Real Estate Newsletter
February 2018
Real Estate Professionals May Take Examinations in Native Language
Since 1977, the Florida legislature has encouraged the use of foreign-speaking Florida residents to become actively qualified in their professions “so that all Florida citizens may receive better service.” The state of Florida is home to people who speak many languages other than English. It makes sense that the real estate industry would benefit from having real estate sales agents and brokers who speak those languages so that any person seeking to buy or sell real property may find the right sales agent or broker for them.
Under Section 455.11 of the Florida Statutes, any person is qualified in a profession if they have successfully completed (or currently enrolled in) an approved course of study as a real estate sales associate or broker. For persons whose first language is not English, the required examination for licensure is still in English, but there’s a caveat to the rule. If 15 or more applicants request the exam be administered in that group’s native language, then they may be reexamined in that language. The applicants must pay for the cost of reexamination in a native language.