Florida real estate instructors teach qualifying, post-licensing, or continuing-education courses for sales associates and brokers. Instructors generally need a Florida real estate instructor permit before teaching courses regulated by FREC.

Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements

An applicant generally must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Possess a Social Security number.
• Submit electronic fingerprints and any required background information.
• Satisfy one of Florida’s instructor-qualification pathways.

Florida law applies these requirements to instructors teaching noncredit real estate courses through proprietary schools, career centers, and certain college or university programs. Accredited colleges and universities may have limited exemptions for transferable college-credit courses.

Choose a Qualification Path

Florida provides three principal ways to qualify for a real estate instructor permit.

Option 1: Pass the Instructor Examination

An applicant may qualify by passing an instructor examination approved and administered through the Division of Real Estate.

This route may be practical for an experienced real estate professional who does not have the degree-and-broker combination required under the other pathways. Confirm the current examination procedure, scheduling process, and examination fee with DBPR before applying.

Option 2: Hold a Related Bachelor’s Degree and a Florida Broker’s License

An applicant may qualify by holding:

• A bachelor’s degree in a business-related field, such as real estate, finance, accounting, or business administration, or an equivalent degree; and
• A valid Florida real estate broker’s license.

The application requires an official certified transcript so DBPR can evaluate the degree and determine whether it satisfies the education requirement.

Option 3: Hold a Bachelor’s Degree, Extensive Experience, and a Florida Broker’s License

An applicant may also qualify by holding:

• A bachelor’s degree;
• A valid Florida real estate broker’s license; and
• Extensive real estate experience.

DBPR’s published instructor materials define extensive experience, at a minimum, as three years of full-time experience as a broker and participation in at least five real estate closings within the 12-month period immediately before filing the instructor application. Supporting documents may include closing statements, HUD-1 forms, or purchase and sale contracts.

Because the definition and documentation requirements can change, applicants using this pathway should confirm the current standard with DBPR and review the applicable FREC rule before submitting materials.

Apply for the Instructor Permit

The initial instructor-permit application is made using DBPR Form RE 3, Application for Real Estate Instructor Permit.

A typical application package includes:

• The completed RE 3 application.
• The required application fee.
• Electronic fingerprints.
• Certified official transcripts, if qualifying through a degree-based pathway.
• Documentation of qualifying real estate experience, if applicable.
• Legal documents explaining any prior criminal, licensing, or disciplinary matters when required.

The application should identify the qualification method being used. Incomplete applications, uncertified transcripts, or unsupported experience claims can delay review.

DBPR’s current application checklist should control the fee amount and submission instructions. Published materials have shown different fee amounts over time, so applicants should not rely on an old paper form or third-party website for the current fee.

Become Active With a Real Estate School

Obtaining an instructor permit is not necessarily the final administrative step. An instructor who will teach for a Florida real estate school generally must also submit DBPR Form RE 6, Become Active—Real Estate Instructor, to register the instructor with the school.

Before teaching, confirm:

• The school is authorized or approved to offer the course.
• The instructor is properly registered or active with that school.
• The specific course has the required FREC or DBPR approval.
• The proposed delivery method—classroom, livestream, distance learning, or hybrid—is authorized for that course.

The school or education provider should be able to explain its instructor-onboarding process, course assignments, attendance procedures, and documentation standards.

Understand Course and School Approval

Florida requires most people, schools, and institutions offering regulated real estate instruction to obtain a department permit and comply with Chapter 475, Florida Statutes, and FREC rules.

This means an instructor usually does not independently approve a course simply by holding an instructor permit. Course approval, school approval, instructional materials, attendance records, examinations, and delivery methods may be handled through the approved education provider and DBPR’s education process.

An instructor should obtain written confirmation from the provider before advertising a course as satisfying Florida licensure, post-licensing, or continuing-education requirements.

Maintain the Instructor Permit

Florida instructor permits must be renewed on the schedule established by DBPR, generally at least every two years.

For renewal, instructors must submit the renewal application and fee and document the required education. DBPR’s education guidance identifies a minimum of seven hours of instruction in real estate subjects or instructional techniques for instructor renewal.

Current FREC education guidance also identifies a renewal combination of:

• Three hours of Core Law; and
• Four hours of Teaching Techniques.

The exact requirements may depend on the permit type, expiration cycle, and whether the instructor is active, inactive, or seeking reinstatement. A teaching-techniques course may need to be completed through another instructor to count toward renewal.

Failure to renew on time can cause the permit to become involuntarily inactive. Reinstatement may require additional education, fees, or other corrective steps.

Practical Preparation Before Applying

A prospective instructor can improve the application process by:

• Keeping the Florida broker license active and in good standing.
• Gathering certified transcripts early.
• Maintaining organized closing records and transaction documentation.
• Reviewing the current RE 3 checklist rather than relying on an older copy.
• Contacting an approved Florida real estate school about hiring standards and course needs.
• Developing lesson plans that follow the approved course syllabus.
• Learning Florida-specific rules governing attendance, examinations, course delivery, and recordkeeping.
• Confirming whether the intended teaching assignment involves qualifying education, post-licensing education, or continuing education.

Teaching skill matters in addition to legal eligibility. Clear explanations, accurate examples, current knowledge of Florida statutes and rules, and reliable classroom administration are essential for maintaining approval and credibility.

Where to Confirm Current Rules

Requirements can change through legislation, FREC rulemaking, DBPR forms, and education-provider guidance. Before applying, confirm the current requirements with:

• The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Real Estate.
• The Florida Real Estate Commission.
• The current DBPR RE 3 instructor-permit checklist.
• The current DBPR RE 6 active-instructor form.
• The approved school or education provider that intends to sponsor the instructor.

If DBPR materials appear inconsistent—particularly regarding fees, renewal education, experience documentation, or application procedures—follow the newest official checklist and obtain written clarification from the Division of Real Estate.

Authoritative Sources

• Florida Statutes § 475.451—Schools teaching real estate practice
• DBPR—Real Estate Instructor Permit by Examination, Form RE 3
• DBPR—Become Active: Real Estate Instructor, Form RE 6
• Florida Real Estate Commission—Education Information
• DBPR—Florida Real Estate School Instructor Requirements