How to Get a Real Estate License in Pennsylvania (2026): Cost & Steps

What a Pennsylvania real estate license costs

Exam, both parts

$52

License, application and recovery fund

$107

Required fees, total

$159.00

Applicants with a criminal conviction can ask the state for an early decision; see the Commission’s licensing guide.

Build your Pennsylvania startup budget

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of State salesperson licensure page (75-hour course, $97 department fee ($72 license, $25 application), $96 renewal, 14 hours of continuing education); Pennsylvania Department of State real estate licensing guide (employing broker rule, background checks, application steps); Pearson VUE Pennsylvania real estate candidate handbook (March 2026) (exam fees, question counts, time and passing score); Pennsylvania State Police criminal history check page ($22 record check); Pennsylvania Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, section 802 ($10 recovery fund payment from initial applicants). Fees and rules checked October 10, 2026. Exam prices can change, so confirm the total when you book.

Who can get a Pennsylvania salesperson license

Most people call it a real estate agent license. In Pennsylvania it is a salesperson license, and it lets you work under a licensed broker. Opening your own brokerage is a separate broker license that needs experience first.

The Pennsylvania Department of State says you need to be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate. There is no experience requirement. The state wants a criminal history check for every state you have lived, worked or studied in over the past five years. If you have a conviction, gather the court paperwork before you pay for a course.

Already licensed in another state? If you were actively licensed within the past five years, you skip the national part and take only the Pennsylvania part of the exam. You still need the 75 hours of education. Pennsylvania also issues reciprocal licenses to agents licensed in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland and Massachusetts. A reciprocal license only stays valid while you keep your main place of business in that state and your license there stays active.

The steps, in order

1. Take the 75-hour course. Use a school the state approves, or an accredited college. The courses have to be finished within five years before you pass the exam. A real estate bachelor’s degree or a law degree can replace the course.

   Our guide to Pennsylvania real estate courses and package prices covers Colibri’s combined Fundamentals and Practice education, with tuition and exam-preparation options.

   Complete your 75-hour Pennsylvania prelicensing course online with Colibri Real Estate. Compare course packages and current prices, including options with extra exam preparation.

   See Pennsylvania real estate courses

   We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link.

2. Apply for exam approval. Create an account in Clarus, the testing company’s application system, and apply for each part of the exam, national and state. You upload your proof of education once. You get an email when you are approved, with scheduling instructions.
3. Book the exam with Pearson VUE and pay. Book on Pearson VUE’s Pennsylvania page. The national part has 80 questions and 150 minutes. The Pennsylvania part has 40 questions and 60 minutes. Each part has a few unscored questions too. You need 75% on each part. Your passing scores are good for three years, so apply for your license within that time.
4. Find an employing broker. You can’t apply for a license until you have a Pennsylvania broker who agrees to supervise and train you. Your license is mailed to that broker’s main office.
5. Apply for your license and pay $107. Log in to the state’s online licensing system, start a salesperson application and send it to your broker. Your broker approves it, then you answer the legal questions, upload your exam scores and background check reports, and pay.
6. Get your license. Once the state issues it, you can see it in your online account right away. The paper license arrives at your broker’s office about 7–10 business days later. Don’t start any real estate work before your license is issued.

What Pennsylvania agents earn

Median pay, Pennsylvania agents on payroll

$56,040

Middle half earns

$46,500–$78,840

Top 10% earn over

$95,760

Pennsylvania agents on payroll

5,510

The bottom 10% of Pennsylvania payroll agents earn under $31,500. The national median is $52,830. Ask the office to demonstrate a commission payout with its actual mentoring and transaction charges. Add your education, insurance and marketing expenses separately so the amount available for personal income is clear.

Source: U.S. Labor Department pay survey, May 2025, Pennsylvania real estate sales agents. Covers agents on a payroll only. Checked October 10, 2026.

Choose the employing broker before the license application

Pennsylvania requires an employing broker before you apply for the license. Begin meeting offices during the 75-hour course so the exam-approval process and brokerage search move forward together.

The broker agrees to supervise and train you. Ask what that means for your first offer: who reviews it, how quickly they respond and what mentoring costs. Compare the full compensation agreement, then confirm the application handoff and the main-office address where the license will be mailed.

Set up your Pennsylvania agent business

Register the business and organize payments

Discuss business registration as part of the employing-broker agreement. Confirm the entity structure and commission-payee name that can be used for your services. The Pennsylvania LLC guide explains the LLC route; ZenBusiness can handle the state filing once you have selected it.

Arrange errors and omissions (E&O) insurance

Include E&O in your comparison of brokerage costs. Request E&O quotes from Simply Business and review the services insured, policy limits and deductible with the office’s arrangement in view. Save the agreed coverage and claim contact alongside the supervision and compensation documents.

Keep business records from day one

Keep the education proof, exam approvals and scores in one application folder. Record course and application spending separately from business setup and recurring brokerage charges, then add the two-year renewal cycle to your calendar.

See Pennsylvania business registration and tax requirements for the wider registration and tax checklist.

Rehearse the seller or buyer appointment you want to earn

Choose a small service area and ask the employing broker to review a practice consultation using actual listings there. Work through the documents and questions needed before a client makes a decision. Seek supervised open-house or appointment experience and follow up with useful information specific to each prospect.

Resources for preparing client conversations

• what homeowners insurance costs by state
• the cost of renting versus owning
• state comparison of agent and brokerage businesses
• mortgage lock-in study
• Plan your first client conversations and follow-up

Renew every two years and keep up your continuing education

Pennsylvania salesperson licenses renew every two years for $96. You need 14 hours of Commission-approved continuing education in the two years before you renew. You don’t need continuing education for your first license. The state’s licensing page lists no post-license course for new salespeople.

Check your license status in your online account before each renewal period so you don’t miss the deadline.

Pennsylvania agent questions