The Cost to Renew My Florida Real Estate License: What Every Agent Should Know

Renewing your Florida real estate license is an important responsibility if you want to remain active and in good standing with the state. Many agents find themselves asking: What is the actual cost to renew my Florida real estate license, and what else do I need to complete to keep it valid?

The truth is, the cost and requirements can vary depending on where you are in your licensing cycle and whether this is your first renewal or a subsequent one. Understanding these details can save you money, time, and the frustration of missing a deadline.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about renewal costs, continuing education requirements, and alternative ways to maintain your license if you no longer want to pay high association and MLS fees.

Understanding the Cost to Renew My Florida Real Estate License

When it comes to the cost to renew my Florida real estate license, the renewal fees are set and collected by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The fee is due every renewal period, and it must be paid online through the official DBPR website at www.MyFloridaLicense.com.

While the exact cost can vary slightly depending on updates by the state, you can generally expect a renewal fee in the range of $32 to $36 for both sales associates and brokers. However, these fees are just part of the renewal process — you also need to meet education requirements to remain in good standing with the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).

Continuing Education Requirements

Paying your renewal fee alone is not enough to keep your license active. FREC requires every licensee to complete continuing education courses as part of the renewal process. The specific requirements depend on whether this is your first renewal or a later one:

First-Time Renewal Requirements

• Sales Associates: Must complete a 45-hour post-licensing course before the deadline.

• Brokers: Must complete a 60-hour post-licensing course before the deadline.

These post-licensing courses are more in-depth than standard continuing education and are designed to build a stronger foundation for new real estate professionals.

Subsequent Renewals

After you have completed your first renewal, the education requirements become less demanding. For all future renewal periods, both sales associates and brokers must complete 14 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years.

The CE requirement ensures that licensees remain up to date on Florida real estate laws, best practices, and ethics. Approved CE courses are available through many online schools, making it convenient to complete them from anywhere in the world.

Deadlines and Penalties

Florida real estate licenses must be renewed every two years by either March 31 or September 30, depending on your original licensing date. Missing your renewal deadline can have serious consequences:

• If you miss your CE requirement but are still within 12 months of the deadline, your license will be placed on inactive status until you complete the requirement and pay any applicable late fees.

• If your license remains inactive for more than 24 months, it becomes null and void, and you may be required to retake pre-licensing courses and exams to obtain a new license.

That’s why it’s essential to mark your renewal dates on your calendar and complete both the payment and CE requirements well before the deadline.

Avoiding Extra Costs

Beyond the DBPR renewal fee and education requirements, many agents find themselves facing significant additional costs through their local real estate boards and Multiple Listing Service (MLS) memberships.

• Board of Realtors Fees: Membership dues can cost several hundred dollars annually.

• MLS Fees: Access fees typically cost $500–$1,000+ per year depending on the market.

If you’re an active, full-time Realtor closing transactions regularly, these expenses can make sense. However, if you only complete a handful of transactions each year—or none at all—these costs can quickly outweigh your earnings.

An Alternative: Referral-Only Real Estate

If you find yourself frustrated with the high costs of board and MLS memberships, there’s another way to maintain your license and still earn income from real estate. This option is joining a real estate referral company.

At a referral brokerage, you keep your license active without paying dues to the Board of Realtors or MLS. Instead of working directly with buyers and sellers, you simply refer your prospects to full-time Realtors who handle the transaction.

Here’s how it works:

1. You refer a client to a trusted agent anywhere in the U.S. or internationally.

   
   

2. That full-time agent completes the transaction.

   
   

3. The brokerage pays a referral fee (commonly 25% of the gross commission) to the referral company.

   
   

4. As an agent with Park Place Realty Network, you receive 22.5% of the total commission as your referral fee.

   
   

This setup allows you to avoid the ongoing costs of being a full-time Realtor while still benefiting from the opportunities that real estate brings.

Why Consider Park Place Realty Network?

At Park Place Realty Network, we specialize in helping Florida agents and agents across the country maximize the value of their license without the burden of high fees.

• No Board or MLS Fees: Keep your license active without costly memberships.

• Nationwide & International Referrals: Refer out residential, commercial, and even business brokerage opportunities anywhere in the U.S. or abroad.

• Competitive Referral Fee: Earn 22.5% of the total commission on every closed referral transaction.

• Free Agent Webpage: Promote yourself with a personalized webpage to attract referrals.

• Education Discounts: Our partnership with The CE Shop gives you 40% off CE courses, post-licensing, and professional development.

Whether you are a retired agent, someone with another career, or simply not ready to sell full-time, joining a referral brokerage like Park Place can be an excellent way to keep your license active and income opportunities flowing.

Final Thoughts

The cost to renew my Florida real estate license is more than just paying a fee to the DBPR. To stay compliant, you also need to complete the proper education requirements and manage your ongoing membership expenses if you’re part of the Board of Realtors and MLS.

For many agents, especially those not working full-time, these costs don’t make financial sense. By joining a referral company like Park Place Realty Network, you can eliminate unnecessary expenses, keep your license active, and still earn income through referrals.

Don’t let your hard-earned license go inactive or expire. With the right strategy, you can make your license work for you, no matter where you live or how much time you dedicate to real estate.