Whether you’re from the Florida panhandle or the Keys, real estate is a lucrative career throughout the Sunshine State provided you complete 63 hours of prelicensing classes, pass your exam, and meet ongoing course requirements. Luckily, you can obtain a high-quality education from the comfort of your pool deck. We’ve researched dozens of online real estate schools to identify the best providers in Florida to embark on or continue your real estate education.
Real Estate Express | The CE Shop | MLS Campus Real Estate School | Kaplan | Mbition | Florida Real Estate School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: | Best for: |
Those seeking a good mix of high-quality licensing education, course variety, and student support | New and established agents looking for the most affordable self-paced education | Agents who need additional math help to prepare for the licensing exam | Students who want the greatest degree of choice in course format | Aspiring agents and experienced professionals who learn best by reading reference text | Professionals who want 24/7 live instructor support |
Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: | Prelicensing cost: |
$132 | $119 | $129 | $345 | $129 | $275 |
Things you need to know before enrolling for your Florida real estate license education: Along with education requirements, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure. Check out our Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Florida to help you get started.
How We Evaluated the Top Real Estate Schools
The state’s requirements of 63 hours for prelicensing, 45 hours for post-licensing, 14 hours of continuing education, and 60 hours of broker’s licensing education are big time and money commitments toward your real estate career. It’s important then to make sure every minute and penny is worth it. To guarantee a worthwhile learning experience, we analyzed the course features, learning formats, pricing, and customer reviews of nationwide and local education providers to determine the best accredited online real estate schools in Florida that will catapult you to success.
Real Estate Express topped the chart as Florida’s best overall online real estate school with a score of 4.31 out of 5. With its technologically robust platform, expert instructor support, and reasonable prices, Real Estate Express ranks higher than the other online providers available. In addition to those attributes, we also explored the following criteria:
35% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost for pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, and exam prep for each online institution.
Education Available
The level of courses provided by each site according to licensing stage: prelicensing for new agents, post-licensing for agents who are seeking a broker’s license, continued education for licensed agents looking for license renewal options, and exam preparation.
35% of Overall Score
Consist of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
15% of Overall Score
Convenience and attainability of customer service support for technical support and instructor assistance.
15% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to value for money, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
Real Estate Express: Best Overall for High-quality Real Estate Education
Real Estate Express
What We Like
- Reasonable prices
- Tiered course packages
- Course format variety
What's Missing
- Real Estate Express’ Pass or Don’t Pay tuition guarantee is not available in Florida
- Six months of access from purchase
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $132
- Post-licensing: $199
- Continued education: $19.95
- Exam prep: $99
The technological tools provided by Real Estate Express distinguish this education provider from its competitors. Their Learning Management System (LMS) guides you through the education process with a variety of tools, whether you are first becoming a real estate agent or have decades of experience in the industry. The LMS dashboard gives access to live interaction with other students and expert instructors as well as Q&A sessions and forums. “Smart Bites” is another tool that will break down real estate knowledge into smaller comprehensive pieces to help you prep for and pass your exam.
Pro tip: Start your real estate education today with a special offer for our readers from Real Estate Express. Use promo code FSB25 for 25% off your purchase.
Additional Features
- Self-paced formatting available
- Exam preparation with simulations
- Customer support via text, email, and live chat
- 90-day boot camp program
- Courses can be purchased individually or as packages
- Accredited by Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC)
The CE Shop: Most Affordable Licensing Education
The CE Shop
What We Like
- Self-paced formatting
- Low cost for licensing courses
- Customizable individual classes or package
What's Missing
- No livestream instruction available
- No direct instructor access
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $119
- Post-licensing: $145
- Continued education: $19
- Exam prep: $119
If you’re saving up to see Pit Bull or the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium, The CE Shop is your most affordable choice for online real estate education. Although their courses are 100% self-paced, they allow for interactive content so learners can get the best of both learning environments. Through their custom platform, LEAP 2.0, there are unlimited practice tests with custom feedback and customer support available seven days a week. A unique component of The CE Shop is its integration with Facebook. Using your Facebook account, you can collaborate through the Student Forum with other students and real estate experts.
