How to Get a Pennsylvania Broker and Real Estate Agent License
15 min read·
To get a Pennsylvania real estate salesperson license, you must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, finish 75 hours of pre-licensing coursework, pass the Pearson VUE licensing exam, pass a criminal background check, and secure a sponsoring broker before submitting your application through the PALS online portal. The Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission regulates both broker and real estate agent licensure, and the process generally takes two to four months.
Pennsylvania real estate license requirements
Pennsylvania requires salesperson candidates to meet six criteria before licensure. The PA Real Estate Commission salesperson licensure snapshot[1] details each one. Candidates must be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, finish 75 hours of pre-licensing instruction, pass both exam portions, clear a background screening, and have a broker sponsor.
No prior experience is needed for salesperson licensure. Exam scores remain valid for 3 years preceding application submission, and the Commission does not require continuing education for the initial license.
An education waiver applies if you hold a Juris Doctor degree, a bachelor's degree in real estate, or a bachelor's degree with equivalent coursework. You may also qualify with 75 hours of pre-licensing coursework from another state, if that coursework was approved for licensure in that state, per the PA Department of State licensing guide[2].
To obtain a Pennsylvania real estate salesperson license, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete 75 hours (5 credits) of basic real estate courses from an accredited college or approved education provider. The required courses are Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours, 2 credits) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours, 3 credits), and they must be completed within 5 years prior to passing the licensing exam. Applicants must pass both the National and PA State portions of the exam with a score of at least 75% on each, provide a Criminal History Records Check from every state where they have lived, worked, or studied for the past 5 years, and have an employing broker willing to certify supervision and training before applying. No prior experience is required for salesperson licensure.See the answer for every state
To become a Pennsylvania real estate salesperson, you must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete 75 hours (5 credits) of pre-licensing education from an approved provider: Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours, 2 credits) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours, 3 credits). You must pass both portions of the licensing exam through Pearson VUE, each requiring a 75% passing score, obtain a Criminal History Records Check from every state where you have lived, worked, or studied in the past 5 years, and secure an employing broker to certify supervision before applying through PALS. The initial license fee is $97, comprising a $72 licensure fee and a $25 application fee.See the answer for every state
The licensing process involves completing 75 hours of pre-licensing education, passing the national and state portions of the Pearson VUE exam, obtaining a criminal background check, securing an employing broker, and submitting an application through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). Most people complete the process within a few months, depending on how quickly coursework and exam preparation are finished. Once the application is approved and the license is issued, it is mailed to the employing broker's main office within 7 to 10 business days.See the answer for every state
Complete your pre-licensing education
Your first step is to finish the required coursework from an accredited college or Commission-approved real estate school. The PA Real Estate Commission education page[3] describes two mandatory courses:
Course
Hours
Credits
Real Estate Fundamentals
30
2
Real Estate Practice
45
3
Total
75
5
All coursework must be finished within 5 years before the date you pass the licensing exam. If you do not pass within that window, you must retake the courses.
Pennsylvania requires 75 hours (5 credits) of basic real estate courses from an accredited college or an approved education provider, consisting of two Commission-developed courses: Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours, 2 credits) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours, 3 credits). Courses must be completed within 5 years prior to the date of successful completion of the licensing examination. A bachelor's degree with a major in real estate, a Juris Doctor degree, or 75 hours of pre-licensure coursework completed in another state that was approved for licensure in that state may also satisfy the education requirement.See the answer for every state
Pennsylvania permits real estate pre-licensing courses to be completed online. The state offers Distance Education Course Approval applications, confirming that online and self-paced delivery formats are permitted alongside instructor-led classroom instruction. Education providers must be approved by the PA Real Estate Commission, and approved providers can be found through the PALS verification portal.See the answer for every state
To find approved real estate pre-licensing education providers in Pennsylvania, visit the PALS verification site at www.pals.pa.gov/verify and search under the Real Estate Commission for Real Estate Education Providers. Three provider subtypes appear: RE for in-state schools, RU for out-of-state schools, and RUC for accredited colleges and universities. Approved providers may offer courses in instructor-led classroom, livestream, or self-paced online formats, and final exams for pre-licensing courses must be proctored.See the answer for every state
Pre-licensing education costs for Pennsylvania salespersons vary by provider and course format, with online self-paced options generally costing less than in-person instruction. The state requires 75 hours (5 credits) of basic real estate courses, consisting of Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours). Broker pre-licensing education involves 240 hours (16 credits) across 10 topics, with individual broker courses typically costing more than salesperson courses. Approved providers offer courses in online self-paced, livestream, and in-person formats, and final exams must be proctored.See the answer for every state
Register for and take the licensing exam
After your coursework is done, you register for and take the salesperson licensing exam through Pearson VUE, which replaced PSI as Pennsylvania's exam vendor effective April 1, 2023. The PA Real Estate Commission[4] directs candidates to Pearson VUE for registration.
