LICENSE CATEGORIES
Broker 
/ Sales associate / Broker associate
Florida offers real estate licenses that fall into one of three categories: broker, sales associate, and broker associate. A broker associate and a sales associate may be licensed as an individual or as a professional corporation, limited liability company, or professional limited liability company, if the individual has obtained authorization to do so from the Department of State. A broker associate and sales associate may not be licensed as a general partner, member, manager, officer, or director of a brokerage firm.
Broker –
A broker is someone who is licensed to perform real estate services for another person for compensation or the expectation of compensation. Compensation can be monetary or anything else of value.
Real estate services include the sale, exchange, purchase, rental, appraisal, auction, advertising of real property, business enterprises, or business opportunities or the offer to perform any of these services. Services also include procuring sellers, buyers, lessors, or lessees.
Although a broker may “appraise” property, such appraising does not equate to appraisal services that must be performed by a registered or licensed appraiser.
The broker category of licensure also includes any individual who is a general partner, officer, or director of a partnership or corporation that acts as a broker.
Sales associate –
A sales associate is someone who performs the same real estate services as a broker but who works under the direction, control, and management of a specified broker or owner-developer. A sales associate must meet additional licensure requirements to become a broker or broker associate.
Broker associate
A broker associate is someone who has obtained a broker license but performs real estate services as a sales associate under the direction, control, and management of a specified broker.