Additional Features
- Agent Essentials resource page
- Accessible on all devices
- Courses expire after 12 months
- Downloadable content
- 30-day refund policy
- Accredited by ARELLO
MLS Campus Real Estate School: Best for Study & Exam Preparation
MLS Campus Real Estate School
What We Like
- Course audio available
- Licensed instructor support and customer support available seven days a week
- Free practice exams
What's Missing
- Limited course format variety
- Course extension beyond seven months costs additional
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $129
- Post-licensing: $69
- Continued education: $17.99
- Exam prep: $37.49
Straight out of Mickey Mouse’s hometown of Orlando is MLS Campus Real Estate School, which boasts a great real estate education program with top-notch exam preparation. The self-paced courses are structured to optimize your learning experience so you will be fully prepared for the exam. Two standout features of the program are the audio course and the math cram course.
For those who like to multitask, the audio version, available for an additional cost, allows you to listen to the entire course unit by unit so you can work out, commute, or clean while getting your real estate education. If math is not your forte, the math cram course from MLS Campus is perfect for you. Since about 10 questions on the Florida exam rely specifically on math calculations, the course provides math practice tests that focus on calculating commission, property taxes, and other necessary math formulas.
Additional Features
- Accessible on all devices
- Free math cheat sheet
- Tailored feedback
- Courses are available six months from purchase, extendable for seven months for free
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Accredited by ARELLO and FREC (Florida Real Estate Commission)
Kaplan: Best Online School for Course Format Variety
Kaplan
What We Like
- Wide variety of course formats
- Director instructor access
- Course packages or customize individual courses
What's Missing
- Most expensive
- Only six months to complete from purchase
- Customer support is limited
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $345
- Post-licensing: $250
- Continued education: $19.95
- Exam prep: $19.95
For aspiring or experienced agents who are looking for a particular learning environment to match their learning style, Kaplan provides the most extensive variety of course format options. You can choose from an entire course package or mix and match your courses to learn via livestream, OnDemand video, and self-paced classes. All of the courses are written by real estate professionals, so you can be sure that you’re getting practical information to apply to your real estate career as well as pass your initial license exam. Even though Kaplan is a nationwide brand, it has the distinction of offering a local Florida touch by partnering with Bob Hogue School of Real Estate (BHSRE), situated in sunny St. Petersburg.
Additional Features
- Free course demos
- Final exam online proctoring included
- Available on all devices
- Unit summaries and key point reviews
- Extensive career-support packages
- Eligible for a refund within 30 days of purchase
- Accredited by ARELLO and IDECC
Mbition: Best Online Real Estate School for Text-based Learners
Mbition
What We Like
- Self-paced formatting
- Low cost
- Additional e-books and resources available
What's Missing
- Short refund request period (within seven days of purchase)
- Course format variety
- Customer support during limited hours
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $129
- Post-licensing: $149
- Continued education: $18.99
- Exam prep: $55
Mbition is the hassle-free way to complete your 14 hours of continued education to renew your real estate license. Their 100% self-paced courses are available for purchase in complete packages. The courses were designed by industry experts with the end goal in mind of passing your state exam. A noteworthy mention of Mbition is the addition of e-books and textbooks to aid in your understanding of materials for the exam as well as practical application in your career.
Additional Features
- Six months of access from purchase (can extend for three months)
- Available on all devices
- Real Estate Information Center available with articles and FAQs
- 4 out of 5-star customer review rating
- Accredited by ARELLO
Florida Real Estate School: Best for Live Instructor Support
Florida Real Estate School
What We Like
- One year from purchase to complete courses
- Easy to navigate website
- Tiered packages available for purchase
What's Missing
- No livestream format options
- Bundled packages only
- Book purchases are non-refundable
Pricing
- Prelicensing: $275
- Post-licensing: $165
- Continued education: $25.95
- Exam prep: $124.95
Voted the best real estate school in Florida for three years in a row at the Student’s Choice Teaching Awards, Florida Real Estate School is highly ranked for live instructor support, which is unique compared to competitors. The live instructors are available by phone 24/7, and you can also try the courses for free with their 15-minute demo. Although the courses are not live, they give a live feel with fully narrated and interactive classes. Their course packages are purchased in bundles, with add-ons depending on your price point and preferences.
Additional Features
- Downloadable flashcards, math e-book, and course outline
- Chapter quizzes for each section of the course
- Frequent discounts available
- 4.7 out of 5 customer rating
- Course pass rate is 90%
- Accredited by FREC