Broker's License Information

So you want to become a Real Estate Broker?

An individual who wants to take the broker's examination for a Pennsylvania broker's license shall:

1) Be at least 21 years of age or older

2) Be a high school graduate or its equivalency.

3) A candidate who has obtained one of the following degrees will be deemed to have met the education requirement and will not be required to show completion of coursework in specific areas of study:
    a. A bachelor's degree majoring in real estate from a college or university 
    b. A juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

4) Have completed 16 credits/240 hours (1 credit=15 hours) of real estate instruction
     a) These are two mandatory courses
         i. Real Estate Office Management (at least two credits)
        ii. Real Estate Law (at least two credits)
       iii. At least 6 credits in 3 of the following courses:
         *Valuation of Income-Producing Property
         *Residential Construction
         *Valuation of Residential Property
         *Real Estate Sales
         *Real Estate Investment
         *Real Estate Finance
         *Non-Residential Property Management
         *Basic Appraisal Procedures
         *Residential Property Management
         *Basic Appraisal Principles
       iv. The remaining 6 credits can be completed in any of the above topics or elective courses.
               Please note: A maximum of 4 credits is allowable per course.
 5) Courses must be completed within 10 years of the passing date of both portions of the examination
      unless the courses were taken as part of a bachelor’s degree or a juris doctor degree. 
 6) Complete and document a minimum of 3 years of real estate experience.
      a. Licensed applicants must demonstrate their experience by documenting 200 points using the following           point system:
         i. Sale (Commercial or Residential) 5 points
        ii. Exclusive listing which sold (Commercial or Residential) 5 points
       iii. Unsold exclusive listing (Commercial or Residential) 1 point
       iv. Lease (Commercial) 5 points
       v. Lease (Residential) 1 point
       vi. Property Management Assistance (Commercial or Residential) 6 points/per month
   
(Points are only awarded for full-time employment wherein no other points can be earned)
                                                                                                           

Non-licensed applicants who gained their 3 years of experience in an exempt setting, such as attorneys and government employees, must document their experience on a detailed resume listing specific experiences in a combination of, but not limited to, the following:

* Counseling in real estate issues or areas where the advice is not primarily legal in scope
* Negotiations other than for legal issues *Sale, purchase, management or lease of real estate
* If you are using experience as an attorney, an original Certificate of Good Standing
   from the Supreme Court must accompany your resume.

If you held an active broker’s license from another state within the last 5 years, you must submit an original certification of licensure or letter of good standing from that state, dated within 90 days of the date this application is received in the Commission Office. The certificate/letter:

a. Exempts you from retaking the national portion of the examination in this state. Also,
b. It may provide an educational exemption or credit.
      i. If the certificate/letter documents 16 credits/240 hours of education or that you have held            an active license as a broker for more than 8 years.
     ii. If the certificate/letter documents less than 16 credits/240 hours of education, 2 credits will
         be awarded for each year of active practice as a broker in the licensed state.