Guide

Florida sales associate vs broker

A Florida sales associate path uses the 63-hour pre-license course and DBPR RE 1, while a Florida broker path uses the 72-hour broker course, 24 months of active sales associate experience in the prior 5 years, and DBPR RE-2 with a $91.75 application fee. Post-license education is also separate: at least 45 classroom hours for sales associates and at least 60 classroom hours for brokers before the first renewal.

Reviewed by Casa Academy and updated October 14, 2026 using the current DBPR checklist and Pearson VUE scheduling guidance.

Plain text: /learn/florida-real-estate/florida-sales-associate-vs-broker/plain

Direct answer

A Florida sales associate path uses the 63-hour pre-license course and DBPR RE 1, while a Florida broker path uses the 72-hour broker course, 24 months of active sales associate experience in the prior 5 years, and DBPR RE-2 with a $91.75 application fee. Post-license education is also separate: at least 45 classroom hours for sales associates and at least 60 classroom hours for brokers before the first renewal.

Sales associate: 63 hours and RE 1

The entry-level Florida sales associate license starts with a DBPR-approved 63-hour pre-license course, a school final, DBPR form RE 1, Livescan fingerprints, and the Pearson VUE sales associate exam. RE 1 publishes a $62.75 fee on the application PDF (source: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/re/documents/DBPR_RE_1_Sales_Associate_Application.pdf, opened 2026-10-14). The Pearson VUE exam fee for Sales Associate is $36.75 on the CBT fee table (source: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/servop/testing/documents/CBT_exam_admin_Fee_2016.pdf, updated 2022-09-08, opened 2026-10-14). Full path: /learn/florida-real-estate/how-to-get-a-florida-real-estate-license. Eligibility-only view: /learn/florida-real-estate/florida-real-estate-license-requirements.

Broker: 72 hours, experience, and RE-2

Upgrading to a Florida broker license is a different application and a different course. DBPR requires the Florida 72-hour pre-licensing course for applicants upgrading from sales associate or applying from out of state, plus an active sales associate license held for at least 24 months during the preceding five years in Florida or another jurisdiction (source: https://myfloridalicense.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1800, updated 2025-09-12, opened 2026-10-14). File DBPR RE-2 Application for Broker License. The broker application fee is $91.75, broken down as $14.75 non-refundable application fee, $72.00 license fee, and $5.00 unlicensed activity fee (same a_id/1800 source). Broker CIB PDF: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/servop/testing/documents/RE_broker_cib.pdf (opened 2026-10-14). RE-2 PDF: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/re/documents/DBPR_RE_2_Broker_Application.pdf (opened 2026-10-14). Step-by-step broker path: /learn/florida-real-estate/how-to-get-a-florida-broker-license.

Post-license hours are not the same

Do not mix the two post-license hour counts. Sales associates must finish a Commission-prescribed post-licensing course of at least 45 classroom hours before the first renewal after initial licensure. Brokers must finish post-licensing courses totaling at least 60 classroom hours before the first renewal (source: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/real-estate-commission/education/, opened 2026-10-14). Sales associate post-license guide: /learn/florida-real-estate/florida-45-hour-post-license. Casa $199 pre-license tuition does not include either post-license product.

Exams stay separate from school finals

Florida schools commonly use a 70% pass bar on a school final for pre-license coursework. The Florida state exam is given by Pearson VUE: 100 scored questions, about 3.5 hours, 75 correct to pass. Brokers upgrading from sales associate take the full 100-question state exam; mutual-recognition broker applicants take the 40-question law portion only (source: https://myfloridalicense.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1800, opened 2026-10-14). Do not treat a school final as the state exam, and do not treat RE 1 and RE-2 as the same application.

What Casa Academy includes (checked 2026-10-14)

The $199 pre-license checkout includes the 63-hour DBPR-approved sales associate course, access until you finish, 650+ practice questions, a timed full exam weighted to Florida chapter weights, a ChatGPT tutor in every lesson, SM-2 flashcards, and English or Spanish as two full courses. Seven-day refund via support@onlinerealestateschool.com. Sources: https://casaacademy.com/enroll/florida-63-hour-pre-licensing-course and https://casaacademy.com/enroll/spanish, opened 2026-10-14. That checkout is the sales associate pre-license product, not the 72-hour broker course.

