How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania (and Why Live Instruction Sets You Up for Success)

ROBERT BECK • April 6, 2025

If you’re considering a career in real estate in Pennsylvania, you’re in good company.

If you’re considering a career in real estate in Pennsylvania, you’re in good company. Real estate offers flexibility, earning potential, and the opportunity to help people make life-changing decisions. But before you can unlock these benefits, you need to get licensed—and that means completing the steps required by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.

Here’s a clear roadmap to becoming a licensed real estate agent in Pennsylvania—and why how you choose to prepare for the exam can make all the difference.

Step 1: Meet Basic Requirements

To become a licensed real estate salesperson in Pennsylvania, you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or equivalent

Step 2: Complete 75 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Pennsylvania requires all prospective real estate agents to complete 75 hours of approved real estate education. This is typically broken down into:

30 hours of Real Estate Fundamentals
45 hours of Real Estate Practice

💡 Pro Tip: While many providers offer self-paced online options, a significant number of students struggle with the content and find themselves overwhelmed or unprepared when it’s time for the exam. That’s why Philadelphia Real Estate Classes offers live instruction—either in-person in our Philadelphia classroom or from anywhere via Zoom. Our structured, interactive classes ensure you stay on track, ask questions in real-time, and truly understand the material.

Step 3: Pass the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam

After completing your 75 hours of education, you’ll need to pass the state and national portions of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam. The test is administered by PSI and consists of multiple-choice questions covering both general real estate principles and Pennsylvania-specific laws.

Why Live Classes Matter Here: Passing this exam requires more than memorization—it requires understanding. Many students who started with self-paced online courses find they aren’t fully prepared, and end up coming to Philadelphia Real Estate Classes to get the live support and guidance they need to pass.

Step 4: Find a Sponsoring Broker

You’ll need to be affiliated with a licensed real estate broker in order to activate your license. This sponsoring broker will supervise your real estate activities and provide you with ongoing training and support.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Once you’ve passed the exam and selected your broker, you can submit your application to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission through the PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System) website.

Bonus: Consider Becoming a REALTOR®

After you’re licensed, you may choose to become a REALTOR® by joining the National Association of REALTORS® and the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®. This gives you access to valuable resources, training, and networking opportunities.

Why Students Choose Philadelphia Real Estate Classes

When it comes to passing the Pennsylvania real estate exam and launching a successful career, how you prepare matters. At Philadelphia Real Estate Classes, we’ve helped hundreds of students not only pass the test but also gain the real-world confidence they need to thrive in the industry. Our live instruction—whether in a classroom setting in Philadelphia or via Zoom—creates an engaging, interactive experience that simply can’t be matched by self-paced online courses.

But don’t just take our word for it—hear from our students:

“I took the three-week online class in January 2025. My instructor, Liz, was absolutely amazing. She made learning engaging and interactive, letting the class guide the instruction by encouraging questions and deeper discussions. Her teaching style truly made a difference!”

This is what sets our school apart: our instructors are experienced professionals who know how to connect with students. They make the material come alive and foster a learning environment where questions are encouraged and deeper understanding is the goal—not just memorizing facts.

“Attending this real estate school gave me the preparation, knowledge and motivation to pass the state exam on the first try! The instructors are actually successful and passionate about what they do!”

Our students consistently pass their exams on the first try because we go beyond the textbook. Our team—are responsive, supportive, and genuinely invested in your success from day one.

“After 25 years in the real estate industry, I never imagined I would walk away with such valuable, fresh insights on growing and scaling my business. Mark’s teaching style is engaging, straightforward, and packed with practical, real-world strategies.”

Even experienced professionals come to us for growth. Whether you’re brand new or returning to the field, our live classes offer insights and clarity you simply won’t find in a static, self-paced course.

What You Can Expect:

Live, Real-Time Instruction: Ask questions, participate in discussions, and get immediate feedback.
Experienced, Supportive Instructors: Learn from real estate professionals who are passionate about teaching and your success.
Flexible Format: Join us in our Philadelphia classroom or from the comfort of your home via Zoom.
A Proven Track Record: Many students come to us after struggling with online-only programs—and leave feeling confident, capable, and prepared.

If you’re serious about passing your exam, launching your career, and building a future in real estate, Philadelphia Real Estate Classes is the place to start.

👉 Click here to view upcoming class schedules and start your journey today.

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Mastering Your Schedule: The Real Estate Agent's Guide to Time Management in 2026

By Mark Cumberland • April 29, 2026

In our previous guide, "Beyond the First 90 Days," we discussed the critical transition from surviving your first few months in real estate to building a sustainable, systems-driven business. We covered the importance of finding your niche, building a referral engine, and establishing a powerful personal brand. However, knowing what to do is only half the battle. The other half—and arguably the more difficult part—is finding the time to actually do it. As a real estate educator and business coach in the Philadelphia market, I've watched countless agents with incredible potential burn out not from a lack of leads, but from a lack of time management. The constant barrage of text messages, last-minute showing requests, and administrative emergencies can quickly consume an entire week. If you want to break the cycle of feast-or-famine income, you must learn to fiercely protect your business-building time. This guide will break down the proven time-blocking strategies and daily routines that top-producing Pennsylvania real estate agents are using in 2026 to master their schedules and scale their businesses. The Myth of the Perfect Real Estate Schedule Let’s address the reality of our industry immediately: a rigid, minute-by-minute schedule is a fantasy in real estate. The moment a client has an emergency or a hot new listing hits the MLS in a competitive neighborhood like Fishtown or Graduate Hospital, that perfect plan goes right out the window. The secret to productivity in real estate isn't a stricter calendar; it's a flexible blueprint . It is about creating a daily rhythm that protects your most important, revenue-generating activities while still allowing you the flexibility to handle the inevitable chaos of a transaction. "The problem is that a rigid, minute-by-minute plan is a fantasy in real estate... The secret isn't a stricter calendar; it's a flexible blueprint. It's about creating a daily rhythm that fiercely protects your most important, money-making activities while still allowing you to handle the chaos." - Saleswise The "Golden Hour" Morning Block The most significant change you can make to your daily routine is how you handle the first 60 to 90 minutes of your workday. This is your "Golden Hour." Before the phone starts ringing and your inbox fills with demands from other people, you have a rare window for deep, focused work. This morning block should be reserved exclusively for proactive business growth, not reactive administrative tasks. What to Do During Your Golden Hour Your Golden Hour should be dedicated to activities that will generate future revenue. This is not the time to check email or scroll through social media.