No. You do not need to be a resident of Florida to take the pre-licensing course or obtain your real estate license. In fact, many successful Florida agents live in other states or countries.
The Requirements
While residency is not required, all applicants (regardless of location) must meet the following criteria:
Age: Must be at least 18 years old.
Education: Must hold a High School Diploma or equivalent.
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ID: Must possess a valid U.S. Social Security Number.
Note: You cannot use a Tax ID (ITIN) to apply.
Special Steps for Non-Residents
If you apply while living outside of Florida, there are two key differences in the process:
Fingerprinting: You must use a Livescan vendor authorized for Florida DBPR submissions (such as IdentoGO). You cannot simply use a local police station card.
Irrevocable Consent to Service: As part of your application, you must sign a form agreeing that legal actions can be taken against you in Florida courts, even if you live elsewhere.
Do you already have a license in another state? Before you enroll in the full 63-hour course, check if your state has a Mutual Recognition Agreement with Florida. You might only need to take a 40-question law exam. Check the Mutual Recognition List Here