Are you looking forward to starting a career in real estate in Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Erie, Allentown, or any other city in the state of Pennsylvania? You have made a smart decision because the real estate industry in Philadelphia has so many opportunities for those who dare to venture into it.
However, you must first work towards earning your Pennsylvania real estate license. The purpose of getting your PA realtor license is that it allows you to practice as a legally recognized professional. Also, your peers in the industry and your clients will take you more seriously when you have taken the time and invested your resources to obtain your real estate in PA and keep it in good standing.
Below are some guidelines on how to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania:
Meet the basic requirements
Before you can start exploring how to get a PA real estate license, you need to ensure you meet some basic requirements. These include:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
Some other requirements to get your real estate license in PA include:
- Must complete 75 hours of approved courses for your real estate education
- Must pass the real estate exams including the state and national exams
- Must undergo fingerprinting and background check
Complete your pre-licensing education
To get your real estate license in Pennsylvania, you need to enroll for and complete 75 hours of real estate education. The pre-licensing courses must have been approved by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. When you take and complete the courses, you will have been equipped with relevant real estate fundamentals and practices.
Fortunately, you can take the real estate courses through class-based programs or take them online. You can check out some of the leading online real estate course providers, and while at it consider RealEstateU, one of the best online real estate schools in the US.
Pass your real estate exams
Once you complete your coursework, you have to sit for your final exam and you need to get a pass mark of at least 75%. In addition, you need to sit and pass the Pennsylvania real estate salesperson licensing exam, which has the state and national portions.
Pearson VUE is the body that administers the exam. It allows students to take either remotely proctored exams or in-person supervised exams, for which they have exam sites for those students who prefer this option. It is crucial to prepare well, so you pass your real estate exam PA on your first attempt to save time and money.
Complete your background check
All aspiring real estate agents in PA must pass a background check and fingerprinting to check their criminal history. This is crucial as part of your real estate application process. You should do the fingerprinting and background check not more than 90 days before submitting your application. The PA background checks are obtained from the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository or the PATCH website.
Find a sponsoring broker
Real estate licensees need to be sponsored by a licensed real estate broker so they can be allowed to practice in the industry. You need to find the best sponsoring broker to meet this requirement as you seek your real estate license in Pennsylvania.
Apply for your PA realtor license
Having passed your Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson exam and chosen a sponsoring broker, you can go ahead to complete your application for a real estate license in PA. It is crucial to provide all the necessary support documents and ensure accuracy in your application to avoid delays. You also need to pay the required fee for the license application. When the commission approves your real estate license application, it will mail a copy of the license to the main office of your broker.
Conclusion
Getting your real estate license in Pennsylvania should not be a complicated process if you meet the basic requirements, choose the best real estate school for you, pass your exams, get a sponsoring broker, and complete your application accurately.
