Do you need to reactivate your Florida real estate license? On this quick post we explain the different steps to take depending on the most common cases.
To jump right into it, the thirst thing to do is to check what is your license status in the DBPR website. To do that CLICK HERE to search for your Florida real estate license and see your current status.
You will find one of the following statuses:
- Current, Active.
- Current, Inactive.
- Involuntarily Inactive, Active.
- Involuntarily Inactive, Inactive.
- Probation, Active.
- Probation, Inactive.
- Suspended, Active.
- Suspended, Inactive.
1. Current, Active.
This status means you are current with all DBPR requirements and also active under a broker or developer. If you have stopped working in real estate but the DBPR still shows this status, it could be that your previous broker/developer has not remove your license from their brokerage.
If you are looking to “reactivate” your license with another broker, the new broker can simply transfer your license to their brokerage with the DBPR. You don’t necessarily need to contact your previous broker.
2. Current, Inactive.
This status means you are current with all DBPR requirements, but not associated with a broker.
In this case, you simply need to join a brokerage and they will activate your license under their brokerage. Example, if you join our referral brokerage we will reactivate your license with us as a referral agent.
3. Involuntarily Inactive, Active.
This status means you are listed under a broker, but missed either your education or renewal requirements. Whether you are looking to stay with your current broker or to switch to another, you will first need to go from Involuntary Inactive to Current.
The requirements to come back to the current status might be different depending on two factors:
- How long ago your real estate license expired.
- Whether or not your are up to date with your continuing education (CE) requirements.
If Involuntary Inactive for 12 months or less, you will need:
- To complete the 14 hours of Continuing Education.
- To pay the renewal fee with any applicable late fees.
If Involuntary Inactive for more than 12 months but less than 24 months, you will need:
- To complete the required 28 Hours Reactivation Course.
- To pay the renewal fee with any applicable late fees.
If Involuntary Inactive for more than 24 months, you will need to start your licensing process all over again. A license that has been “expired” for more than 24 months is considered null and void and cannot be reactivated.
4. Involuntarily Inactive, Inactive.
When your real estate license shows involuntary inactive, inactive, it means that you have missed the requirements of the DBPR and you are not associated with any active broker/developer.
Before you can join a broker, you will first need to go from Involuntary Inactive to current. Just like in the previous case.
If Involuntary Inactive for 12 months or less, you will need:
- The required 14 hours of Continuing Education.
- To pay the renewal fee with any applicable late fees.
If Involuntary Inactive for more than 12 months but less than 24 months, you will need:
- The required 28 Hours Reactivation Course.
- To pay the renewal fee with any applicable late fees.
If Involuntary Inactive for more than 24 months, you will need to start your licensing process all over again. A license that has been “expired” for more than 24 months is considered null and void and cannot be reactivated.
Once your license status goes back to current, you will be able to join our referral brokerage or any other brokerage of your choice.
5. Probation, Active.
In this case you under a disciplinary action but still able to perform real estate services as registered under an active broker. Mostly referred as a Probation Period while some conditions are met. If during the probation period you stopped working in real estate but the DBPR still shows this status, it could be that your previous broker/developer has not remove your license from their brokerage. Just like in the Current, Active Combination.
If you are looking to switch to another broker, the new broker can simply transfer your license to their brokerage with the DBPR. You don’t necessarily need to contact your previous broker.
Please note that depending on the nature of your probation or the conditions, some brokerages might prefer if you finish your probation period and meet all the conditions required to become Current.
6. Probation, Inactive.
This is very similar to the previous status. You are under a Probation while some conditions are met. However, you are not able to perform real estate services because you are not associated with an active broker.
Here you can simply join our referral brokerage to activate your license as a referral agent, join our main Brokerage if you do want to actively help clients, or join any brokerage of your choice.
Please note that depending on the nature of your probation or the conditions, some brokerages might prefer if you finish your probation period and meet all the conditions required to become Current.
7. Suspended, Active.
If you Florida Real Estate License shows Suspended, you are not able to perform any real estate service. If it still shows active in combination of Suspended, it means that you are still listed under your broker.
Whether you are looking to stay with your broker or to switch, you will first need to comply with the suspension a become current. In this case the DBPR/FREC would have the instructions to become current depending on your case.
7. Suspended, Inactive.
In this case you are not able to perform real estate service and will not be able to join a brokerage until the suspension is lifted.
The DBPR/FREC would have the steps or conditions for you yo complete depending in your case.
Conclusion: Reactivate your Florida Real Estate License.
From all the status listed here, there is usually always a way to reactivate your license. The only case in which a person would be out of the business for ever, is if his/her license was revoked by the department as a disciplinary action.
So if you are looking to become a referral agent or to “park” your license for a while, we would love to join our Referral Brokerage. That way you can keep your cost to the minimum while keeping your real estate license active for referrals.