Pennsylvania salesperson pathway
Know what to study, where to apply, and what to bring. Use this guide to plan the standard Pennsylvania salesperson route, with official sources for every major step.
Sources checked . Uses Pearson’s October 2026 handbook.
Your next steps
Osmenic provides supplemental practice and study tools. This app does not replace the approved 75-hour education, award licensing credit, or issue a license. Verify a school in the PALS provider directory before enrolling.
New applicants must be at least 18 and a high-school graduate or equivalent. No previous real estate work experience is required. Qualifying real estate degrees or a JD can satisfy the education requirement; already-licensed applicants may have a different route.
The standard path is 75 hours: Real Estate Fundamentals (30 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours). Complete the school’s requirements and keep your certificates. For new learners, the coursework must be completed within five years before successfully completing the licensing exam.
Apply for the national and Pennsylvania portions through Clarus, following Pearson’s instructions. Submit the required education evidence and wait for authorization before booking. Study and pass each portion separately; save both official score reports.
Arrange an employing Pennsylvania broker who will supervise and train you. The Commission guide requires criminal-history reports from states where you lived, worked, or completed professional training or studies during the previous five years, dated within 180 days of applying. Volunteer checks are not accepted.
Submit the salesperson application, required documents, broker certification, and fees in PALS. Answer the application’s disclosure questions fully. Exam results must still be valid: the completed application must be received within three years of the first portion you passed. Passing the exams alone does not authorize licensed practice.
Older materials may still show 60 education hours or a ten-year course window. New applicants should use the current Commission’s 75-hour, five-year guidance. Reciprocity, prior licensure, and historical coursework need their own eligibility check.
What you are preparing for
Pennsylvania uses Pearson for this exam. The national outline took effect April 1, 2025; the current Pennsylvania outline took effect March 16, 2026. Insurance and title-agent exams are separate programs.
| Portion | Scored | Unscored pretest | Total presented | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 | 5 | 85 | 150 minutes |
| Pennsylvania | 40 | 10 | 50 | 60 minutes |
Pretest questions are not identified during the real exam, so answer every question. The counts above use the specific current content outlines (PDF); the handbook’s general table gives a broader 5–10 pretest range.
The handbook lists a 75% minimum and explains that official results use equated, scaled scoring. The reported numeric score is neither the number nor the percentage of questions answered correctly. A raw practice score cannot guarantee an official pass.
The national exam tests recall, application, and analysis. Practice contracts, agency, property, valuation, finance, disclosures, and math, then work through Pennsylvania licensing and conduct rules. Review a guessed answer even when it was correct.
Booking and exam day
After authorization, follow your Clarus instructions. Book at least 24 hours ahead; change or cancel at least 48 hours ahead. Online national and state portions are separate appointments and may be booked back-to-back. Check your confirmation for the exact time, location, and delivery method.
Prepare two current signature IDs, including an unexpired government-issued photo ID. Your registration name must exactly match. The handbook’s brief and detailed ID instructions differ, so confirm your appointment’s requirements with Pearson before testing. Arrive at a test center 30 minutes early.
If you pass one portion, retake only the failed portion within your authorization period. The handbook permits unlimited attempts during that period; online OnVUE attempts require a seven-day wait. Keep the separate three-year application deadline from your first passing result in view.
Use Pearson’s accommodations process before scheduling if you need an exam adjustment. Requests are considered individually and may need supporting documentation. An untimed study session in this app does not change your official exam conditions.
Scheduling, identification, and retake details: October 2026 candidate handbook, pages 1–9 (PDF).
Budget the steps
These are the published exam and initial license fees checked October 15, 2026. School tuition, background checks, retakes, and other expenses are additional. Confirm the amount before paying.
Pearson’s discount requires both portions on the same order and cannot be applied retroactively. The $97 Commission fee and $10 initial fund assessment total $107 before exam and other costs. Confirm the final charges in PALS. Sources: exam fee table, Commission fee snapshot, and Recovery Fund assessment.
Make the next session useful
Use original practice questions and explanations to work on your understanding. After licensure, plan for continuing education and the required first-renewal modules through an approved provider.
Independent supplemental study resource. No Pearson or Commission affiliation, education credit, or guaranteed result. Official application and appointment instructions control your next steps. Review first-renewal education requirements.