Article Summary: This article will help anyone looking for information pertaining to a real estate license in the state of Pennsylvania or anyone looking to become a real estate agent or realtor in Pennsylvania. Contents of this article may include information on real estate education, schools, training courses, continuing education, tests and exams, laws, license requirements, renewal information, forms and more..
The
Pennsylvania
Real Estate Commission functions under the Pennsylvania Department of State�s
Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs. The Bureau was established in 1963
to provide administrative services to the various professional commissions. The
main office of the Commission is in Harrisburg.
The requirements for a
real estate salesperson license in Pennsylvania
include being at least 18 years of age and having successfully completed four
credits, or 60 hours, of approved real estate education. Applicants who have a
bachelor�s degree with a major in real estate from an accredited college or university
may have the 60 hour requirement waived, and those with a juris doctor degree
from an accredited law school may also waive the education requirement. Applicants
who have some real estate courses at an accredited school may receive some credit
for these toward the salesperson requirement. Applicants having a real estate
broker license in another jurisdiction may be allowed two education credits for
each full year of active practice during the preceding ten year period. All real
estate courses need to have been completed within the ten years preceding passing
the real estate exams, and applicants must apply for their salesperson license
within three years of passing the real estate exams. All real estate salesperson
applicants need to be sponsored by a licensed Pennsylvania real estate broker
who will be overseeing their activities.
The
requirements for a real estate broker license in Pennsylvania
include being at last 18 years of age and having successfully completed the education
requirement and passed the real estate examinations. Broker applicants must supply
recommendations from one broker and two unrelated people who own property in the
county where the applicant has a place of business. If real estate brokers have
been
inactive and non-renewed for more than five years, then they must
re-take the real estate examination. Licenses will not be issued to a post office
box number as brokers are required to have a physical location for doing business
and the Commission will do an office inspection prior to issuing the license.
The office of a sole proprietor must have a sign displayed outside which bears
the office name exactly is it appears on the license.
All
real estate agent applicants must provide the Commission with a
criminal background check
no older than 90 days. If an applicant has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor,
including any drug law violation, full information needs to be provided to the Commission.
The
approved
real estate schools for prelicensure are located throughout the state. The
approved
continuing education courses, and the
real estate schools
where they may be taken, include many distance education and internet options.
The real estate exams in Pennsylvania are handled by PSI Examination Services (http://www.psiexams.com),
and the examination fee is $56.00. Broker applicants pay an addition $40.00 for the review of
their qualifications before taking the examination.
The
license fee for a real estate salesperson in Pennsylvania, for applications submitted
between June 1 of an even-numbered year through May 31 of an odd-numbered year, is $89.00,
plus $10.00 for the Recovery Fund Fee (unless previously paid). The license fee for a salesperson
for applications submitted between June 1 of an odd-numbered year through May 31 of
an even-numbered year is $57.00 plus the $10.00 Recovery Fund Fee. The fees are non-refundable.
The
license fee for an associate real estate broker or real estate broker in Pennsylvania
for applications submitted between June 1 of an even-numbered year through May 31 of an odd-numbered year,
is $159.00. The license fee for either the associate broker or broker for applications submitted
between June 1 of an odd-numbered year through May 31 of an even-numbered year is $117.00.
All fees are non-refundable.
All
real estate agent licenses expire on May 31st of every even-numbered
year. You may renew a license during the preceding 2 or 3 months. Renewal fee
for a salesperson license if $64.00 and for a broker license is $84.00. In order
to renew a license all agents must successfully complete 14 hours of approved
continuing education courses during each two-year license period. If
a license has been on inactive status the applicant must document having completed
the 14 hours of continuing education. There is a $5.00 per month late renewal
fee.
All
Pennsylvania
real estate forms and license information are available online.
Real estate careers are strengthened by membership in the many organizations
that provide services for the professional agent. Organizations like the
Pennsylvania
Association of Realtors and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers
(
http://www.nareb.com) (NAREB)
assist many in locating
real estate jobs within the industry. The Association
of Real Estate License Law Officials (
http://www.arello.org)
(ARELLO) and The National Association of Realtors (
http://www.realtor.org)
(NAR), the world�s largest professional association, are excellent resources for
professional enrichment and real estate education.
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