How To Obtain A Pennsylvania Real Estate License

(For Broker License go HERE)

Overview:

Step 1 - Successfully complete two courses: Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate Practice

Register for Live Classes

Register for On-Line Classes

Step 2 - Take an Exam Preparation Course (recommended but not required)

Step 3 - Successfully pass the Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson Exam.

Step 4 - Ask the Broker of the company you plan to affiliate with to sign the necessary papers to apply for your license.

More Details:

Salesperson Requirements

1. Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older
2. Must complete and submit to PSI, an "Examination Registration Form" including the $54 examination fee and 1 Official Transcript (with a raised seal) evidencing successful completion of the required education.
3. Must qualify under one of the following and submit the required documentation to PSI with the registration form:
   
   
   1. Must have completed (75) hours of real estate instruction in Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours) within ten (5) years prior to the date of successful completion of the licensing examination. An original copy of the Pennsylvania Uniform Real estate Transcript must be submitted to PSI. A copy will be needed for the Commission.

   OR

   2. Must possess a bachelor's degree with a major in real estate or its equivalent from an accredited college, university, or institute of higher learning. A certified transcript must be submitted to PSI (Certified means that the document was obtained directly from the school with the raised seal.) A copy of the transcript will be needed for the Commission.

   OR

   3. Must have completed Seventy five (75) hours of acceptable basic real estate at an accredited college, university, or institute of higher learning located outside this Commonwealth or a real estate school outside this Commonwealth that has been approved by the real estate licensing authority of the jurisdiction where the school is located. A certified transcript must be submitted to PSI. A copy of the transcript will be needed for the Commission.

   OR

   4. Must submit a Letter of Certification from the licensing authority if you have been licensed in another jurisdiction within the last five (5) yeras. This letter must include the license number, date of issuance, and proof of successful completion of the jurisdiction's licensing examination, office address, and name of employer. In this manner, you will only need to take the Pennsylvania State Specific Examination. The letter must be submitted to PSI. A copy will be needed for the Commission.

   OR

   5. Must possess a Juris Doctors degree from an accredited law school. A certified transcript from the law school showing when you obtained your Juris Doctor degree or a certified Certification of Good Standing from the Supreme Court of the state where you practice law must be submitted to PSI. A copy of the transcript or Certificate will be needed for the Commission.
   
   

   Apply for a license, and exam authorization

   Before taking an examination, candidates must complete all prelicensing education and file an application to sit for the examination. When the application requirements are met, the candidates will be authorized by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission and will be notified via email confirmation from Pearson VUE.

   The authorization for Salespersons is good for 5 years after passing the first education course to take the exams. Brokers have a 10-year authorization after passing the first course to take their exams. Exam results are good for 3 years from the date of passing. Candidates must apply for their license within the 3 year period and submit their passing score reports and licensing application to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.

   Sales applicants:

   To apply for your Salesperson exam, please create an account in Clarus, https://pare.useclarus.com/. Choose a State and/or National exam application and submit proof of education and other requireddocuments. You will need to do both applications if you are required to take both portions of the exam. You will only need to be required to submit required documentation once. Pearson VUE will review Salesperson exam eligibility, and you will be notified of approval once requirements are met via email. The email will contain instructions on how to schedule your exam.
   Philadelphia - One Bala Avenue, Suite 315, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
   

   Make a reservation and pay examination fee

   The exam fee is $49 for each exam. Once you receive your authorization to test by email from Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, through Pearson VUE, you may make a reservation for the examination following the instructions from your eligibility email. Candidates are not permitted to retake a part of the exam that has already been passed during the 5-year authorization period.

   The Licensure Process

   National-portion practice tests are offered exclusively online at www.pearsonvue.com, giving candidates even more opportunity to succeed on real estate examinations. The national-portion practice tests will not only help prepare candidates for the types of questions they will see on the national portion of the licensure examination but also familiarize them with taking computer-based examinations.

   Pearson VUE offers a practice test for real estate that contains questions developed by subject matter experts using concepts found in the national portion of the licensure examination. The test closely reflects the format of the national portion of the licensure examination, can be scored instantly, and provides immediate feedback to help candidates identify correct and incorrect answers. Candidates can purchase national-portion practice tests anytime by visiting www.pearsonvue.com/practicetests/realestate.

   Examinations by Pearson VUE

   Pennsylvania state laws stipulate that a person may not act as a real estate salesperson, builder/owner salesperson, rental listing referral agent, cemetery broker, or broker without first obtaining a license issued by the Department of State. To be licensed, you must pass an examination to confirm that you have attained at least a minimum level of knowledge regarding the principles, practices, statutes, and regulations relating to real estate.

