How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a high school graduate or have the equivalent.
• Complete 75 hours (5 credits) of basic real estate courses, or hold a qualifying degree.
• Pass the national and Pennsylvania state exams within 3 years before applying.
• Have an employing broker with a valid Pennsylvania broker license.

Step by step

1. Complete Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours) with an approved provider or accredited college.
2. Register with Pearson VUE and pass the national and state portions (75% each) within 5 years of your first course.
3. Get a criminal history records check from every state where you lived, worked or studied in the past 5 years, dated within 180 days of applying.
4. In PALS, start the Real Estate Salesperson – Standard application, upload documents and send it to your employing broker.
5. After your broker approves it, answer the legal questions and pay the $97 fee to submit.
6. The license appears in your PALS dashboard when issued; the paper license goes to your broker's main office.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 75 hours (5 credits): Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours), from an accredited college or an approved real estate education provider, completed within 5 years before you pass the exam. A law degree, a bachelor's in real estate, or a bachelor's with equivalent real estate coursework also qualifies.

Exam: Given by Pearson VUE. National portion: 80 scored questions plus 5 to 10 pretest, 150 minutes, $52. Pennsylvania state portion: 40 scored questions plus 5 to 10 pretest, 60 minutes, $49. Booking both together costs $52. You need 75% on each portion; if you fail one, retake only that part. Attempts are unlimited within 5 years of your first course, and passing scores are good for 3 years. Applicants actively licensed in another state within the last 5 years take only the state portion.

What it costs in Pennsylvania

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

How long it takes

The Department of State says the license reaches your employing broker's main office 7 to 10 business days after it is issued; it does not publish a review time.

What other sites get wrong about Pennsylvania

After you're licensed

Renewal: All licenses expire May 31 of every even-numbered year, with no grace period. Renew in PALS for $96. You need 14 hours of Commission-approved CE per 2-year period; no CE is required for the initial license. First-time renewers must take the Commission's required new-licensee modules (the General Module plus the Residential or Commercial Module). For 2026–2028, at least 2 of the 14 hours must cover Protecting Consumer's Real Property, Personal Property and Information; first-time renewers are exempt from this topic.

Good to know in Pennsylvania

Employing broker: You cannot submit your application until an employing broker with a valid Pennsylvania license approves it in PALS and agrees to supervise and train you.

Reciprocity: A reciprocal license requires a current, active license from a state that licenses Pennsylvania licensees without further requirement or has substantially comparable requirements. The Commission currently has reciprocity agreements only with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland and Massachusetts. Reciprocal licensees must keep their principal place of business and an active license in that state. Under Act 41, the Commission may also endorse licensees from states with substantially equivalent requirements.

Sources

• PA DOS — Real Estate Salesperson Licensure Snapshot
• PA DOS — Real Estate Commission Licensure Guide
• PA DOS — Real Estate Commission Renewal Information
• PA DOS — Real Estate Commission Education Information
• PA DOS — Real Estate Commission FAQs
• PA DOS — Announcements (2026–2028 CE topic)
• Pearson VUE — Pennsylvania Real Estate Candidate Handbook (March 2026)
• Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, Section 802 (63 P.S. 455.802)
• Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (1980 Act 9), Section 802