Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

How to Schedule the Pennsylvania Real Estate Licensing Exam

To schedule your exam, you must first submit your Certificate of Completion for the required courses to Pearson VUE, a private company that the state contracts to administer and schedule real estate licensing exams.

When your application is approved, you can then schedule your exam. You must schedule your test at least 24 hours in advance, and no walk-ins are allowed.

Where Do You Take the Pennsylvania Real Estate License Exam?

Pennsylvania has 10 Pearson VUE test centers across the state. Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes early on the day of your test, and prepare to be there between 1 and 2.5 hours.

Can You Take the Exam Online?

Beginning in late 2024, the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission authorized OnVUE remote proctoring through Pearson VUE. You now have two options:

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

Pennsylvania requires two unexpired, government-issued forms of ID. One must have a photo; the other only needs a signature and legal name. Acceptable IDs include:

• Government-issued Driver's License
• U.S. Dept. of State Driver's License
• U.S. Learner's Permit (plastic card only, with photo and signature)
• National / State / Country ID card
• Passport or Passport Card
• Military ID
• Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)

What Is on the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam?

The Pennsylvania Real Estate exam is made up of 120 scored questions with a national and state section. You'll have 150 minutes to complete the national portion and 60 minutes for the state section. Note that each part also contains 5–10 unscored pre-test items that do not affect your score.

Once you submit your exam, you'll receive your score immediately and see if you passed or failed.

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

Yes. There is a real estate math calculation section covering property area calculations, valuations, commissions, loan financing costs, and more. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission recommends memorizing basic calculations like the number of square feet in an acre or the number of feet in a mile. Bringing a basic calculator is allowed and recommended for larger calculations.

Is the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam Hard?

The Pennsylvania real estate exam can be a challenge — but only if you haven't taken the time to study or prepare. The more time you spend studying, the easier you'll find the exam and the more likely you'll pass on the first try.

How Many Questions Are on the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam?

The exam has 120 scored questions — 80 national and 40 state-specific — with an additional 5–10 unscored pre-test items. The passing standard is 75% for both parts:

• National section: 80 questions — you need at least 60 correct to pass
• State section: 40 questions — you need at least 30 correct to pass

What Is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania real estate exam is considered moderately difficult. According to state data:

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

If you don't pass on the first try — don't worry! You can retake the exam as many times as needed. Since the state and national sections are scored separately, you'll only have to retake the section you failed. You can reschedule on the Pearson VUE website; keep in mind you'll have to pay the $49 fee again.

• Salesperson candidates: five years after completing your educational requirements
• Broker candidates: ten years, giving you plenty of time to pass

How to Pass the Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam

With proper study and preparation, you will be able to pass your Pennsylvania licensing exam and start helping clients buy and sell real estate. This requires time and investment into an exam prep program so you can go into your exam feeling confident. A guided program will reiterate the lessons from your pre-licensing coursework and provide you with study tools to prepare you for the multiple-choice questions on the exam.

Create a Study Schedule

Set yourself up for success by creating a study schedule that you can follow throughout your exam prep. Whether life gets busy or you need a little extra structure, having a designated time to study for your real estate exam will ensure it's top of mind when the time comes.

Put the time on your calendar, and then set a timer for the study time block. We recommend studying a little bit every night if possible, or at least every other night. You'll thank yourself later that you took the time to set up a schedule and be consistent with your exam prep!

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

If you have a hard time memorizing different real estate terminology, an acronym or mnemonic device can help. These are study strategies that use rhyming words or phrases to help your brain remember vocabulary words. A common mnemonic device is Roy G. Biv for the colors of the rainbow. Try creating a mnemonic device for different real estate terms or concepts.

Join a Study Group

There are countless benefits to joining a study group to prep for your real estate exam. While studying alone might help you focus, joining a study group can connect you with other students and provide you with new ways to learn and remember information. You'll be able to discuss problems and ideas together, helping to foster new connections and become more confident about the exam material. Plus, with a study group, you'll have some added accountability leading up to the exam.

Get Guided Help

Your pre-licensing classes helped you learn the material, but a Pennsylvania real estate exam prep can get you ready for the actual exam content. When you enroll in our exam prep package, you'll get access to:

• Over 1,500 Pennsylvania real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations by real estate experts
• E-book study guide
• 8+ hours of crash course video content led by Robert Rico

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