How to Reactivate an Inactive Florida Real Estate License (and Choose a Brokerage to Activate Under)

Plenty of Florida agents step away for a while — a new baby, a corporate job, a move, a slow market. Then a friend asks for help buying a home, or the market turns, and the question becomes: can I get my license back, and what does it take?

The answer depends on why your license is inactive and how long it has been. This guide walks through each situation, the education you will need, the deadlines that matter and how to choose a brokerage to activate under.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Your exact requirements depend on your license history — always confirm them on the DBPR licensing portal.

Step 1: Find Out Which Kind of Inactive You Are

Look up your license on myfloridalicense.com. You will generally fall into one of these situations:

Voluntary inactive

You chose inactive status and kept renewing it. Your license is in good standing — you just are not practicing. To return to active status, you will need to be current on your required education and register under an employing broker.

Involuntary inactive

Your license expired because it was not renewed on time. Under section 475.183, Florida Statutes, an involuntary inactive license can be reactivated within a limited window by meeting the education requirement and paying the applicable fees. After 24 months of involuntary inactive status, it becomes null and void.

Active, but no employing broker

Your license is current, but you left your brokerage. A sales associate cannot practice without being registered under a broker. This is the simplest case: once you choose a new brokerage, you complete the change-of-status step through DBPR.

Null and void

If your license was involuntary inactive for more than 24 months — or, as a sales associate, you did not complete post-licensing before your first renewal — the license is generally null and void. Reactivation is not available; you would need to meet the requirements for a new license (limited hardship exceptions exist, with strict deadlines).

Step 2: Complete the Right Education

Sources: s. 475.183, F.S. and FAC Rule 61J2-3.010, reviewed October 2026.

Continuing education for a two-year cycle is 14 hours: 3 hours of Core Law, 3 hours of Ethics and Business Practices, and 8 hours of specialty credit. Our 2026 continuing education guide explains each piece.

Step 3: Pay the Renewal or Reactivation Fee

DBPR sets the renewal and reactivation fees, and late fees can apply. Pay through your DBPR online account after your school reports your course completion. Because fees can change, check the current amount on the portal rather than relying on a number you saw elsewhere.

Step 4: Choose a Brokerage to Activate Under

This is the step most returning agents rush. After time away, the right brokerage matters more than usual, because you may want a lighter cost structure while you rebuild and real support while you re-learn forms and processes. Questions worth asking:

• Will I pay monthly fees while I ramp back up? Recurring fees hurt most in the months before your first closing.
• Who answers my contract questions? Forms and practices change. Ask whether you can reach the broker directly.
• Which MLS systems can I access? Make sure the brokerage participates in the MLS for the area you plan to work.
• Is there a mentorship plan, and what does it cost? If you were only briefly active before, mentorship may apply.
• What transaction software and insurance are provided? Ask about E&O coverage and the transaction management platform.

For a broader checklist, read how to choose a real estate brokerage in Florida.

Activating under Agent Plus Realty

Agent Plus Realty is a Florida brokerage with offices in Deerfield Beach and Fort Myers. Here is how our model applies to returning agents:

• Up to 100% commission on eligible residential sales. New agents start on the 80% mentorship plan and move to the 100% residential plan after closing at least 3 transactions and with broker approval.
• The standard residential transaction fee is $595 per side and is typically charged to the client on the closing statement where permitted, agreed, and applicable.
• AGENT PLUS REALTY, LLC charges no required monthly, desk, or franchise fees. Agents are responsible for their own MLS dues, association fees, eKey/lockbox access, and license renewal costs. Optional premium technology services may require a separate fee.
• Dotloop Premium and E&O coverage are included. Optional premium technology, CRM/IDX tools, lead-generation services, advertising, websites, and third-party platforms may cost extra. (Dotloop Premium included.)
• Access to 5 major Florida MLS systems. Brokerage MLS participation is available through the MLS systems listed. Individual MLS, board, association, eKey/lockbox, data-access, and related third-party fees may be separate unless otherwise stated in writing.
• Newer agents may be subject to mentorship requirements. When mentorship applies, the mentorship fee is 20% of the commission.

Commission terms are subject to the Agent Plus Realty Independent Contractor Agreement and applicable transaction documents.

Step 5: Update DBPR and Get Back to Work

Once your education is reported and your fees are paid, complete the change-of-status step with your new employing broker through DBPR’s online services. Your new brokerage will then set you up with MLS, transaction software and onboarding. If you are moving from another active brokerage rather than reactivating, our license transfer guide covers that process.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Time is the key variable. Within 12 months, reactivation is usually a matter of catching up on education and fees. Between 12 and 24 months, plan for the 28-hour course. Past 24 months, the license is generally gone. Check your status today, and line up the brokerage you want to activate under while you finish your course.

Questions about coming back? Call Broker John Santos at 954-933-8419, compare our transfer steps, or start your application.

Written by Agent Plus Realty. Regulatory information summarized from the Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code linked above as of October 2026; requirements can change. Confirm your status and requirements with DBPR.