How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania (2026 Guide)

Your Pennsylvania Real Estate License Guide

Dreaming of a flexible, high-earning career in the Keystone State’s property market? Getting your Pennsylvania real estate license is more straightforward than you might think.

To become a licensed real estate “salesperson” in PA, you only need to complete 75 hours of pre-licensing coursework—divided into 30 hours of Real Estate Fundamentals and 45 hours of Real Estate Practice. Once you pass both sections of the state exam, complete a standard criminal background check, and choose a sponsoring broker, you’re ready to start closing deals.

Whether you’re planning a full career pivot or looking for a profitable side hustle, this step-by-step 2026 guide breaks down PA real estate requirements, course costs, and exam prep so you can launch your career fast.

We’ll cover:


5 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission has a few requirements to become a salesperson. You must be at least 18 years old, and you’ll need to pass a criminal background check. If you meet the prerequisites, you can complete the following steps:

STEP 1 | Complete the 75-Hour Real Estate Pre-License Course

  • Pennsylvania’s 75-hour pre-license education is split into two courses: a 30-hour Real Estate Fundamentals course and a 45-hour Real Estate Practice course. Your final course exam must be proctored, and your coursework must have been completed within 5 years of passing the licensing exam.

STEP 2 | Schedule + Pass the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam

  • Once you complete your 75-hour course, you can schedule your state exam with Pearson VUE. The fee is $49 per section (national and state), so $98 total to take both.
  • The exam has 80 national questions and 40 Pennsylvania-specific questions. You’ll need to correctly answer at least 60 of the national questions and 30 of the state questions (75% on each) to pass. You’ll have 150 minutes for the national portion and 60 minutes for the state portion. See our FAQs section to learn more.

STEP 3 | Get a Criminal Background Check

  • You’ll need a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) covering the past 5 years, which you can obtain through the Pennsylvania State Police’s PATCH system.

STEP 4 |  Find a Sponsoring Broker

  • Before you can apply for your license, you’ll need to be affiliated with a licensed Pennsylvania real estate broker. Your sponsoring broker will need to approve and submit their portion of your license application through PALS, the state’s online licensing system. Keep reading below for tips on what to look for when picking a brokerage.

STEP 5 |  Submit Your Pennsylvania Real Estate License Application

  • Once you’ve passed both portions of the exam and secured a sponsoring broker, submit your license application through PALS. You’ll pay $107 total ($72 licensure fee, $25 application fee, and $10 recovery fund fee). After your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll officially receive your license and can begin practicing as a real estate salesperson.

How Long Does It Take to Get a PA Real Estate License?

Once you decide to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania, you’re probably excited and want to get started immediately.  Before you leave your current position, it’s important to understand how long the process can take.  Here is what an average timeline looks like:

  • 4 to 8 weeks to complete your 75-hour Pennsylvania pre-licensing course
  • 1 to 2 weeks to get your state real estate exam scheduled
  • 1 to 2 weeks to complete your criminal background check
  • 1 to 3 weeks to interview and select a sponsoring broker
  • 1 to 2 weeks for the Real Estate Commission to process your license application

While this timeline may seem a little daunting, there are a few ways to expedite things. First, taking an online course is the way to go.  Instead of attending scheduled in-person classes, you can learn at your own pace online.  We also highly recommend interviewing brokerages while you are finishing up your real estate course, so you are ready to hang your license with a broker as soon you pass the state exam.  All in all, it’s definitely possible to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania in about 6 months or less.


Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Pennsylvania

There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania…

  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $300 to $600
  • State Exam Fee – $98 (covers both the national and state portions)
  • License, Application & Recovery Fund Fees – $107
  • Criminal Background Check (CHRC) – about $22 to $40
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $527 to $845


More Costs to Expect as a Brand-New REALTOR®

Getting your real estate license is a huge accomplishment—but it’s also just the beginning! What many aspiring agents don’t always realize is that there are several other expenses to consider when you become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania.

Remember, you’re essentially opening your own small business. Planning for these startup and ongoing expenses now can help you feel much more prepared when it’s time to choose a brokerage and officially launch your career.

Common Expenses for Pennsylvania Real Estate Agents

ExpenseEstimated Cost
Continuing education$100 to $250 every 2 years
Pennsylvania license renewal$96 every 2 years
REALTOR® association membershipVaries by location; see examples below
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)Approximately $150 to $175 quarterly
SentriLock or Supra eKey$100 to $200 annually
Brokerage joining fee$0 to $500; approximately $250 on average
Monthly brokerage fee$0 to $350 per month
Business cards and signageVaries
Marketing and advertisingVaries

Pennsylvania real estate salespersons must complete 14 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year licensing cycle. New salespersons renewing for the first time must complete a specific set of required continuing education modules.

Licenses expire on May 31 of every even-numbered year, so be sure to finish your education and submit your renewal before the deadline.

Examples of Pennsylvania REALTOR® Association Dues

Your membership costs will depend on the association serving your market. Local associations frequently collect the national, state, and local portions of your REALTOR® dues together.

REALTOR® AssociationEstimated Dues
Greater Philadelphia Association of REALTORS® (GPAR)$649 annually
REALTORS® Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh (RAMP)$710 for a new member joining in January 2026; dues are prorated during the year

Before joining an association or paying for an MLS or electronic lockbox service, check with your sponsoring broker. Some brokerages include certain services in their monthly fees, while others require agents to purchase them separately.

Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania

When you combine the cost of getting licensed with the common expenses involved in launching your business, you can expect to spend approximately $1,326 to $2,545.

This is a helpful starting range, but your actual costs will depend on your brokerage, local REALTOR® association, MLS, and marketing choices. Ongoing monthly brokerage fees and optional advertising expenses can increase your first-year total.

