Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam Guide: Format, Topics, and Prep

The Pennsylvania real estate salesperson licensing exam is a computer-based test administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. Pennsylvania uses the term "salesperson" for the license level that many other states call "agent." The exam has 120 scored questions across two portions (80 national and 40 state-specific), and candidates must score 75% on each portion to pass, per the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook^[1]. Many candidates supplement their 75 hours of pre-licensing education with a real estate exam course or practice materials to prepare. The exam fee is $49 per attempt covering both portions, and results appear immediately on screen.

Overview of the Pennsylvania real estate exam

The Pennsylvania real estate exam is the two-part licensing test that every salesperson candidate must pass before applying for a license. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission contracts with Pearson VUE to administer the exam at testing centers across the state, with exams offered daily. The Pearson VUE Pennsylvania real estate page^[2] provides the Candidate Handbook, which lists all testing locations and scheduling instructions.

The exam is delivered on a computer at a Pearson VUE testing center. Candidates receive their scores immediately after completing the test. Spanish-language testing is available for both the salesperson and broker exams, per the Bucks County Association of REALTORS®^[3].

Pennsylvania real estate exam format at a glance

The table below summarizes the salesperson exam format, based on the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook^[1]:

Pretest questions are unscored and do not affect the result. The broker exam follows the same format and time limits, with broker-level content on both portions.

What topics are on the Pennsylvania real estate exam?

The national portion tests general real estate knowledge, while the state portion tests Pennsylvania-specific laws and regulations. The Pearson VUE content outlines^[4], effective April 1, 2025, detail the number of questions per topic area.

National portion content outline

The national portion has 80 scored questions across eight topic areas. Real estate contracts and agency is the largest category with 16 questions, followed by real property characteristics and property value with 11 questions each.

State portion content outline

The state portion has 40 scored questions across three topic areas. Regulation of conduct of licensees is the dominant category with 28 of the 40 questions.

The Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability, is among the topics tested on the national portion. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development^[5] provides a summary of the act's protected classes.

How to register for the Pennsylvania real estate exam

You register for the salesperson exam through Pearson VUE's Clarus portal after completing 75 hours of pre-licensing education from an approved provider. Pre-licensing courses must have been completed within 5 years prior to the exam date, per the PA Department of State licensing guide^[6]. You must submit separate applications for both the National and State portions through the Clarus system, per the Pearson VUE Pennsylvania real estate page^[2]. For help with Clarus applications, call 888-511-5352.

Broker candidates submit an application through the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission's PALS portal at www.pals.pa.gov. The application requires educational transcripts, experience documentation, and other materials, per the PA Real Estate Commission^[7]. Once approved, broker candidates schedule the exam with Pearson VUE.

To schedule either exam, call Pearson VUE at 855-746-8175 or visit the Pearson VUE website^[2]. Examinations are offered daily at testing centers across the state.

Pennsylvania real estate exam fees

The salesperson exam fee is $49 per attempt, covering both the national and state portions regardless of whether you take one or both, per the Pennsylvania real estate candidate handbook^[8]. This fee applies to each sitting, including retakes.

The license application fee paid to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission after passing the exam is separate from the exam fee.

What to expect on exam day

The Pennsylvania real estate exam is computer-based and delivered at a Pearson VUE testing center. You should arrive early and bring valid identification as specified in the Candidate Handbook, available as a free download from the Pearson VUE Pennsylvania real estate page^[2].

You receive your scores immediately on screen after completing the exam. A passing result on both the national and state portions qualifies you to apply for a salesperson license.

Online testing for the Pennsylvania real estate exam

Yes, you can take the Pennsylvania real estate exam online in addition to testing in person at a center.

How to prepare for the Pennsylvania real estate exam

Effective preparation begins with a study plan organized around the exam's content outline. You should allocate study time based on the question distribution, spending more time on categories with higher question counts. A structured real estate exam prep approach helps cover both national and state content before test day.

Real estate math is a common area where candidates lose points. The national portion includes 7 math calculation questions covering commission calculations, loan-to-value ratios, proration, and area measurements. Practicing these calculations with a basic calculator builds speed and accuracy.

Flashcards help with vocabulary memorization, particularly for legal terms and regulatory definitions on the state portion. The state portion's largest category, regulation of conduct of licensees, has 28 of the 40 questions. This makes it the most important area to study for the state section. Candidates who take a real estate exam prep course or use structured study materials can focus their review on these high-yield topics.

Practice tests and sample questions for the Pennsylvania real estate exam

Several resources provide real estate practice questions and sample tests for candidates preparing for the Pennsylvania real estate exam.

Third-party exam prep courses from approved education providers can offer state-specific practice questions, since the official Pearson VUE practice test covers only national content. If you need practice on Pennsylvania-specific topics, look for prep materials that include state portion questions covering the Real Estate Commission, licensure requirements, and regulation of conduct.

Failing, retaking, and score validity

If you fail one portion of the exam, you only need to retake the failed portion. Because the national and state portions are scored as separate components, a passing score on one portion is retained. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission does not publish a limit on retake attempts.

Exam scores are valid for 3 years from the date of passing, per the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission's salesperson licensure requirements^[9]. You must submit a complete license application within that 3-year window. If you do not apply in time, you must retake the exam.

Pass rate data for the Pennsylvania real estate exam

An official statewide pass rate has not been released by any Pennsylvania regulatory or testing authority.

Next steps after passing the Pennsylvania real estate exam

After passing both portions of the exam, you apply for a salesperson license from the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. The application requires a criminal history records check from every state where you have lived, worked, or studied for the past 5 years, with reports dated within 180 days of submission. A sponsoring broker must certify supervision and training before the license is issued, per the PA Department of State licensing guide^[6].

The license application fee is separate from the exam fee. First-time licensees who have never held a Pennsylvania real estate license pay $107 total ($72 licensure fee, $25 application fee, and $10 recovery fund fee), per the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission's application form.