Do you live in Pennsylvania and cherish the prospects of working in real estate, or are you considering being a real estate agent part-time/full-time but are not sure where to start? If so, you don’t need to worry anymore because you are at the right place to learn the truth about being a real estate agent in Pennsylvania, from how to get your real estate agent license (the process and the requirements) to ultimately finding out the answer to the question, is getting a real estate license worth it?
Read on for all the necessary information.
PA Real Estate License
Whether you are thinking of being a real estate agent on the side or completely switching your career, you should know what it really means. Therefore, what does a real estate agent in Pennsylvania do?
There are so many tasks to undertake as an agent, but the most important part is to make sure that you negotiate between home sellers and buyers to make sure that both parties get what they want.
In addition to that, there are some real estate agent skills that you have to have, including being excellent at communication, problem-solving, being tech-savvy, and, of course, the patience to see a deal through. You can even progress to the buyer’s agent level.
However, you may wonder, what is a buyer’s agent? This is a real estate expert who is tasked with standing in for the buyer during the process of the purchase of a property.
However, is it hard to be a real estate agent, you may ask. Well, not really; as long as you have met all the educational and other requirements and are confident in your skills, you should be good to go.
The income potential is also practically limitless, and you can take up the job full-time.
But can you do real estate while in college? Of course!
It is a really great part-time hustle to add extra income to your household, and a plus is that you will love doing it. Now, onto a very crucial part: the requirements.
Basic Criteria To Qualify for Real Estate Professional License
If you want to start your real estate agent career anywhere in Pennsylvania, whether in Allentown, Erie, Philadelphia, or any other city in the region, you will have to earn a Pennsylvania real estate license online. Many may find the paperwork a little daunting, but in reality, there are very simple steps to go through that will be discussed in the coming segments.
First things first, the basic criteria to meet to be a real estate agent in Pennsylvania
- You must be an adult of 18 years or more
- You must have completed at least 75 hours of the required education
- You must have completed a thorough background check
- You must pass the national exams for real estate1
Requisite Age and Basic Educational Criteria
One of the most common questions from aspiring real estate agents in Pennsylvania is, what education is required to be a real estate agent? Do you need a real estate degree? Once you have met the basic requirement of being an 18-year-old or older citizen and have attained a high school diploma, you can go ahead with completing the pre-licensing courses before taking the exam.
So, basically, you don’t really need to have a degree or any other special education apart from a high school diploma to become an agent.2
Necessary Pre-License Education Hours
The minimum level of education for real estate agents in Pennsylvania is a high school diploma, but that is not enough; you will also have to take a real estate pre-licensing course and pass the licensing exam. So, what are the real estate agent education requirements in terms of pre-license education hours?
You will have to undertake at least 75 hours of courses from an institution that is accredited by the state of Pennsylvania or an approved provider working in real estate.
These 75 hours are usually divided into 2: one, you will have to complete a 30-hour course on the fundamentals of real estate, and lastly, you will need a 45-hour practice course. These two have to be completed five years before you pass the final licensing exam.
But can you avoid the 75-hour education requirement? Actually, there are some exceptions.
You don’t have to complete the 75-hour requirement if:
- You already have a real estate bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in Pennsylvania
- You have a JD (Juris Doctor) from a recognized law school
- You already did the 75 hours of coursework from a different state
Fee Structure for Pre-Licensing Real Estate Education
You already know that the pre-licensing exam is mandatory for all prospective real estate agents, and it has to be undertaken at a recognized institution. The good news is that you can go to school in person, virtually, or even a combination of both, which is based on your schedule and, of course, your budget.
In most cases, taking this education will cost you anything between $288- $532,1 depending on the institution and your choice of method of learning.
In addition to that, when the course is done, you will also pay another $40 for the licensure exam fee.3
Real Estate Background Check Requirements (Fingerprint Locations)
Before your license can be approved, you will have to complete a real estate agent background check first through the Pennsylvania State Police. All you have to do is go to the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History website (PATCH) and do the check online or even go to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.4
These checks come at a small fee and are viable and updated for three months.
You will be able to receive your record in a maximum of two weeks through your mail or within 3 days of your application online. If you know how extensive are background checks for apartments, then you can’t help but wonder, how serious background checks are for real estate agents.
You may ask the following: Can you be a real estate agent with a felony? Can you get a real estate license with an expunged record? What if you have a criminal record in Pennsylvania or anywhere in the country?
You should know that the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission can deny or revoke your license on a case basis, according to the nature of the crime committed.5 However, you can still try because the state allows you to apply for the licensure, and you may be lucky to get approval.
Can You Take the PA Pre-Licensing Courses Online?
The courses are integral parts of the entire process, and as such, you have to make sure that you take all the classes, and they must be from an institution that is recognized. Given that, a lot can get in the way of physically attending classes, and that is why there are options to take them online or virtually. You can even have a combination of both physical and online classes, whatever works for your schedule.
Can You Get Licensed if You Are a Felon?
The state government commission doesn’t bar you from taking the exam or applying for a license, even if you are a felon. However, the commission has a right to decline, delay, or revoke your license according to the kind of crime committed. It is on a case-by-case basis, and if the crime falls within the list of grave crimes, you may fail to receive your license regardless of meeting all the other requirements.
Do You Need a Degree To Work as a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania?
Ask around, many will tell you that you need a real estate degree in order to get a license. That is very far from it because, with only a high school diploma and proof that you have taken the real estate classes, you could be a recognized real estate agent. But on the other hand, say you do have a college degree, then that will give you an upper hand because you won’t really have to retake the classes.
References
1Hoffman, B. (2023, July 14). How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania. Indeed. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from <https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-real-estate-agent-in-pa>
2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2023). Real Estate Commission Guide. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from <https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/RealEstateCommission/Pages/Real-Estate-Guide.aspx>
3Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2023). Education Information – New Students and Licensees. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from <https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/RealEstateCommission/Pages/Education-Information---Students.aspx>
4Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2023). Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. Epatch.pa.gov. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from <https://epatch.pa.gov/home>
5Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2023). State Real Estate Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved November 3, 2023, from <https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/RealEstateCommission/Documents/Board%20Documents/Act%2053%20Offenses%20-%20Real%20Estate.pdf>