The first step to becoming a real estate agent in PA is getting your Pennsylvania real estate license. Getting your real estate license in Pennsylvania doesn’t need to be difficult. However, before you start the process of getting your real estate license, you should know what to expect.
Let’s look at the requirements, the cost, the exam, and all other elements included so you can begin your licensed real estate career.
Requirements for a Pennsylvania Real Estate License
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Complete 75 hours of approved real estate courses
- Pass the Pennsylvania Sales Person Real Estate Exam
- Complete a background check
- Become sponsored by a licensed real estate broker in Pennsylvania
- Submit licensing application, along with the necessary fees to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission
5 Steps to Getting Your PA Real Estate License
Step 1: Complete a 75-hour Pennsylvania Pre-Licensing Course
In Pennsylvania, you will need to complete 75-hours of pre-licensing courses (or 5 credits from an accredited college) to be able to become a licensed salesperson. However, many people take their pre-licensing course online, allowing them to work from home. There are many online real estate schools; here are our top picks.
With industry-leading exam pass rates, Aceable is a leader in online education.
Colibri has helped over 520,000 aspiring real estate agents and brokers get licensed.
All of our top picks are approved real estate education providers and provide their students with online courses to prepare them for their new careers in the real estate business. When you pick one of these online exam prep courses, you can access practice tests, instructor support, flashcards, video & audio lessons, private tutoring, live webinars, and more!
You can skip this step if…
- you have a bachelor’s degree with a major in Real Estate
- you have received a Juris Doctor degree from a law school
- you have passed 75-hours of a pre-licensure course in another state that meets the Pennsylvania reciprocal requirements
Step 2: Pass the PA Real Estate Salesperson Exam
After you complete the 75-hour pre-licensing and course final exam from one of the approved real estate schools in PA, you will be ready to register for the Pennsylvania real estate agent exam. You must pay an examination fee of $49 for the state and national portions. You can schedule online at www.psiexams.com/pare and follow the prompts.
The National portion of the exam will be waived if you meet the following… Complete the required education listed above and possess a Certification of Licensure (Letter of Good Standing) from the licensing authority of another jurisdiction showing you have been actively licensed within the past 5 years. Submit a Certification of Licensure from that jurisdiction, dated within 90 days of the date you are registering.
Pennsylvania licensed real estate agent exam consists of 120 multi-choice questions. 80 of those questions cover the national portion, while 40 cover the state portion. Therefore, you will have 120 minutes to complete the national and 60 minutes for the state portions.
To pass the exam, you must get a passing score of 60 out of the 80 national questions correct and 30 out of the 40 state-specific questions correct.
Bring This
2 forms of ID* – 1 government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, Military ID, or Green Card) and 1 with your name and signature. (Social Security Card, Credit Card, or Employment/Student ID)
Calculator – You may bring a silent calculator
*All identification provided must match the name on the Examination Registration Form and your Registration Confirmation Notice.
Don’t Bring This
Do not bring any personal items!
- Your phone, watch, wallet, hat, and jacket must be left outside of the testing area.
- You will need to leave everything in your car or put them in a locker (electronics turned off) until the completion of the exam.
The test center will provide everything you need for the exam.
After you have finished the exam, the results will be displayed on your screen, and a score report will be emailed to you. If you fail, the emailed score report will include a diagnostic report indicating your strengths and weaknesses for each section. If you need to take a retest, the fee is $49 but is valid for one year.
Is the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam Hard?
Getting your real estate license in Pennsylvania isn’t easy, and many test takers fail their first attempt. We recommend checking out Aceable Agent; they have a national real estate exam pass rate of an impressive 91%!
Step 3: Pass a Background Check
The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission requires all applicants for licensure to have a complete criminal record check done. This background check may not be older than 90 days from the Commission receiving your Pennsylvania real estate license application.
If you are applying for a reciprocal license, a criminal history record check must be provided by the state police in the state where you currently reside.
Step 4: Find a Broker
You have completed your Pennsylvania real estate salesperson exam. Still, before submitting your application to receive your license, you must find a brokerage firm to work for. As a prospective applicant, you must have a sponsoring broker willing to supervise, train you, and provide expert advice to advance your career once your license is granted. You can not apply for a real estate sales license until you have an employing broker who holds a valid Pennsylvania real estate broker’s license. Once your license is issued, a physical copy will be printed and mailed to your broker’s main office.
Step 5: Apply for Your Pennsylvania Real Estate License
When you have passed the state and national portion of the Pennsylvania real estate licensing exam, you can apply for licensure by submitting a complete application to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. You can either send it through the mail or submit everything online at www.pals.pa.gov. Take the licensing exam in person at a test center or remotely through a proctored test. You will need a video and audio set up to take the test.
You will have three years to apply for your license from the time you pass the final exam; if you fail, you will have to retake the Pennsylvania state exam.
Pennsylvania Real Estate License Checklist
- Fully completed application
- Application fee (outline on application) Cash is NOT accepted when mailing
- Completed state police criminal record check documentation
- Copies of educational transcripts verifying completion of the required education OR a Certificate of Licensure from another licensing jurisdiction verifying you held an active real estate license within the past five years
- Copies of examination pass report
Congratulations, you are now a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in PA! Take time to celebrate your accomplishments and dream about your new future!
A Day in the Life of a PA Real Estate Salesperson
You are now an active, licensed real estate agent in Pennsylvania! Here’s a glimpse of what your day-to-day will look like:
- Comparative market analysis
- List homes for sale
- Assist buyers with buying or placing an offer on a property
- Negotiate the purchase, sale, or exchange of real estate
- Negotiate loans on real estate
- Work with renters to rent real estate
- Collect rent for the use of real estate on behalf of a property owner
PA Real Estate License FAQs
How much does a PA real estate agent make?
Most real estate agents in Pennsylvania make $42k – $68k a year.
Is there Pennsylvania real estate license reciprocity?
Yes, the Pennsylvania Commission offers reciprocal licenses for licensed agents in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York.
Do I have to renew my real estate license in Pennsylvania?
You must renew your license every two years; the renewal fee is $96.
What are Pennsylvania real estate license CE requirements?
You need to complete 14 hours of continuing education during each two-year license period. In addition, first-time renewals will need to complete a certain set of CE courses.
How much does it cost to obtain a Pennsylvania real estate license online?
Depending on which your choice of online real estate school, costs will range from $199-$685.
