FL Auctioneer
Florida Auctioneer License Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Florida Auctioneer license is issued by the Board of Auctioneers within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). It authorizes a person to call bids and conduct auctions in Florida; related credentials include the Auctioneer Apprentice license (for people training under a licensed auctioneer) and the Auction Business license (for sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations that arrange, manage, sponsor, advertise, promote, or carry out auctions). First-time applicants apply through an initial-license-by-examination route - either based on education or based on apprenticeship - while out-of-state auctioneers may pursue reciprocity or endorsement, and military personnel, veterans, and military spouses have dedicated application paths. The examination itself is delivered in a computer-based testing (CBT) format through the department's vendor, Pearson VUE, and candidates must be approved to sit before scheduling. Content spans auctioneering principles and bid calling, Florida statutes and board rules, business operations and recordkeeping, and ethics and fiduciary/escrow responsibilities. To prepare, read the auctioneer statutes and board rules directly, work through the board's application forms so you understand the operational rules they encode, and practice bid calling aloud. All three license types cost $155.00 and expire November 30 of odd-numbered years. This guide is independent study material and is not affiliated with DBPR or the Board of Auctioneers; always confirm details on myfloridalicense.com.
What you'll study
About FL Auctioneer preparation
How is the Florida auctioneer exam administered?
It is a computer-based test. DBPR states that it offers examinations in a computer-based testing (CBT) format, and approved candidates schedule through the department's examination vendor, Pearson VUE, which offers exam appointments on a daily basis at testing sites worldwide. You must be approved to sit before you can book a seat.
How much does the license cost, and how long is it good for?
The fee listed for Auctioneer, Auctioneer Apprentice, and Auction Business licenses is $155.00 each. All three expire on November 30 of odd-numbered years. Because November 30, 2025 falls on a Sunday, DBPR extended that renewal deadline to December 1, 2025; renew before midnight Eastern time to avoid delinquency.
Is continuing education required to renew?
On the current DBPR fee and renewal table, the continuing education column for Auctioneer, Auctioneer Apprentice, and Auction Business licenses reads N/A, meaning no CE hours are listed as a renewal requirement. The page notes you must pay the renewal fee by the deadline. Confirm any change with the board before your cycle closes.
How will I know it is time to renew?
DBPR emails a notification that the renewal period is open, sent 90-120 days before expiration. All notices go out by email, so keep your contact information current in your online account. You can renew online, or mail the renewal form and fee to DBPR at 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783.
What if I fail - can I take the exam again?
Yes. DBPR publishes an Auctioneer Re-Examination form, AU 4156, for candidates who need another attempt. The department's auctioneer page does not state a waiting period or an attempt limit, so treat the re-exam application as the practical next step and confirm timing with the board directly.
I am licensed in another state. Do I have to test?
Possibly not. DBPR lists an Auctioneer Initial License for Out-of-State applicants (Reciprocity/Endorsement) on form AU 4153, and the auctioneer page references reciprocity and substantially equivalent exams. Whether your existing license or exam qualifies is a board determination, so review the endorsement path before paying for a Florida exam seat.
What is the apprentice route and should I use it?
An apprentice auctioneer is a person being trained as an auctioneer by a licensed auctioneer. Apprentices apply on AU 4151, which also handles sponsor changes, and there are separate forms for terminating an apprenticeship (AU 4158) and for apprentice activity (AU 4159). The alternative initial route is the education-based examination application.
What should I study first?
Start with the Florida statutes and board rules, because they anchor the licensing, recordkeeping, and disciplinary material the board actually enforces. Then move to contracts, escrow, and closing mechanics, and finish with bid calling and auction-day practice. Practicing bids aloud is the part candidates most often skip and later regret.
What trips candidates up most?
Two things: assuming a passing score, question count, or time limit that the department does not publish on its auctioneer page, and treating escrow and recordkeeping as clerical detail rather than fiduciary obligations. Know who holds funds, when they must be disbursed, and what records you must keep - those questions reward precision, not instinct.