   The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission has contracted with Pearson VUE to conduct its examination program. Pearson VUE provides examinations through a network of computer examination centers in Pennsylvania. Pearson VUE works closely with the State to be certain that examinations meet local as well as national requirements in basic principles and examination development standards.

   If you hold a real estate license in a jurisdiction in which Pennsylvania has a signed reciprocal license agreement with and you plan on keeping that licensee active, you are exempt from taking the examination. Please look on the Commission’s website (dos.pa.gov/estate) for details.

   Exam Eligibility and Approval Process

   Your examination scores are only valid for three years. Therefore, the Commission must receive your completed application, fees and required documentation within three years of passing the examination. If you miss the three-year deadline, you will be required to retake the examination before a license will be issued. Note: if you have passed the two sections of examination, on different dates, the three-year period begins the day you pass the first part of the examination.

   Making a Reservation

   Candidates may make a reservation after they have received an email from Pearson VUE indicating that they are authorized to test. Online reservations are the most efficient way for candidates to schedule their examination. Instructions for registering online are included in your eligibility to test email.

   Test Center Locations

   A list of test centers appears on the back cover of this handbook. In addition, candidates may review the test center locations by going to http://www.pearsonvue.com/vtclocator. These exams are available at Pearson VUE test centers through out the United States & US territories. If the candidate has questions regarding the confirmation of specific locations and/or examination schedules, please contact Pearson VUE.

   Change/Cancel Policy

   Candidates must either call Pearson VUE or log into their Pearson Profile to change or cancel their appointment at least forty-eight (48) hours before the examination. Candidates who change or cancel a reservation with proper notice may either transfer the fee to a new reservation or request a refund. Candidates who change or cancel their reservations without proper notice will forfeit the examination fee. Candidates are individually liable for part of the examination fee once a reservation has been made, whether individually or by a third party.

   What to Bring ti the Exam

   All candidates must bring two (2) forms of signature identification that is unexpired, government-issued, and photo-bearing.

   Acceptable Forms of Candidate Identification

   Candidate must present two (2) forms of current signature identification. The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government issued and photo-bearing with a valid signature. Identification must be in English.

   Primary ID (photograph and signature, not expired)

   • Government-issued Driver’s License
   • U.S. Dept. of State Driver’s License
   • U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature
   • National/State/Country ID card
   • Passport
   • Passport Card
   • Military ID
   • Military ID for spouses and dependents
   • Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)

   If the ID presented has an embedded signature that is not visible (microchip), or is difficult or impossible to read, the candidate must present another form of identification from the Primary ID list that contains a visible signature.

   Pearson VUE does not accept expired driver’s licenses.. Newly renewed licenses which result in a temporary paper license will be accepted as long as the expired plastic license is also provided. Temporary licenses will not be accepted.

   Exam Procedures At Physical Test Location

   Candidates should report to the test center thirty (30) minutes before the examination and check in with the test center administrator. The candidate’s identification and other documentation will be reviewed, and they will be photographed for the score report.

   Candidates are required to review and sign a Candidate Rules Agreement form. If the Candidate Rules Agreement is not followed and/or cheating or tampering with the examination is suspected, the incident will be reported as such and the appropriate action will be taken. The examination fee will not be refunded, the exam may be determined invalid, and/or the state may take further action such as prohibiting candidates from retaking the examination and/or denying a license.

   Candidates will have an opportunity to take a tutorial on the computer on which the examination will be administered. The time spent on this tutorial will not reduce the examination time. The examination administrators will answer questions, but candidates should be aware that the administrators are not familiar with the content of the examinations or with the state’s licensing requirements. Examination administrators have been instructed not to advise candidates on requirements for licensure.

   Candidates may begin the examination once they are familiar with the computer. The examination begins the moment a candidate looks at the first examination question. Candidates will be given from 2 to 6 hours depending on the exam type to complete the examination. The examination will end automatically after the examination time has expired, and candidates will receive a document stating that they have taken their exam and instructions will be included for how to obtain their official score reports through their profile on Pearson VUE at https://home.pearsonvue.com/pa/realestate.

   OnVUE Online Procedures

   If you are testing online and not in a physical Pearson VUE testing location, you should first review the materials and watch the short video at https://home.pearsonvue.com/Test-Owner/Deliver/Online-Proctored.aspx beforeyou begin your online exam.

   Score Reporting

   Once you have passed the required exam(s) you must go back and complete the application process with the State. When candidates complete the examination, they will receive a score report marked “pass” or “fail.” Candidates will receive a document stating that they have taken their exam and instructions will be included for how to obtain their official score reports through their profile on Pearson VUE at https://home.pearsonvue.com/pa/realestate.

   Candidates are required to submit their passing score reports to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission as proof of passing the exam and as part of the licensure process. Candidates who fail the examination will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information relating to the national section and the state section of the examination, as well as information about reexamination.