How to Get Your Real Estate License in Beverly Beach, Florida

Beverly Beach is a small Atlantic Coast community in Flagler County, positioned along the barrier island between Flagler Beach and Marineland. If you want to help clients buy, sell, lease, or invest in property here, the first step is earning a Florida real estate sales associate license. A flexible way to begin is the Florida real estate pre-licensing course from Leap, which is designed to satisfy the state’s required 63-hour education component.

Florida licenses real estate professionals statewide, so there is no separate “Beverly Beach real estate license.” Instead, you apply through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), meet Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) requirements, pass the state examination, and associate with a licensed broker. The process is manageable, but each step matters.

Florida Sales Associate Requirements

Before enrolling or submitting an application, confirm that you meet Florida’s basic eligibility standards.

Minimum age and education

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. Florida does not require a college degree to become a sales associate.

The state also requires applicants to provide a Social Security number when applying for an initial license. This requirement allows DBPR to identify applicants and conduct the required background review.

Certain applicants may qualify for an education exemption. For example, an active Florida Bar member in good standing who otherwise satisfies the legal requirements may be exempt from FREC’s prescribed prerequisite course. Most applicants, however, should plan to complete the approved 63-hour course.

The 63-hour pre-license course

Florida requires a FREC-approved sales associate pre-licensing course consisting of 63 classroom hours. The course covers fundamental real estate principles, practices, Florida license law, and related subjects.

“Classroom hours” does not necessarily mean sitting in a physical classroom. Approved distance-education options allow students to complete the coursework online, subject to the school’s attendance, identity-verification, testing, and completion procedures. Online education can be especially useful for Beverly Beach residents who work in Flagler County, commute toward Palm Coast or St. Augustine, or need to study around seasonal and hospitality-related work.

The course must be completed through an approved provider. Before registering, verify that the provider is authorized for Florida real estate education and that the course is specifically approved for the sales associate license. Leap’s online Florida licensing education can provide a convenient starting point, but students should still review the current course details and completion policies before enrolling.

The completed course remains valid for licensing purposes for two years from the completion date. That gives you time to submit the application, complete fingerprints, and pass the examination, but delaying too long can require repeating the course.

Step-by-Step Licensing Process in Beverly Beach

1. Complete the approved course

Finish all 63 hours and pass the course’s required end-of-course examination. Keep your completion documentation and make sure the education provider reports or supplies the information DBPR needs.

A realistic study schedule is four to eight weeks for someone studying part time. A faster schedule is possible, but rushing can make the state exam more difficult because the test covers both general real estate concepts and Florida-specific law.

2. Submit the DBPR application

Submit the Florida sales associate application to DBPR with the required information and fee. The current DBPR application form lists a $62.75 fee for the sales associate application.

The application asks for identifying information, education history, and disclosures about criminal history, disciplinary actions, or other matters that may affect eligibility. Answer every question accurately. Omissions or inconsistent information can delay processing, particularly when an issue later appears in a background check.

Applicants can apply before or during the education and examination process, depending on the current DBPR procedure. Applying early may allow DBPR to review eligibility before you invest additional time preparing for the exam.

3. Complete electronic fingerprints

Florida requires electronic fingerprints for applicants. Fingerprints are used for the state and federal background-check process.

Schedule fingerprinting with a DBPR-approved Livescan service provider. The provider generally submits the prints electronically to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and applicable federal systems. Fingerprint costs are paid to the Livescan provider and can vary, so they should be confirmed directly when scheduling.

A prior criminal record does not automatically mean an applicant cannot become licensed. The outcome depends on the facts, timing, nature of the offense, disclosures, and applicable Florida law. Do not conceal an incident on the application; inaccurate or incomplete disclosure can create a separate licensing problem.

4. Receive authorization and schedule the exam

After DBPR determines that you are eligible, schedule the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate Examination with Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE lists the sales associate examination fee as $36.75 and provides a three-and-a-half-hour testing appointment.

The exam is administered at approved testing locations. Beverly Beach applicants should check available centers in or near Flagler County and allow travel time if the preferred appointment is in Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, or another nearby testing market. Locations and appointment availability can change, so use Pearson VUE’s current reservation system rather than assuming a particular local center is open.

Bring the identification and other items required by the current Pearson VUE candidate instructions. Arrive early, because late arrival or identification problems can result in a missed appointment.

5. Pass the Florida sales associate exam

Florida’s sales associate examination requires a passing score of at least 75. The test evaluates real estate principles and practices, Florida law, licensing rules, and calculations.

The 63-hour course is the foundation, but passing generally requires focused exam preparation. Create a study plan that includes:

Florida license law and administrative rules
Brokerage relationships and duties
Contracts and transaction procedures
Property rights and ownership
Real estate finance and mortgages
Valuation and market analysis
Federal and state fair-housing rules
Real estate mathematics
Closing, escrow, and disclosure concepts

If you do not pass, Pearson VUE provides procedures for retesting. Review the current candidate materials before paying for another appointment.

6. Activate the license with an employing broker

Passing the exam is not the final step if you want to work with clients. A new license may be issued in inactive status unless it is activated by a qualifying Florida broker.

