Will a DUI disqualify me from getting a Florida real estate license?

Not automatically. A DUI is reviewed as part of your overall background, factoring in how long ago it happened and whether there's a pattern of similar issues. It's not on a fixed disqualifying list, but it also isn't guaranteed to be a non-issue, so it's worth confirming your specific situation with DBPR.

Can I get a real estate license in Florida with a criminal record?

Many people with a criminal record do get licensed. DBPR reviews the nature of the offense, how recent it was, and what you've done since, rather than issuing a blanket denial for having any record at all. Full, honest disclosure on your application matters more than the record itself.

What if my license was revoked in another state or profession?

A prior revocation, suspension, or denial, whether it was a real estate license elsewhere or a license in a different regulated field, is something DBPR reviews as part of your full history. It's a factor, not an automatic bar, and honesty about it on your application is essential.

Should I disclose an old arrest that didn't lead to a conviction?

When in doubt, disclose it. Application questions about your background are often broader than 'convictions only,' and answering inaccurately, even about something that was ultimately dismissed, can be treated more seriously than the incident itself would have been.

What Disqualifies You From Getting a Florida Real Estate License?

Updated July 2026 · Reviewed by Adams, Cameron & Co.

Quick answer

No single list of crimes automatically disqualifies you from a Florida real estate license. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) reviews your entire background, felonies, relevant misdemeanors, prior license actions in any state or profession, and whether you were honest on the application itself. Dishonesty about your past is often treated more seriously than the past itself, so the safest move is to disclose everything and let DBPR make the call rather than assuming you're disqualified.

Key takeaways

There's no fixed list of disqualifying offenses; DBPR reviews the whole background check case by case.
Misdemeanors can matter too, not just felonies, depending on the nature of the offense and how recent it was.
A prior license revocation or suspension in real estate or another regulated profession, in Florida or elsewhere, gets reviewed.
Lying or omitting something on your application is often a bigger problem than the underlying issue would have been.
You can ask DBPR for an eligibility determination before investing in coursework, so you're not guessing.

There's no simple disqualifying-crimes list

A lot of aspiring agents search for a checklist of crimes that automatically bar someone from a Florida real estate license. That list doesn't really exist. When you apply, you undergo a background check (including fingerprinting), and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), acting through the Florida Real Estate Commission, reviews your history as a whole rather than matching it against a rigid table. That means two applicants with similar records can get different outcomes depending on details like recency, severity, and what you've done since. If you've been assuming the worst based on something you read about felonies specifically, it's worth understanding just how much wider the actual review is.

It's broader than felony convictions

Most people assume only felonies are a problem. In practice, misdemeanors can matter too, particularly ones involving dishonesty, fraud, theft, or moral character, even if they happened years ago. A single old, minor misdemeanor unrelated to trustworthiness is unlikely to sink an application on its own. A pattern of offenses, or anything touching honesty and handling other people's money, gets closer scrutiny, since that goes directly to the kind of judgment a real estate license requires. The underlying question reviewers are really asking is whether you can be trusted to handle a client's largest asset and their money during a transaction, not simply whether a charge happened to be filed as a felony or a misdemeanor.

Prior license revocations count, in any profession

DBPR also looks at whether you've ever had a professional license revoked, suspended, or denied, whether that was a real estate license in another state or a license in a completely different regulated field like insurance, contracting, or financial services. A past revocation doesn't automatically end your chances in Florida, but it is part of the full picture reviewers weigh, especially if it involved dishonesty toward clients or a regulator. If you held any kind of professional license elsewhere and it was ever disciplined, plan on that history following you into your Florida application, and be ready to explain the circumstances rather than hoping it goes unnoticed.

The real risk is dishonesty on the application itself

Here's the part applicants underestimate most: how you handle disclosure often matters more than what you're disclosing. Omitting an old arrest, understating a conviction, or answering a background question inaccurately can be treated as a bigger red flag than the underlying incident would have been on its own. Reviewers are evaluating whether they can trust your judgment and honesty as a licensee, and getting caught minimizing your record undercuts that far more than an honest, fully disclosed history usually would. In many cases, applicants who fully disclose a difficult past get approved, while applicants who tried to hide something small run into far more serious trouble once the background check catches the discrepancy.

How DBPR actually reviews an application

When your background includes something worth flagging, DBPR weighs factors like how long ago it happened, what the offense actually involved, whether it relates to honesty or handling money and property, and what you've done since, education, employment history, and any steps toward rehabilitation. This is a judgment call made on your specific file, not an automatic disqualification triggered by a keyword on a report. Two people with a similar incident on their record years apart in recency, or with very different conduct since, can reasonably see different outcomes.

What to do if you have something in your past

If you're worried something in your background could be an issue, the smartest move is to disclose it completely and accurately on your application rather than hoping it won't come up. You can also reach out to DBPR directly, before or during your pre-license coursework, to ask about your specific situation instead of guessing or assuming the worst. Getting clarity early saves you from investing time and course fees into a path that needs a different plan first, and it means there are no surprises when your background check comes back. It also means you walk into your pre-license course with a clear picture instead of quiet anxiety about whether the months of work will amount to anything.

If you're weighing whether to move forward with a Florida real estate license, you don't have to figure out the DBPR side alone. Adams, Cameron & Co., the area’s largest brokerage since 1963 in Daytona Beach, talks with aspiring agents at every stage, including ones with questions about their background, before they commit to coursework. Start a conversation to talk through your specific situation.

Licensing eligibility depends on your individual background and DBPR's review. Confirm your specific situation directly with DBPR before assuming disqualification either way. Educational only, not legal advice.

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