An attorney who is an active Florida Bar member in good standing is exempt from the 63-hour sales associate pre-license course and ordinary 14-hour continuing education, but not from every real estate licensing requirement.

The DBPR attorney education FAQ separates the requirements:

• Sales associate pre-license education: the qualifying attorney exemption applies.
• Sales associate first-renewal education: the 45-hour post-license requirement still applies.
• Ordinary continuing education: qualifying active Florida Bar members are exempt from the 14-hour requirement.
• Broker education: attorney status does not waive the 72-hour broker pre-license or 60-hour broker post-license courses.

Do not read a course exemption as permission to bypass the real estate application, background screening or state licensing examination. The RE 1 application instructions keep those licensing steps separate. The exemption concerns specified education; it is not a real estate license or a blanket approval to operate a brokerage.

A useful way to organize the process is to keep two separate checklists. The first covers the application and examination. The second begins once the license is issued and includes the first renewal date, post-license course and renewal payment. Passing the state exam does not finish that second checklist.

For example, an attorney may correctly avoid purchasing a 63-hour pre-license course but still need to arrange the 45-hour sales associate post-license course before the initial renewal deadline. Confusing those two courses is an expensive mistake.

Check the Commission education guidance and confirm your current Bar status with DBPR before relying on the exemption. Use our license status and renewal guide to keep the initial licensing stage separate from later renewal obligations.