The exam has two portions, each requiring a 75% passing score:
Portion
Questions
Time limit
Passing score
National
80
150 minutes
75% (60 correct)
State
40
60 minutes
75% (30 correct)
If you fail one portion, you retake only that portion. Each portion costs $49 per attempt.
The Pennsylvania real estate licensing exam consists of 120 scored questions divided into two portions: 80 national questions with 150 minutes allowed, and 40 state-specific questions with 60 minutes allowed. An additional 5 to 10 unscored pretest items may appear in each portion. Candidates must score at least 75% on each portion to pass (60 of 80 national questions and 30 of 40 state questions). Pearson VUE administers the exam, which is offered daily at testing centers across Pennsylvania and through remote proctoring. Results appear immediately on screen after completion. If a candidate fails one portion, only that portion must be retaken.See the answer for every state
Pearson VUE offers practice tests for $19.95 covering general (national) real estate topics, and the Candidate Handbook with detailed Content Outlines is available as a free PDF download in English and Spanish. The national portion of the salesperson exam covers 80 scored questions across topics including property ownership, contracts and agency, financing, valuation, and real estate math, while the state portion covers 40 scored questions on the Real Estate Commission, licensure, and regulation of licensees. The exam is computer-based, a basic non-scientific calculator is permitted, and results appear immediately on screen after completion.See the answer for every state
Pearson VUE, the official exam vendor for Pennsylvania real estate exams, offers Broker and Salesperson practice tests for $19.95 each; these cover general (national) real estate topics only, and state-specific practice tests are not available. Pearson VUE also provides a Candidate Handbook and Content Outlines as PDF downloads in both English and Spanish, which detail the topics and number of questions on each exam portion. Salesperson candidates apply for exam eligibility through the Clarus portal, and broker candidates apply through PALS at pals.pa.gov.See the answer for every state
Complete the criminal background check
Pennsylvania requires a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) as part of the salesperson license application. Per the PA Department of State licensing guide[2], you must provide a CHRC from the state police or equivalent state agency for every state where you have lived, worked, or completed professional training or studies during the past five years. The reports must be dated within 180 days of the date you submit your application.
For the Pennsylvania record check, use the ePATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. Volunteer record checks are not accepted. If you have lived outside Pennsylvania during the past five years, you must obtain background checks from each state, or an FBI Identity History Summary Check.
Applicants with a criminal conviction are not automatically disqualified. Pennsylvania reviews criminal records on a case-by-case basis. Under Act 53 of 2020, the state permits a preliminary determination request, which lets you learn whether your record would disqualify you before you complete the full application.
Secure a sponsoring broker and apply for your license
Before you can submit a license application, a licensed Pennsylvania broker must agree to sponsor you. The broker confirms through the PALS portal that they will oversee your work, per the PA Department of State licensing guide[2].
The application process runs through the PALS online portal at pals.pa.gov. You complete the salesperson license application, click "Send to Broker" for your sponsoring broker to review and approve, then finish the legal questions section and submit with payment. The broker's approval happens within PALS; no paper forms are needed.
The initial license fee is $97, which includes a $72 licensure fee and a $25 application fee, per the PA Real Estate Commission[1]. First-time licensees who have never held a Pennsylvania real estate license also pay a Real Estate Recovery Fund contribution. After approval, the Commission sends a physical license to the sponsoring broker's office, arriving in 7 to 10 business days.
