How Do I Get My Real Estate License in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania, the birthplace of American democracy. It’s also home of this nation’s first capital, the first continental congress, and the U.S. Constitution. Pennsylvania is also the birthplace of U.S. Steel, as well as Hershey chocolate! Thank you, Wikipedia and Mr. May’s A.P. U.S. History class.

But enough history class! You don’t need to be a history teacher to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania, although teachers can make great agents. You don’t even need a college degree to get your real estate license, although it might help if you study real estate. This blog will cover how to get a Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson’s and Broker’s license and getting a license through reciprocity.

Qualifications & Steps

To qualify to become a real estate salesperson is not terribly difficult on paper. You must be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. The harder part is the pre-license education and knowledge check.

Pennsylvania requires that all new applicants must complete a 75-hour pre-license that includes everything a heavy emphasis on real estate law. “What other kind of law would it cover?” That’s a good question. You’ll learn about contract and property law, as well as licensing law and how a real estate company must operate in Pennsylvania. You will also take a course final exam and pass with a score of at least 75%.

After completing the pre-license course, you will then take the state licensing exam and then apply to the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA). The state licensing exam covers a national portion and a state law specific portion.

You will take the licensing exam through PSI Exams. Candidates must apply first through the BPOA for licensure and then apply to take the licensing exam through PSI.

Real Estate Commission or Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs?

The process of getting your real estate license can be confusing. The Real Estate Commission is most often referenced because they are the regulatory body for real estate professionals. However, you will apply through the BPOA’s portal, the Pennsylvania Licensing System or PALS, for your real estate license. Here is a brief breakdown:

When it comes to applying for a new license, renewing your license, or changing your license status, you will most likely go through PALS to file the appropriate application.

Getting a Pennsylvania Brokers License

Getting the next level of real estate license is a similar process to getting your initial salesperson license.

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The process to become a broker is virtually the same as a salesperson. You will complete the pre-license education, apply to the BPOA, then pass the state licensing exam. There are 2 slight differences to get your broker license: you must have been licensed as a salesperson for at least 2 years and the broker pre-license education is 240 hours, not 75. The 240 hours comes in multiple courses approved by the Commission, including a mandatory 30-hour broker management course. You also need to be licensed as a salesperson for at least 3 years before you can become a real estate broker.

Pennsylvania Reciprocity

Pennsylvania has one of the more friendly licensing processes for people who are already licensed in other states. Pennsylvania has reciprocal agreements with 6 states: Arkansas, Geogia, Louisianna, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. Brokers and Salespersons can qualify for an equivalent type of license in Pennsylvania if they are over 18 with a high school diploma or its equivalent and maintain their principal office in the state of their original licensure.

As long as you obtained your real estate license by taking the pre-license education required in one of these 6 states and pass the full licensing exam, you should be approved for licensure by reciprocity. You won’t have to take any pre-license education or any exam under Pennsylvania’s reciprocal agreements.

Further, Pennsylvania makes it even easier to get your license by also considering experience from other states if their education requirements are substantially similar to PA. If approved, you will not have to take the 75-hour pre-license course. If you are not approved, you will have to take the 75-hour pre-license course and the full state licensing exam.

Exemptions and Other Considerations

If you have a 4-year degree in real estate from a Pennsylvania university or if you have a law degree from an accredited law school, you may be exempted from taking the required pre-license education courses. You would have to apply with your official transcripts with the BPOA.

Further, Pennsylvania will count each year experience licensed as a real estate broker in another state towards your broker pre-license education. That applies to states with reciprocal agreements and without. So, if you are licensed as a broker in Ohio for 8 years, you won’t have to do any broker pre-license education.

Another brief note, the real estate salesperson pre-license education course and licensing exam covers the education and exam requirements for 3 other types of licenses in Pennsylvania. In case you wondering of other ways to use a real estate license, you can also be a rental listing referral agent, a builder-owner salesperson, or a cemetery broker in PA.

If you have any questions about getting licensed in Pennsylvania or other states, do not hesitate to contact our License Law specialists.

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