Portable NC Real Estate License: FL Edition

Are you a licensed broker in North Carolina and considering expanding your business potential by getting a license to practice in Florida as well?

What does a Florida reciprocity real estate license require?

What is Reciprocity?

First and foremost, let’s define reciprocity as it applies to real estate. License reciprocity simply means that if you currently hold an active real estate license in one state in the US, you may apply for a license in another state without having to complete all of the state-required licensure education requirements that an unlicensed prospective licensee would have to complete. Each state is unique in these requirements; some states have full reciprocity agreements with other states, most have some form of partial reciprocity, and a few states have no reciprocity agreements. For those without any reciprocity agreements, you will be required to complete all of the state’s education and application requirements to become licensed.

In order to apply as a licensed agent through reciprocity, your North Carolina real estate license must be active and in good standing. If your license has expired or is inactive, you should renew and reactivate it prior to applying for reciprocity in another state. If you have any open disciplinary actions filed against you that have not been resolved, you will want to have them settled prior to submitting an application in another state. Applying for a license in another state requires you to have the ability to prove a track record of exceptional moral and ethical character.

Florida Reciprocity Requirements

The state of Florida offers full reciprocity only to applicants that hold an active license in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Conveniently, Florida does not require that an applicant resides in the state to be considered for a license. Per the Florida Real Estate Commission website, a broker currently and actively licensed in North Carolina will need need to complete the following steps to be granted a license in Florida as well:

1. Provide proof of holding a current and valid real estate broker's license for at least 24 months during the preceding 5 years.

2. Provide a current certification of license history from the NCREC. The history must contain your initial license exam type, current license status, disciplinary information, and how many valid months within the preceding five years.

3. Complete and submit a Florida real estate license application along with all applicable fees. To complete your application, you will need to be at least 18 years of age, and have a social security number.

4. A federal background check and submission for fingerprinting with a Livescan Service Provider.

5. Following approval of your application, brokers are required to complete the 72 hour pre-license education for brokers required of Florida real estate brokers. The course is good for two (2) years from the date of completion.

   1. It is important to note, the Florida Real Estate Commission must receive your application and grant you approval prior to taking the required pre-licensure courses. Failure to do so will result in not receiving credit for those classes and hours.

6. Following successful completion of the required 72-hour pre-licensing course, you must pass the State specific section of the licensing exam.

Though there are a number of requirements that must be met, the ability to conduct business in both North Carolina and Florida can be extremely profitable. Florida is an extremely popular destination, particularly for those wanting to own vacation rental properties on the hundreds of miles of the Floridian coastline. Not to mention attractions like the Keys, Disney theme parks, and Universal Studios theme parks. In holding licensure in both North Carolina and Florida, your career and earning potential could be limitless!

Remember, the first step to applying for reciprocity in other states is making sure that your NC License is active, and we have all the classes you need to make sure that it is!

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Bear in mind, that these requirements can change at any time, and are only represented to be current as of the date of publication of this article. It is the responsibility of the prospective licensee to reach out to the Real Estate Commission for any state you are applying to check for any updates or changes to their reciprocity requirements.