To obtain a Pennsylvania real estate salesperson license, first complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education, consisting of Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours), from an accredited college or Commission-approved provider. Register for and pass both the National and PA State portions of the licensing exam through Pearson VUE, scoring at least 75% on each portion. Obtain 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 application submission. Secure an employing broker who holds a valid Pennsylvania broker license and is willing to certify supervision and training. Submit the license application through PALS (pals.pa.gov), send it to your broker for approval, complete the legal questions, and pay the licensing fee. Once issued, the license is mailed to the broker's main office within 7-10 business days.See the answer for every state
The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission requires a $97.00 initial fee for a salesperson license, comprising a $72.00 licensure fee and a $25.00 application fee. Pre-licensing education consists of 75 hours (5 credits) from an approved education provider, and course costs vary by provider. Applicants must also submit a Criminal History Records Check from every state where they have lived, worked, or studied for the past 5 years, with reports dated within 180 days of application submission. The licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE, requires a separate fee per attempt.See the answer for every state
License types and professional designations
In Pennsylvania, the professional who helps buyers and sellers with real estate transactions is formally called a salesperson, though most people use the term "real estate agent." A salesperson must work under a licensed broker. Pennsylvania does not issue a separate license for commercial real estate; the standard salesperson license covers both residential and commercial transactions.
A real estate salesperson (agent) is licensed to list, sell, buy, lease, or collect rent for real estate under the supervision of a licensed broker. A broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and can work independently, own a brokerage, and employ salespersons. In Pennsylvania, a salesperson must be at least 18, complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education, and pass the licensing exam. A broker must be at least 21, complete 240 hours (16 credits) of professional real estate education, document at least 3 years of experience as a licensed salesperson, and pass the broker exam. Salespersons cannot practice without an employing broker; brokers can operate their own businesses.See the answer for every state
A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and follows NAR's Code of Ethics. A real estate agent is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but is not necessarily a NAR member. All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.See the answer for every state
A licensed real estate agent becomes a REALTOR® by joining their local REALTOR® Association and paying membership dues to local, state, and national organizations. REALTORS® must follow NAR's Code of Ethics and complete ethics training every three years. NAR had approximately 1.5 million members, with 64% holding sales agent licenses, 22% broker licenses, and 16% broker associate licenses.See the answer for every state
Next steps after getting licensed
After you receive your salesperson license, you must renew it every two years. Licenses expire on May 31 of every even-numbered year, and the salesperson renewal fee is $96, per the PA Real Estate Commission renewal page[5]. Each renewal cycle requires 14 hours of Commission-approved continuing education. First-time renewing salespersons must complete a 7-hour General Module and either a 7-hour Residential or Commercial Module. Pennsylvania has no grace period for late renewals.
If you hold a real estate license in another state, Pennsylvania has reciprocity agreements with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, and Massachusetts, per the PA Department of State licensing guide[2]. Reciprocal applicants who have been actively licensed in one of these states take only the Pennsylvania portion of the exam.
To become a real estate broker in Pennsylvania, you must be at least 21 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 240 hours (16 credits) of professional real estate education from an approved provider, and document at least 3 years of experience as a licensed salesperson with experience the Commission considers adequate. Unlike salesperson candidates, broker candidates must submit an application through PALS and be approved by the Real Estate Commission before registering for the exam, which requires a $40 examination qualification fee. Once approved, candidates register with Pearson VUE to take both the National and PA State portions of the broker exam, and four broker license types are available: Associate Broker, Broker Multi-Licensee (Broker of Record), Broker Corporation/LLC/Partnership, and Broker Sole Proprietor.See the answer for every state
Pennsylvania allows real estate continuing education to be completed online through Commission-approved education providers. The state offers Distance Education Course Approval applications, confirming that online and self-paced delivery formats are permitted alongside traditional classroom instruction. CE courses must be approved by the PA Real Estate Commission, and 14 hours are required each 2-year renewal cycle.See the answer for every state
Start by finding a Commission-approved education provider at the PALS verification site (pals.pa.gov/verify), then work through each step in order: education, exam, background check, broker sponsorship, and application. The Commission's contact line at 1-833-DOS-BPOA (1-833-367-2762) can answer questions about your specific situation.
