Pennsylvania pathway guide
Pennsylvania real estate salesperson license requirements
A practical overview of the standard pathway for a new applicant. Check the state’s full instructions for your circumstances.
Official guidance checked October 8, 2026.
Start with the eligibility requirements
Pennsylvania’s snapshot says applicants must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent. The usual education route is 75 hours of qualifying basic real estate courses. The state also recognizes certain degree-based alternatives.
Complete your education
The standard two-course route combines 30-hour Real Estate Fundamentals with 45-hour Real Estate Practice. At Elite, both use live Zoom instruction. Review each lesson calendar and retain your completion documents.
Compare courses and matching bundle schedulesFollow the examination process
For the standard first-license route, complete the education requirements before following Pearson VUE’s Pennsylvania exam eligibility and registration instructions. Its program page links to the current candidate handbook and content outlines. New applicants generally need to pass both national and Pennsylvania portions.
Arrange your employing broker
The state guide requires an employing Pennsylvania broker who will supervise and train you before you apply.
Apply through PALS
Use the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) to submit the documentation requested by the state, including education, examination and background-check records. Review the guide before ordering time-sensitive records.
Read the full application guide
Budget for the full licensing path
Course tuition is one part of the cost of becoming a Pennsylvania real estate salesperson. Compare the current individual and bundle prices on the salesperson courses page, then plan for the other steps.
- Course materials: review the textbook information and enrollment terms.
- Licensing examinations: check the current registration fees and instructions with the examination provider.
- Application and records: use the state's current fee information and budget for required background checks. See our Pennsylvania real estate license cost guide for a step-by-step budget.
School tuition does not replace examination or state application fees. Confirm each provider's current charges before paying.
Build your timeline around the actual dates
The 75-hour education requirement describes instruction time. It does not mean you receive a license after 75 elapsed hours. Check the class schedule for lesson dates, teaching days and Eastern Time class times, then allow for exams, an employing broker and state application processing.
Pennsylvania's application guide sets timing rules for education and background-check documents. Read those instructions before registering or ordering records. If you previously studied or held a license elsewhere, check the state's pathway for your circumstances.