OTHER EXPENSES TO EXPECT IN YOUR FIRST YEAR >>


Find the Top Real Estate Schools in PA

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a school that’s approved by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. There are many approved real estate schools throughout the state. Some are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two. Please note that several schools are our affiliate partners, so we may earn a small commission if you enroll, at no additional cost to you! It just helps support our site so we can continue to deliver oodles of free tips and advice.

Here are a few of the most popular:

SEE OUR SCHOOL COMPARISON GUIDE >

When shopping for the best online real estate schools, you’ll want to compare pricing, but there are a few other things you will need to consider:

  • Do they share their “pass rate”? This will tell you what percentage of their students passed the state exam on the first try.
  • Does the school offer any guarantees if you don’t pass? For example, one school will pay the fee for you to retake the state exam.
  • Are practice tests given to the students or is there any additional charge?
  • Do they offer a separate exam prep course or a weekend cram course? If you need additional exam prep, try PrepAgent or Exam Scholar.

How to Select a Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker

In Pennsylvania, all new salespersons must work under the supervision of a licensed broker in order to legally help home buyers and sellers. Picking the right brokerage to work with can be key to your success as a newly licensed agent.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A BROKER >>

While many newly licensed agents are looking for the best commission splits when shopping for brokers, we would highly recommend that you make that #2 or #3 on your list. The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they support brand new real estate agents. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Are they available outside traditional business hours? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you? All important things to consider when you are ready to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania!

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania: Commonly Asked Questions

How is Pennsylvania’s 75-hour pre-licensing education structured, and can I take the real estate class online?

Yes, you can complete all 75 hours online at your own pace. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission (PREC) mandates that the 75-hour curriculum be split into two required courses:

– 30-Hour Real Estate Fundamentals (covers property rights, land law, agency, and real estate math).
– 45-Hour Real Estate Practice (covers contracts, financing, practical transaction steps, and PA license law).

Most accredited online schools bundle both courses into a single 75-hour salesperson package. You can work through text, audio, or video modules on desktop or mobile web browsers. Once you pass the proctored course final exam for each module, your school issues your course certificates so you can apply to sit for the state exam.

How hard is the PA real estate exam?

The salesperson exam has 80 national questions and 40 Pennsylvania-specific questions. You’ll need to answer at least 60 of the national questions and 30 of the state questions correctly (75% on each section) to pass. You’ll get your score immediately after finishing the exam.

What if I fail the real estate exam in Pennsylvania?

It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try, so don’t be too hard on yourself! You’ll need to reschedule and pay the $49 fee again for whichever section (or sections) you didn’t pass. You have up to 3 years from your first passing score to complete your license application, so there’s no need to rush a retake.

How do I get authorization to take the Pearson VUE real estate exam in Pennsylvania?

Unlike states where your school automatically signs you up for testing, Pennsylvania requires you to submit your educational transcripts for state approval first. Once you finish your 75 hours, you must create an account on Pearson VUE’s Clarus portal and upload your course completion certificates. Pearson VUE reviews your documentation and issues an Authorization to Test (ATT) email (typically within 3–5 business days). Only after receiving this approval can you schedule your official exam appointment (either at a physical Pearson VUE testing center or via remote online proctoring).

When should I order my PATCH criminal background check for my license application?

Order your background check right around the time you pass your Pearson VUE state exam. Pennsylvania requires all applicants to submit an official criminal history report from the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system. The Real Estate Commission strictly enforces a rule that your PATCH report must be dated within 180 days of the date you submit your final license application through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) portal. If you order it on Day 1 of your course and take a long time to finish, your report will expire before you can submit your application alongside your broker’s signature.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does Pennsylvania offer reciprocity?

Yes! Pennsylvania has one of the more agent-friendly reciprocity policies in the country. If you’ve been actively licensed as a broker or salesperson in another state within the past 5 years, you only need to pass the Pennsylvania-specific portion of the exam — you can skip the national portion and the 75-hour pre-license course entirely. Pennsylvania can also issue a reciprocal license directly under Act 41, which allows for portability of out-of-state licenses. Contact the Real Estate Commission directly to confirm the process based on your current license.

How much can real estate agents make in Pennsylvania?

According to Indeed.com, the average Pennsylvania real estate agent makes about $96,916 a year. Keep in mind real estate agents are commission-based, so your actual earnings depend heavily on how many homes you sell and the price points in your market — Philadelphia and Pittsburgh tend to be among the state’s highest-earning markets.
PRO TIP: To calculate how many homes you’ll need to sell, look up the average home sales price in your city (just google it!). For example, if the median sales price in your area is $350,000 and you earn 2.5% commission on a sale, your gross commission would be about $8,750 per sale. To earn the Pennsylvania average, you’d have to sell about 11 homes.

Can I get a PA real estate license if I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. The Real Estate Commission reviews each applicant’s Criminal History Records Check individually and considers factors like the nature of the offense and how much time has passed. You’ll need to disclose any convictions as part of your application. If you have concerns about your background, we’d recommend contacting the Real Estate Commission directly before investing in a pre-license course.

Is Getting a Real Estate License Worth It?

It really depends on what your goals are.  If you just want to sell a few homes each year to friends and family, you’ll have to crunch the numbers (and expenses) to see if the cost of getting and maintaining your real estate license is worth it.

If you plan to jump in and make a full-time career in selling homes, then absolutely!  The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro markets, along with the state’s suburbs, have remained fairly steady with consistent year-over-year growth.  It can be a challenge moving from a salaried position to a commission-based business, so industry experts recommend that you have at least six months of savings in the bank.  If you don’t have that yet, then you may want to keep your current job for a short period of time until you lay the foundation for your new real estate business.