How to Reactivate an Expired Florida Real Estate License
- Jeremy Weinberg
- 2 minutes ago
- 6 min read
If you once held a Florida real estate license but haven’t used it in some time, you may be wondering what it takes to get back into the business. Many agents are surprised to learn that even if their license appears “expired,” they may still be able to reactivate it without starting completely over.
The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) has very specific guidelines about what happens when a license becomes inactive, involuntarily inactive, or expired. Understanding these distinctions can help you determine what steps you need to take to get your license back into active status—and avoid unnecessary coursework or fees.

Understanding Florida Real Estate License Statuses
Before you can figure out how to reactivate your license, it’s important to understand the different license statuses that FREC recognizes.
1. Active License
This means your license is current, and you are legally authorized to perform real estate activities under a sponsoring broker. To maintain this status, you must complete your required continuing education (CE) and renew your license every two years.
2. Voluntarily Inactive License
If you’re not currently practicing real estate, you can choose to make your license voluntarily inactive. This keeps your license in good standing, but you cannot perform any real estate services until you reactivate it. You’ll still need to meet renewal and CE deadlines to maintain your eligibility for reactivation.
3. Involuntarily Inactive License
This is the most common situation for agents who believe their license has “expired.” A license becomes involuntarily inactive when you fail to complete your continuing education or fail to renew on time. Fortunately, this status does not mean your license is gone—it simply means you need to complete certain steps to bring it back to active.
4. Expired License
Once a license remains involuntarily inactive for too long—two years for sales associates or four years for brokers—it officially becomes expired. At that point, it cannot be reactivated, and you would need to start over by retaking the pre-licensing course, passing the state exam again, and submitting a new license application.
How to Reactivate an Expired Florida Real Estate License
Even though the phrase “expired license” is commonly used, most people actually have an inactive license—not a truly expired one. Let’s take a closer look at how to determine your current status and what steps are required to bring your license back into good standing.
Step 1: Check Your License Status
Start by visiting the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website. You can search by your name or license number to see the current status.
If it says involuntarily inactive, you may still be within the two-year (sales associate) or four-year (broker) window for reactivation.
If it says expired or null and void, unfortunately, you’ll need to start from scratch with pre-licensing education and testing.
Step 2: Determine Which Education You Need
The type of coursework required depends on how long your license has been inactive.
If your license has been inactive for less than 12 months:
You’ll only need to complete the standard 14-hour Continuing Education (CE) course. This course reviews key real estate topics, laws, and ethics updates, and once complete, you can renew your license and pay the late fee to reactivate it.
If your license has been inactive for more than 12 months but less than 24 months:
You’ll need to take a 28-hour Reactivation Course instead of the 14-hour CE course. This is designed for agents who have been inactive for a longer period and covers additional material to ensure you’re up to date on Florida real estate law, contracts, and industry practices.
If your license has been inactive for more than 2 years (sales associates) or 4 years (brokers):
At this point, your license is officially expired. The only way to return to the industry is to start over—complete the 63-hour (sales associate) or 72-hour (broker) pre-licensing course, pass the state exam again, and submit a new application to the DBPR.
Step 3: Pay the Required Fees
Once your coursework is complete, you’ll need to pay a renewal or late renewal fee through the DBPR portal. The fee amount varies slightly depending on your license type and how long it’s been inactive. Paying this fee, along with submitting proof of your completed education, is what officially reactivates your license.
Step 4: Affiliate With a Licensed Broker
Even after you’ve met all renewal and education requirements, your license won’t be considered active until you are registered under a licensed real estate broker.
If you’re not ready to return to full-time real estate sales, you can still keep your license in Active status by placing it with a licensed real estate referral company. This allows you to legally hold an active license without joining a local board or paying MLS fees—while still earning referral commissions on transactions handled by other agents.
Why Some Licenses Go Null and Void
There’s one important exception to the rules above. If you are a new licensee and you fail to complete your first required post-licensing education before your first renewal period, your license doesn’t just become inactive—it becomes null and void immediately.
This means your license is permanently canceled, and you’ll need to start from scratch with pre-licensing education and a new state exam. This rule is specific to new licensees only and is one of the most common reasons why new agents lose their licenses early on.
How to Avoid License Expiration in the Future
Once you’ve gone through the process to reactivate your license, it’s best to set reminders so it doesn’t happen again. Here are a few tips:
Mark your calendar for your renewal date (every two years).
Complete your continuing education early, ideally at least three months before your renewal deadline.
Keep your email address current with the DBPR so you receive renewal notices.
Check your license status online periodically to confirm everything is in good standing.
These small steps can save you from future stress, additional coursework, or even losing your license entirely.
The Smart Option: Keep Your License Active Through a Referral Company
If you’re not planning to sell real estate full-time but don’t want to risk your license becoming inactive or expired again, you can keep it active through a real estate referral company.
Referral companies allow licensed agents to hold their license in an Active status without joining the local board or paying MLS dues. Instead, you can refer clients to active Realtors who handle the transaction, and you receive a referral fee.
This is a simple, cost-effective way to maintain your license and still earn income without the ongoing costs of being a full-time agent.
Understanding How to Reactivate an Expired Florida Real Estate License
The process to reactivate an expired Florida real estate license depends on how long it’s been since your last renewal, but for most agents, it’s entirely possible without starting over. As long as your license is in involuntary inactive status and within the two-year (sales associate) or four-year (broker) window, you can complete the necessary CE or reactivation course, pay the renewal fee, and get back into Active status.
If you’re unsure which path applies to your situation, the best step is to confirm your license status through the Florida DBPR website and follow the appropriate education requirements listed there.
At Park Place Realty Network, we provide detailed guidance for agents who want to get back in good standing and start earning again. You can visit our website for step-by-step information on how to reactivate your license, understand your education options, and get reconnected with a brokerage or referral company that fits your goals.
Final Thoughts
Reactivating your Florida real estate license is easier than many agents realize. Unless it’s been more than two years for sales associates or four years for brokers, your license is likely involuntarily inactive—not expired.
By completing the right continuing education or reactivation course, paying your renewal fees, and affiliating with a broker or referral company, you can return to Active status and continue building your career or earning referral income.
If you’d like to learn more about how to bring your license back into good standing, visit our website for detailed guidance and resources to help you through each step.
Author bio: Jenna Martinez, a 20-year real estate veteran, writes for top industry brands. She specializes in analyzing market trends and real estate data, sharing her expertise through insightful articles.