"I hold a real estate broker's license in another state. How do I get a license as a real estate broker in Pennsylvania?"

Individuals who hold real estate broker's licenses in other states have contacted Polley Associates to inquire about obtaining a similar license in Pennsylvania. This FAQ (frequently asked questions) page has been created to help address their needs. It consists of four sections:

1. Learn more now about our Out-Of-State Exam Prep Course
2. Pennsylvania and license reciprocity 
3. Preparing for the Pennsylvania law test
4. If you lack sufficient education ...

If you hold an out-of-state salesperson's license, and want to obtain a Pennsylvania salesperson's license, please click here.

Pennsylvania and license reciprocity

The requirements for real estate broker licensure in Pennsylvania traditionally are lower than those of most other states, with few exceptions. That's good news for many out-of-staters with real estate broker licenses who want to be licensed as a broker in The Keystone State.

Moreover, the state of  Pennsylvania in December 2003 passed legislation that creates license reciprocity agreements between it and other states. Click here to learn more about reciprocity on the PA State Real Estate Commission website.

If you do not qualify for a license by reciprocity, you are best positioned to obtain a broker's license in Pennsylvania if the state in which you are already licensed requires 3 or more years' experience, and a minimum of 240 or more hours of education, for broker licensing. You must describe your experience and education as a broker in another state to the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission, using its  "Broker / Cemetery Broker Examination Eligibility Application" (Commission Form SPOA2103). The form, its required attachments, and an appropriate fee must be submitted to and approved by the Commission before you are permitted to sit for the Pennsylvania broker examination. Copies of the form and accompanying instructions are available online and can be downloaded from the commission website, or are available by contacting the commission at:

Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission 
P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 
Phone - (717) 783-3658
Fax - (717) 787-0250 
ST-REALESTATE@state.pa.us

If your application is approved, the commission will then send you a broker examination registration form and accompanying instructions. The completed form is then sent to Pennsylvania's testing vendor, PSI Examination Services, along with the appropriate examination fee.

You will need to score a passing grade (75 or higher) on the 30-question Pennsylvania real estate law exam. The 90-question "uniform knowledge" exam will be waived. Once you pass Pennsylvania's 30-question law test, the PA State Real Estate Commission will grant a broker's license. The timing for this process depends on both the time you take in passing the exam and the commission's work backlog.

Please note: Due to state requirements, the above-described submission procedure for out-of-state broker license candidates differs substantially from that for out-of-state salesperson candidates. The examination's pass-fail  threshhold for brokers also differs.

If a license reciprocity agreement does not exist between Pennsylvania and your state of licensure, your existing non-PA real estate broker's license will not automatically be recognized as valid for use in Pennsylvania. The PA State Real Estate Commission requires proof that you know and are familiar with Pennsylvania real estate license law; hence your need to take the 30-question law test.

Preparing for the Pennsylvania law test

Because you will need to brush up on Pennsylvania real estate license law and prep for the law portion of the Pennsylvania test, we recommend that you ...

1)  Enroll, if possible, in Polley Associates'  Out-Of-State Exam Prep course. You can learn more about the course at this page on our website:

http://www.polleyassociates.com/docs/outstatexam.htm

The Out-Of-State Exam Prep course is only a half-day (9 a.m. to noon), costs only $95, and reviews Pennsylvania real estate law material on the exam for which you'll be tested. However, because this course is held only every other month and only at our Newtown Square (suburban Philadelphia), PA facility, it may be an impractical option for some out-of-staters.

2) Visit Polley Associates' online bookstore  to find related study aids. You will find the bookstore at this page on our website:

http://www.polleyassociates.com/docs/bookmenu.htm .

One recommended aid is the textbook titled  "Real Estate Exam Prep Booklet for Pennsylvania." We make it available for purchase online. Click on the "RECampus.com" link in the box that says "Textbook Central."

3) Our three-hour License Law Audio cassette tapes are available for purchase for $25 by calling 800-220-2789 to place an order. Many students find these listen-while-you-drive tapes very helpful, but due to their length limitations they are NOT a substitute for the textbook.

If you do not have 240 or more hours of completed broker license education, you will need to complete one or more  PA broker-level courses offered by Polley Associates, or equivalent courses in your current state of licensure.