Real Estate License from New York to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Florida accept a New York real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from New York to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR, verify your New York license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. Mutual-recognition applicants skip the national exam and the 63-hour pre-license course; a 40-question Florida real estate law exam (30 of 40 correct to pass) is required.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Florida publishes no agreement covering New York, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Florida's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.
What's different between New York and Florida
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Florida. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to Florida (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Florida to New York (the reverse move): Full re-application.
The two directions differ: New York and Florida do not give each other's licensees the same route.
- Does coming from New York matter?
New York gets Florida's most common result: 40 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.
The others get: reciprocity agreement (10).
- Reciprocity agreements
Florida's reciprocity agreement list names 10 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia), not including New York.
New York's row names no reciprocity agreement states.
- Application fee
Florida lists $62.75 for an out-of-state applicant and New York lists $65 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Pre-license education
Florida's first-time-applicant standard is 63 hours of pre-license education; New York's is 77.
Florida's is 14 education hours lower than New York's.
- Exam rules on record
Florida and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Florida (this move): Mutual-recognition applicants skip the national exam and the 63-hour pre-license course; a 40-question Florida real estate law exam (30 of 40 correct to pass) is required
- New York (the reverse move): None — no current reciprocity. All applicants, including out-of-state licensees, must pass the New York State salesperson examination. An education waiver of the 77-hour course may be granted on written request, but the state exam is never waived.
What changes, New York → Florida
| New York (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-license education | 77 | 63 |
| Application fee | $65 (Initial salesperson application/license fee. Separate: $15 written exam scheduling fee via eAccessNY.) | $62.75 (DBPR RE-1 state application fee; the PSI/testing-vendor exam fee and the electronic fingerprint fee are paid separately) |
| Processing time | NYDOS does not publish an application processing-time range | No board-stated timeframe; the license is issued after DBPR reviews the application and the applicant passes the 40-question Florida law exam |
| Licensing authority | New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services | Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Not be a Florida resident at the time of application.
- Have obtained the out-of-state license by meeting that state's own education and examination requirements (not by reciprocity).
- Hold a valid, current, active license in good standing in the mutual-recognition state.
- Submit a certification of license history and complete an electronic fingerprint background check.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep selling in New York after I'm licensed in Florida?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the New York license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Florida FREC — Mutual Recognition States (10-state list; 40-question law exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR — RE-1 Sales Associate Application (application fee $62.75; mutual recognition section) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Real Estate Salesperson FAQ ('The Department of State does not currently have reciprocity with any other state'; education waiver, exam still required) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Become a Real Estate Salesperson (77 qualifying hours; $65 application + $15 exam; eAccessNY) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Real Estate Salesperson (2-year term; must work under a sponsoring broker) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYDOS — Real Estate Broker FAQ (identical 'does not currently have reciprocity' statement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com