Licensing and Continuing Education Requirements
Real estate licensing in Pennsylvania is regulated by the State Real Estate Commission, in accordance with the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) and Professional and Vocational Standards and regulations.
Continuing Education Requirements (Salesperson/Broker)
The State Real Estate Commission requires each real estate licensee to take 14 hours of continuing education during each license renewal period. The current period began June 1, 2008, and ends May 31, 2010.
The changes the State Real Estate Commissionpreviously approvedfor education forthe 2006-2008 Continuing Education renewal cycle remain in place:
- For 2008-2010, licensees will be able to complete their continuing education requirements with classes that are a minimum of 2 hours in length.
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Individuals licensedbefore 12/01/07will be able to complete all 14 hours of continuing education for the 2008-2010 renewal period in elective courses.
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Licensees may fulfill their CE requirements through approved distance education (online) courses through approved providers.
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Individuals licensed after 12/01/07 will be required to complete their first 14 hours of continuing education in specific, mandatory, Commission-developed courses.These courses are not yet available.
For more information on CE requirements, refer to Subchapter H of the State Real Estate Commission regulations.
Educational Requirementsto Obtain a Salesperson’s License
In addition to meeting other licensing requirements, an individual who wants to take the salesperson’s examination to obtain a Pennsylvania salesperson’s license must:
- Have successfully completed four credits, or 60 hours, of instruction in basic real estate courses as determined by the Commission, and offered by an approved education provider.
- The Commission may recognize a bachelor’s degree in real estate from an accredited college, or university, or a juris doctor degree from an accredited law school as fulfillment of the education requirement.
- Coursework must have been completed within 10 years prior to the date of successful completion of the licensing examination.
For more information, refer to Subchapter D, Section 35.272 of the State Real Estate Commission regulations.
Educational Requirements to Obtain a Broker’s License
In addition to meeting other licensing requirements, an individual who wants to obtain a Pennsylvania broker’s license must:
- Have acquired 16 credits, or 240 hours of instruction in professional real estate education as determined by the Commission, and offered by an approved education provider. A portion of these hours must be taken in required courses developed by the Commission.
- The Commission may recognize a bachelor’s degree in real estate from an accredited college, or university, or a juris doctor degree from an accredited law school as fulfillment of the education requirement.
- A candidate may not apply credits used to qualify for the salesperson’s examination toward fulfillment of the broker education requirement.
- Coursework must have been completed within 10 years of the successful completion of the licensing examination.
- Two credits will be allowed for each year of active practice the candidate has had a broker license in another jurisdiction during the 10-year period immediately preceding the submission of the examination record.
For more information, refer to Subchapter D, Section 35.271 of the State Real Estate Commission regulations.
For more information, contact the PA State Real Estate Commission.
PA State Real Estate Commission
2601 North Third Street
P. O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone (717) 783-3658
Fax (717) 787-0250