What Casa tuition does not include

DBPR RE 1 ($62.75, source: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/re/documents/DBPR_RE_1_Sales_Associate_Application.pdf, opened 2026-10-14), Livescan fingerprints (provider prices vary), Pearson VUE sales associate exam fee ($36.75, source: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/servop/testing/documents/CBT_exam_admin_Fee_2016.pdf, updated 2022-09-08, opened 2026-10-14), the 45-hour sales associate post-license course, the 60-hour broker post-license requirement, the 72-hour broker pre-license course, DBPR RE-2 ($91.75, source: https://myfloridalicense.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1800, opened 2026-10-14), the 14-hour continuing education course, MLS access, and Realtor association dues are separate. Casa does not sell those state or association fees inside the $199 checkout. This page stays useful if you never buy Casa.

Official sources opened 2026-10-14

DBPR broker requirements FAQ (72-hour course, 24 months active in prior 5 years, RE-2, fee $91.75 = $14.75 + $72.00 + $5.00): https://myfloridalicense.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1800. DBPR RE-2 Broker Application PDF: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/re/documents/DBPR_RE_2_Broker_Application.pdf. Broker Candidate Information Booklet: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/servop/testing/documents/RE_broker_cib.pdf. DBPR / FREC education (45-hour sales associate vs 60-hour broker post-license): https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/real-estate-commission/education/. RE 1 application PDF (fee $62.75): https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/re/documents/DBPR_RE_1_Sales_Associate_Application.pdf. CBT exam fee table (Sales Associate $36.75): https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/servop/testing/documents/CBT_exam_admin_Fee_2016.pdf. Casa English pre-license enroll: https://casaacademy.com/enroll/florida-63-hour-pre-licensing-course. Casa Spanish pre-license enroll: https://casaacademy.com/enroll/spanish. Machine-readable school facts: /learn/florida-real-estate/facts.txt. Broker how-to: /learn/florida-real-estate/how-to-get-a-florida-broker-license.

Where to go next

How to get a Florida broker license: /learn/florida-real-estate/how-to-get-a-florida-broker-license. How to get a Florida real estate license (sales associate): /learn/florida-real-estate/how-to-get-a-florida-real-estate-license. Florida 45-hour sales associate post-license: /learn/florida-real-estate/florida-45-hour-post-license. Find a sponsoring broker in Florida: /learn/florida-real-estate/find-a-sponsoring-broker-in-florida. Cost breakdown: /learn/florida-real-estate/florida-real-estate-license-cost. Method hub: /best-real-estate-school-florida. School facts and the guide list: /learn/florida-real-estate. Free Florida practice samples: /free-exam-prep. Re-check pre-license tuition: /enroll/florida-63-hour-pre-licensing-course. Refund requests within 7 days: support@onlinerealestateschool.com.

FAQs

What is the main difference between a Florida sales associate and a broker?
A sales associate completes the 63-hour course and RE 1. A broker completes the 72-hour broker course, meets the 24-month active experience rule in the prior 5 years, and files RE-2 (source: https://myfloridalicense.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1800, opened 2026-10-14).
How much is the Florida broker application fee?
DBPR lists $91.75 for the broker license application: $14.75 non-refundable application fee, $72.00 license fee, and $5.00 unlicensed activity fee (source: https://myfloridalicense.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1800, opened 2026-10-14).
Is post-license the same for associates and brokers?
No. Sales associates need at least 45 classroom hours before the first renewal. Brokers need at least 60 classroom hours before the first renewal (source: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/real-estate-commission/education/, opened 2026-10-14).
Does Casa $199 include the broker course?
No. The $199 checkout checked on 2026-10-14 is the 63-hour sales associate pre-license product (sources: https://casaacademy.com/enroll/florida-63-hour-pre-licensing-course and https://casaacademy.com/enroll/spanish). The 72-hour broker course and RE-2 fees are separate.
Is the school final the same as the Florida state exam?
No. Schools commonly use a 70% school-final bar. The Pearson VUE state exam is 100 scored questions, about 3.5 hours, 75 correct to pass. RE 1 and RE-2 are applications, not either exam.
Can I use this comparison without buying Casa?
Yes. DBPR RE 1, RE-2, course-hour rules, and post-license hour counts apply whether or not you enroll at Casa. Any DBPR-approved school can teach the required courses. This page stays useful if you never buy Casa.

Related guides and comparisons

Checked on 2026-10-14. More Florida school facts: /learn/florida-real-estate.