Exam format

The Florida real estate sales associate exam is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC). It’s a single, computer-based test taken at a testing center.

  • 100 multiple-choice questions, four options each (A. D)
  • 3.5 hours total time. you can flag and return to questions
  • Two sections: 55 general real estate, 45 Florida-specific
  • Pass mark: 75 correct answers out of 100. No partial credit, no curve.
  • Result is on-screen immediately after you submit, with a topic-by-topic score breakdown if you fail.
Most-missed point about format

The 55-question general section and the 45-question Florida section are scored as one combined total. You don’t have to pass each individually, only the total of 75. This means you can lean on your stronger half on exam day.

What’s tested (with weights)

FREC publishes the official content outline. We’ve matched it to question counts so you can study where the points actually are. The percentages below are taken from FREC’s published exam blueprint.

#
Topic
~Qs
Weight
01
Real Estate Brokerage Activities & Procedures
Listings, antitrust, advertising rules, brokerage operations
12 Qs
12%
02
Real Estate Contracts
Sales contracts, options, leases, breach remedies, Statute of Frauds
12 Qs
12%
03
Residential Mortgages
Notes vs. mortgages, FHA/VA/conventional, RESPA, foreclosure
9 Qs
9%
04
Property Rights: Estates, Tenancies, Condos & HOAs
Fee simple, life estates, joint tenancy, homestead protection
8 Qs
8%
05
Real Estate Appraisal
Sales comparison, cost, and income approaches; depreciation types
8 Qs
8%
06
Authorized Relationships, Duties & Disclosures
Transaction broker, single agent, OLD CAR fiduciary duties
7 Qs
7%
07
Titles, Deeds & Ownership Restrictions
Warranty/quitclaim deeds, recording, title insurance, easements
7 Qs
7%
08
License Law & Qualifications for Licensure
Chapter 475, education, renewals, FREC discipline categories
6 Qs
6%
09
RE Computations & Closing of Transactions
Doc stamps, intangible tax, prorations, commission calcs
6 Qs
6%
10
Legal Descriptions
Zoning, variances, eminent domain, deed restrictions
5 Qs
5%
11
Types of Mortgages & Sources of Financing
ARMs, points, qualifying ratios, secondary mortgage market
4 Qs
4%
12
Violations of License Law, Penalties & Procedures
Escrow handling, commingling vs. conversion, advertising violations
3 Qs
3%
13
Federal & State Laws Pertaining to Real Estate
Fair Housing, lead-based paint, Johnson v. Davis disclosures
3 Qs
3%
14
Taxes Affecting Real Estate
Ad valorem, millage, homestead exemption, Save Our Homes cap
3 Qs
3%
15
RE License Law & Commission Rules (FREC)
FREC composition, authority, rule-making, DRE investigations
2 Qs
2%
16
RE Investments & Business Opportunity Brokerage
Property management, NNN leases, business brokerage rules
2 Qs
2%
17
The Real Estate Business
Real vs. personal property, fixtures, bundle of rights
1 Qs
1%
18
Real Estate Markets & Analysis
Supply/demand, market cycles, condo vs. co-op ownership
1 Qs
1%
19
Planning & Zoning
CERCLA, environmental hazards, radon, coastal construction lines
1 Qs
1%

How scoring works

Florida is a strict pass/fail exam. 75 correct answers passes. 74 fails. There’s no curve, no partial credit, no extra-credit, and no penalty for guessing. so you should answer every question.

90. 100
Excellent
PASS
80. 89
Strong pass
PASS
75. 79
Pass
PASS
0. 74
Below cut score
RETAKE

If you fail, your score report shows your performance against each topic cluster. exactly the same breakdown that the Pass Florida diagnostic produces. Use it to study, then schedule a retake. There’s a mandatory 24-hour wait between attempts; no other limit on number of retakes.

Booking your exam

Once your application is approved by the DBPR (typically 30. 90 days after submission), you’ll get a “candidate ID” email. From there:

  1. Go to pearsonvue.com/fl/realestate and create a candidate account.
  2. Enter your candidate ID and pay the $36.75 exam fee.
  3. Pick a testing center and a time slot. Florida has 30+ centers. major metros usually have next-day availability; rural areas can be 1. 2 weeks out.
  4. You’ll get a confirmation email. Save it. You need it on exam day.

Exam day

Plan to arrive 30 minutes early. The check-in process is strict. biometric scan, locker for personal items, photo ID match.

You must bring:

  • A government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)
  • A second ID with your signature (debit card, credit card, work ID)
  • Your Pearson VUE confirmation email (printed or on your phone)

Allowed in the testing room:

  • A simple, non-programmable, non-printing calculator (the testing center will offer one if you don’t bring your own)
  • Earplugs (provided on request)
  • Tissues

Not allowed: phones, smart watches, notes, scratch paper (provided), books, food, drink, hats. Anything you bring goes in a locker.

Tactical tip

Wear layers. Florida testing centers run cold and you can’t get up to grab a sweater once the exam starts. Three and a half hours sitting still in 65°F air is its own kind of stress test.

After the exam

Your pass/fail result and topic breakdown print on-screen the moment you submit. You don’t wait. The certified score report goes to the DBPR within 24 hours. at that point, your license becomes “active” the next business day and shows up on the FREC public licensee lookup.

To start practicing real estate, your license must be activated under a sponsoring broker. You can be hired before passing the exam, but you can’t list, show, or sell property until your license is active.

If you didn’t pass, see our retake checklist for a 14-day plan that focuses on the exact topics your score report flagged.