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The Basaran GroupLoKation Real Estate · South Florida
Agents, representation & home value

What is the difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent?

Short answer

A real estate agent is anyone licensed by the state to help people buy, sell or rent property; in Florida that means a sales associate, broker associate or broker licensed through DBPR. A Realtor is a licensee who has also joined a local Realtor association, the state association and the National Association of Realtors, which owns the registered REALTOR mark, and is bound by its Code of Ethics.

The license comes from the state

In Florida, the legal credential is the license. Chapter 475 of the Florida Statutes defines brokers, broker associates and sales associates, and section 475.42 (2026 Florida Statutes) says a person may not operate as a broker or sales associate without a valid and current active license.

DBPR issues and tracks these licenses. Its Real Estate Broker or Sales license type has three ranks: sales associate, broker associate and broker. Agent is the everyday word; it is not a separate Florida license.[1][2][3]

Realtor is a trademark tied to membership

REALTOR is a registered mark owned by the National Association of Realtors. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, registration No. 519,789 has been registered since 1950 and is live.

Florida Realtors, the state association, explains that only licensed real estate professionals who have joined their local Realtor association, Florida Realtors and NAR may use the term, that membership usually begins at the local association, and that membership in Florida Realtors is voluntary. Realtors are bound by a Code of Ethics.[4][5][6]

Does the difference matter when you hire someone?

Every Florida licensee, member or not, must hold a valid and current active license to operate and must follow Florida license law; DBPR's records show disciplinary statuses such as probation or suspension. Realtor members also take on the Code of Ethics as an additional set of obligations.

To check both, look up the person's license status and rank in DBPR's online Licensee Search, and ask directly whether they are a Realtor member.[2][3][6]

Key takeaways

  • In Florida, real estate agent informally describes a DBPR-licensed sales associate, broker associate or broker.
  • REALTOR is a registered mark owned by the National Association of Realtors.
  • Only licensees who join a local Realtor association, Florida Realtors and NAR may use the term Realtor.
  • Realtors are bound by a Code of Ethics in addition to Florida license law.
  • You can verify any licensee's status in DBPR's free online Licensee Search.

Sources

  1. [1]Florida Legislature — Section 475.01, Florida Statutes: Definitions
  2. [2]Florida Legislature — Section 475.42, Florida Statutes: Violations and penalties
  3. [3]Florida DBPR — Licensing Portal: Term Glossary
  4. [4]U.S. Patent and Trademark Office — TSDR status: REALTOR, Registration No. 519789
  5. [5]Florida Realtors — About Florida Realtors (Using the term Realtor)
  6. [6]Florida Realtors — Law & Ethics

Reviewed October 11, 2026. General real-estate information for Florida, not legal, tax, lending or insurance advice. Laws, rates and deadlines change — confirm property-specific facts with the agency cited, a Florida real-estate attorney, CPA or licensed insurance agent.

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