Walk in prepared
Get ready before you pay the big fees.
Licenses, schooling and college classes cost real money. Between course tuition, books, application fees, fingerprints and exam fees, you can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars before you ever hold that license or certificate. And if you don't pass, you pay again.
So give yourself the step most people skip: get prepared first. Learn the material at your own pace with one affordable membership, build real confidence, and then walk in ready to make the most of what you're paying for.
Retake costs add up. A failed attempt usually means paying the exam fee again, plus more time off work, travel and stress. Security+ alone is $439 per try. Being ready the first time is the best way to save money.
What it can cost
Typical costs as of October 2026. Costs vary by state, school and provider and change often, so always check the official source before you pay.
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida real estate sales associate: state exam (per attempt) | $36.75 | Pearson VUE (Florida) |
| Florida real estate sales associate: license application fee | $62.75 | Florida DBPR form RE 1 |
| FL 63-hour pre-license course, online (course materials vary; printed textbook may cost extra) | $125–$459 (The CE Shop $125–$459 by package; Kaplan online $269) | The CE Shop / Kaplan |
| FL 63-hour pre-license course, in-person or livestream (course materials vary; printed textbook may cost extra) | $459–$799 (Kaplan in-person $459; Gold Coast $599–$799) | Kaplan / Gold Coast Schools |
| FL fingerprints (Livescan, required) | $39 at DBPR Tallahassee; ~$85–$90 at private Livescan vendors | Florida DBPR Fingerprinting |
| Typical total to get a FL sales associate license (course + application + fingerprints + one exam) | About $265–$990. A failed exam adds $36.75 per retake. | Sum of the rows above |
| FL certified general/building/residential contractor: exam prep course | $395 course only (1 Exam Prep) to $1,199 (Gold Coast course only) | 1 Exam Prep / Gold Coast Schools |
| FL contractor: open-book reference library (tabbed & highlighted) | About $1,450–$1,800 for books and tabs; Gold Coast course + books package is $3,749 | My Contractor Exam / The Exam Pros |
| FL contractor exam: registration + Business & Finance + Contract Administration + Project Management | $295 ($135 registration + $80 + $40 + $40) | Florida DBPR exam application packet |
| FL certified contractor application/license fee | $145 or $245 depending on the date you apply | DBPR CILB 5-A |
| FL contractor fingerprints (Livescan, required) | $39 at DBPR Tallahassee; ~$85–$90 at private Livescan vendors | Florida DBPR Fingerprinting |
| Typical total to get a FL certified contractor license (prep + books + exams + application + fingerprints) | About $1,900–$4,400. A failed exam part costs $135 plus the exam fee again for each retake. | Sum of the rows above; retake rule 61G4-12.009 |
| Florida CNA exam (written $35 + clinical skills) | $155 for both parts | Prometric Nurse Aide |
| Florida GED test | $38 per subject ($152 for all 4); retakes $12 center fee | GED.com Florida |
| CLEP exam (can earn college credit at schools that accept it) | $97 + test center or $30 remote proctoring fee | College Board CLEP |
| CompTIA Security+ exam | $439 per attempt | CompTIA price watch (Oct 2026) |
| CompTIA A+ (two exams) | $548 ($274 each) | CompTIA price watch (Oct 2026) |
| PMP exam | $425 PMI member / $675 non-member | PMP fees (Aug 2026) |
| Community college tuition & fees, full-time year (U.S. avg, 2025-26) | $4,150 | College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025 |
| Florida college tuition, in-state (example: Hillsborough College) | $104 per credit hour (~$312 per 3-credit course) | FloridaShines |
| Books & supplies, full-time year at a community college (U.S. avg) | $1,570 | College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025 |
How we help you get ready
- A college-level plan built for you, with an hours estimate and a module-by-module path.
- Practice quizzes so you can find your weak spots before test day.
- Ask the Professor, a coach that helps you understand the material instead of handing you answers.
- Hours tracking so you can see your progress and stay on pace.
When you're ready, you register and test with the official provider on your own, with more knowledge and more confidence. We can't promise you'll pass, but we'll help you walk in prepared.
We prepare you; credentials are earned through the official provider. We are not a school, and completing our courses does not award a diploma, license, or credit.