't a fit, what's the process to move my license, and what happens to pending deals?
Joining a Team vs. Going Solo
Many new agents start on a team, and many go solo from day one. Neither is right for everyone.
| Joining a team | Going solo | |
|---|---|---|
| Learning curve | Hands-on mentorship and proven systems from day one | You learn on your own, with brokerage training |
| Business | Teams often share leads, marketing and admin support | You generate all of your own business |
| Brand | You work under the team's brand | You build your own name from the start |
| Commission | You usually share a portion with the team | You keep more of each commission after brokerage fees |
| Best for | New agents who want structure, accountability and support | Agents with a strong network and a clear plan |
There's also a middle path: you can build your own business with an experienced partner who mentors you. That's how we work with agents at eXp, on our team or as your partner. See how it works.
Thinking About It? Let's Talk
Whether you're still deciding or already in class, we're happy to answer questions with no pressure. Tell us a little about yourself on our Join Our Team form, or call or text us at 513-907-4271.
Official Sources
- Florida: Florida Real Estate Commission (DBPR)
- Ohio: Requirements for an Ohio Real Estate Salesperson's License
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and requirements and fees can change at any time. Costs are estimates. Nothing here is a promise or estimate of what you will earn as an agent; results vary with your effort, market and many other factors. Questions about eligibility, such as a past criminal record, should go to the state licensing office.