To practice as a sales associate, choose an employing broker and complete the required activation process. The broker may activate the license through the broker’s DBPR account, or the sales associate may use the applicable DBPR activation form.

Interview several brokerages before deciding. For a Beverly Beach-focused career, ask whether the brokerage actively serves Flagler County and nearby coastal communities. Discuss training, commission splits, desk or technology fees, transaction coordination, lead distribution, property-management opportunities, insurance, and access to local continuing education.

A broker should also understand the characteristics of the Beverly Beach market, including coastal property considerations, condominium and homeowners-association documents, flood and wind insurance questions, evacuation planning, short-term-rental restrictions, septic or utility issues, and the difference between municipal rules and countywide regulations. These are not substitutes for legal, insurance, engineering, or tax advice, but they are practical issues that frequently shape coastal transactions.

Realistic Timeline and Official Costs

A motivated applicant can often complete the process in roughly two to four months. The timeline depends on course pace, DBPR processing, fingerprint appointment availability, exam scheduling, and whether the first attempt is successful.

A practical estimate looks like this:

Pre-license course: approximately four to eight weeks part time
Application and fingerprint processing: variable; allow additional time for disclosures or missing documents
Exam scheduling and preparation: approximately two to four weeks after eligibility
Broker activation: often shortly after passing, depending on the brokerage and paperwork

These are planning ranges, not guarantees. DBPR processing times and Pearson VUE appointments change.

Known official charges include the $62.75 application fee listed on the DBPR sales associate application and Pearson VUE’s $36.75 examination fee. Florida’s official law-and-rules materials list a $64 biennial sales associate license fee under the cited fee schedule. You must also budget for the pre-license course, electronic fingerprinting, study materials, travel, and any retest or brokerage-related costs. Confirm fees with DBPR, Pearson VUE, and the fingerprint provider before payment because fee schedules and administrative charges may change.

After You Become Licensed

Complete 45-hour post-license education

Before the first license expiration, a Florida sales associate must complete at least 45 hours of approved post-license education. This requirement applies whether the license is active or inactive.

Do not confuse post-license education with continuing education. The 45-hour course is a first-renewal requirement. If you do not complete it by the deadline, the license can become null and void.

Plan to finish the course well before the expiration date printed on the license. Waiting until the final weeks can create problems if the course is not completed, reported, or accepted in time.

Complete 14 hours of continuing education

After the initial post-license period, active Florida licensees generally must complete 14 hours of continuing education during each biennial renewal cycle. The education is in addition to the applicable renewal fee.

DBPR materials identify the 14-hour requirement as including three hours of Core Law, three hours of Business Ethics and Practices, and eight hours of specialty education for applicable renewal periods. Courses may be available online or in a classroom.

For a Beverly Beach practitioner, specialty education can be selected strategically. Topics involving coastal property, condominium transactions, property management, fair housing, risk management, insurance awareness, or investment property may be useful, provided the course is approved and satisfies the current requirement.

Potential Earnings and Career Opportunities

Florida does not guarantee a salary for a sales associate. Most residential agents earn through commissions or commission splits, and income can vary substantially by transaction volume, price point, brokerage agreement, expenses, market conditions, and the time required to build a client base.

A Beverly Beach agent may develop business through several channels:

Residential purchases and sales
Oceanfront, intracoastal, and other coastal properties
Condominium transactions
Second-home and seasonal buyers
Relocation clients moving into Flagler County
Investment and rental-property transactions
Property-management referrals or related services
Land and new-construction opportunities in the broader area
Buyer and seller representation connected to nearby Flagler Beach and Palm Coast

Local knowledge can be a meaningful advantage. Beverly Beach is compact, so a successful agent may need to understand not only individual listings but also how nearby communities affect pricing, services, commuting, insurance questions, amenities, and buyer expectations. At the same time, do not market yourself as a specialist in a property category until you understand its legal and practical requirements.

New agents should prepare for startup expenses, irregular income, marketing costs, association or brokerage fees, mileage, technology, education, and taxes. A written budget and several months of reserves can make the transition more manageable.

FAQs

Is there a Beverly Beach real estate license?

No. Florida issues the statewide sales associate license through DBPR. You can live in Beverly Beach and work there after obtaining a Florida license and affiliating with an employing broker.

Can the 63-hour course be completed online?

Yes, an approved distance-education course can satisfy Florida’s education requirement when completed under the provider’s rules. Confirm that the specific course is FREC-approved before enrolling.

How much does the Florida license cost?

The DBPR application form lists $62.75, and Pearson VUE lists a $36.75 sales associate examination fee. The cited Florida fee schedule lists a $64 biennial sales associate license fee. Course, fingerprinting, travel, and brokerage expenses are additional.

Do I need a college degree?

No. Florida requires applicants to be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

What happens after I pass the exam?

Your license must be activated with a Florida employing broker if you want to practice. A broker can activate it through DBPR, or you can use the applicable activation procedure.

How long is the license valid?

The initial license has an expiration date assigned by DBPR. Before the first expiration, complete the 45-hour post-license course. Later renewals require 14 hours of continuing education during each biennial cycle.

Can I work independently as a new sales associate?

No. A sales associate must operate under an employing broker. Independent brokerage activity requires meeting Florida’s separate broker licensing requirements.

Authoritative Sources