HOW TO BECOME A REALTOR

So, You Want to be a REALTOR®

Are you interested in selling real estate and want to know more?
Real estate agents are regulated by the state they live in, and must be licensed to do business by the state licensing authority. When you are licensed, you can handle a property transaction for a client on behalf of a broker or a builder and are subject to the rules and regulations as outlined by the state. To become a REALTOR®, you must meet the age, educational and other requirements in Florida, plus you must join and retain active membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Only N.A.R. members can call themselves REALTORS®. When you become a member of NABOR, you are also becoming a State and National Association member.

All REALTORS® are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. An agent means that you are the representative of someone else. Usually this means that you are the agent of the real estate broker or a builder. One of the largest misconceptions about the industry is that as a licensed professional you are an agent of the client. Only the broker can be an agent to the client, and then only through contractual agreement. To become a licensed broker requires more education in most states than becoming an agent.

The Role of the Broker
What will a broker do for you? Brokers are valuable for their reputations in the marketplace and can bring you a lot of business based on their high profile or niche. Depending on their size, they may have support personnel that can save you time and money as you get started. Particularly valuable are those brokers who maintain tech support staff and office managers and assistants to help with many time-consuming details.

Brokers will typically give new agents desk space and access to phones and some technology such as shared computers. They also provide some training and other small perks such as pay for speakers or trainers to visit, sharing software, or providing discounts on coop purchases of office supplies. Brokers will pay some advertising costs upfront for listing agents' listings. Otherwise, the cost of doing business, including self-promotion, will fall on the agent, so the agent must be prepared to cover their own expenses in anticipation of their initial sales. This can take as long as six months to a year, before the agent is earning enough in commissions to cover his/her expenses.

Steps to Becoming a Licensed REALTOR®:

Visit the Florida Division of Real Estate website at www.myfloridalicense.com and determine whether you meet the basic eligibility requirements to become a licensed real estate agent (also known as a "Sales Associate"). In Florida the minimum requirements include being 18, holding a valid social security number, holding a high school diploma or GED, completing a 63-hour pre-license course, passing the examination and applying for and being accepted by the state of Florida for a Sales Associate license.
Find an approved real estate course, such as those offered by FREC. Click here for online resources or click here for a list of approved providers. Register for the "Sales Associate" course.
Take the Sales Associate examination after you complete the course.The examination is given by Pearson Vue. To Learn more visit their website to find a location near you to set up your exam once the application has been approved by the DBPR. The Candidate Information Booklet is a useful source to help guide you through the examination process. You must pass the exam with a grade of 75 or higher.
Apply for licensure through the Florida Division of Real Estate to activate your license, your chosen broker must submit form RE-10, found on the Florida Division of Real Estate website. Click here for a list of NABOR brokers whose office you may be interested in joining.
Once you join an office, you will need to join a REALTOR® Assocation (such as NABOR--this will be whichever Association your broker is a member of). When you join a Local Association, you are also becoming a member of the State and National Associations. At NABOR, you will pay a one time application fee of $150, a $30 Florida Association of REALTORS® Processing Fee, and the local, state and national dues for that year. Monthly MLS fees are billed to your broker and your payment of those fees is between you and your broker.
Each REALTOR® Association has their own New Member Orientation requirements which will be mandatory for you to complete in a certain period of time. At NABOR, you have 180 days from the day you sign up, to complete the online orientation program, Ethics Training and MLS Training (provided to you free of charge).
Take the post-licensure real estate course, a 45-hour "renewal" course designed to help you pass the Broker examination.
The only other requirement that you will have is to complete 14 continuing education hours every 24 months including 3 hours in Core Law Class and renew your license every two years.


*So, You Want to be a REALTOR® Are you interested in selling real estate and want to know more?* Real estate agents are regulated by the state they live in, and must be licensed to do business by the state licensing authority. When you are licensed, you can handle a property transaction for a client on behalf of a broker or a builder and are subject to the rules and regulations as outlined by the state. To become a REALTOR®, you must meet the age, educational and other requirements in Florida, plus you must join and retain active membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Only N.A.R. members can call themselves REALTORS®. When you become a member of NABOR, you are also becoming a State and National Association member. All REALTORS® are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. An agent means that you are the representative of someone else. Usually this means that you are the agent of the real estate broker or a builder. One of the largest misconceptions about the industry is that as a licensed professional you are an agent of the client. Only the broker can be an agent to the client, and then only through contractual agreement. To become a licensed broker requires more education in most states than becoming an agent. *The Role of the Broker* What will a broker do for you? Brokers are valuable for their reputations in the marketplace and can bring you a lot of business based on their high profile or niche. Depending on their size, they may have support personnel that can save you time and money as you get started. Particularly valuable are those brokers who maintain tech support staff and office managers and assistants to help with many time-consuming details. Brokers will typically give new agents desk space and access to phones and some technology such as shared computers. They also provide some training and other small perks such as pay for speakers or trainers to visit, sharing software, or providing discounts on coop purchases of office supplies. Brokers will pay some advertising costs upfront for listing agents' listings. Otherwise, the cost of doing business, including self-promotion, will fall on the agent, so the agent must be prepared to cover their own expenses in anticipation of their initial sales. This can take as long as six months to a year, before the agent is earning enough in commissions to cover his/her expenses. Steps to Becoming a Licensed REALTOR®: Visit the Florida Division of Real Estate website at www.myfloridalicense.com and determine whether you meet the basic eligibility requirements to become a licensed real estate agent (also known as a "Sales Associate"). In Florida the minimum requirements include being 18, holding a valid social security number, holding a high school diploma or GED, completing a 63-hour pre-license course, passing the examination and applying for and being accepted by the state of Florida for a Sales Associate license. Find an approved real estate course, such as those offered by FREC. Click here for online resources or click here for a list of approved providers. Register for the "Sales Associate" course. Take the Sales Associate examination after you complete the course.The examination is given by Pearson Vue. To Learn more visit their website to find a location near you to set up your exam once the application has been approved by the DBPR. The Candidate Information Booklet is a useful source to help guide you through the examination process. You must pass the exam with a grade of 75 or higher. Apply for licensure through the Florida Division of Real Estate to activate your license, your chosen broker must submit form RE-10, found on the Florida Division of Real Estate website. Click here for a list of NABOR brokers whose office you may be interested in joining. Once you join an office, you will need to join a REALTOR® Assocation (such as NABOR--this will be whichever Association your broker is a member of). When you join a Local Association, you are also becoming a member of the State and National Associations. At NABOR, you will pay a one time application fee of $150, a $30 Florida Association of REALTORS® Processing Fee, and the local, state and national dues for that year. Monthly MLS fees are billed to your broker and your payment of those fees is between you and your broker. Each REALTOR® Association has their own New Member Orientation requirements which will be mandatory for you to complete in a certain period of time. At NABOR, you have 180 days from the day you sign up, to complete the online orientation program, Ethics Training and MLS Training (provided to you free of charge). Take the post-licensure real estate course, a 45-hour "renewal" course designed to help you pass the Broker examination. The only other requirement that you will have is to complete 14 continuing education hours every 24 months including 3 hours in Core Law Class and renew your license every two years.