Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam Prep

In Pennsylvania, the State Real Estate Commission sets the standards candidates must meet to be licensed, and applications are handled through the pals.pa.gov online portal. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE, which replaced PSI as the state's vendor in April 2023, and has a National portion and a Pennsylvania State portion; both must be passed within 3 years of application.

The salesperson path requires 75 hours of prelicensing education across two courses, and a PA State Police criminal history background check via ePATCH is also required. The sections below summarize license types, exam format, and typical requirements for Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania recognizes the following real estate credential types:

• Real Estate Salesperson - Sells or leases real estate under a sponsoring PA broker. Requires 75 hours of prelicensing education.
• Real Estate Broker - Independent practice and supervision of salespersons. Requires 240 hours of professional real estate education plus at least 3 years as a licensed salesperson.
• Other Commission-regulated types - Cemetery broker, cemetery salesperson, campground membership salesperson, time-share salesperson, builder-owner salesperson, and rental listing referral agent.

The Pennsylvania real estate exam is administered by Pearson VUE, the Commission's current testing vendor since April 2023. It includes a National portion and a Pennsylvania State portion, and both must be passed within 3 years of application. Applicants with an active out-of-state license within the last 5 years need only take the State portion. Review the Pearson VUE candidate handbook for current question counts, time limits, and scheduling steps before your test date.

Question counts and passing-score figures commonly cited for the Pennsylvania real estate exam come from Pearson VUE's own candidate handbook rather than a state statute, so confirm the current passing standard directly with Pearson VUE or the Real Estate Commission before scheduling.

Typical requirements to sit for the Pennsylvania real estate salesperson exam include:

• Being at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent (a J.D. or real-estate degree/equivalent coursework can substitute for the prelicensing courses).
• Two prelicensing courses totaling 75 hours: Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours/2 credits) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours/3 credits), from an accredited college or Commission-approved provider.
• A PA State Police criminal history background check via ePATCH.
• Payment of applicable examination and licensing fees.

Requirements can change. Always confirm current licensing rules with the official state licensing authority before applying.

Pennsylvania charges a $97.00 initial salesperson license fee ($72.00 licensure fee plus $25.00 application fee), with a $96.00 biennial renewal. The Broker Examination (Commission qualification) fee is $40.00, and a PA State Police criminal history records check costs $22 (plus $5 for notarization if needed). The exam sitting fee is paid directly to Pearson VUE and is separate from the state fees above. Always confirm current fee amounts with the Real Estate Commission or Pearson VUE before submitting payment.

A focused 4 to 6 week study plan works well for most candidates:

• Week 1-2: Review the fundamentals of Real Estate Principles and Contracts and Agency alongside your 75-hour coursework.
• Week 3-4: Work through Real Estate Finance and Pennsylvania-specific license law, then take a full-length practice test.
• Week 5-6: Review every missed question, drill weak areas, and simulate the National and State portions under timed conditions.

Practice topics on ExamsLib cover Real Estate Principles, Contracts and Agency, Real Estate Finance.