If you’re searching for flexible employment where you continue your destiny, then consider getting your real estate license. As a licensed real estate agent, you can make a six-figure salary and have the freedom to make your own schedule. Whether you’re a parent raising a family or taking care of an elderly loved one. Obtaining your PA real estate license allows you to make a solid income while living life to the fullest.
However, there are common misconceptions about how long is real estate school, which leads to people doubting this career path. In reality, some individuals can pass their real estate exam within two months. Therefore, it all depends on the amount of work the individual puts in to obtain their realtor license PA. In this article, we will explain the process to apply for your PA real estate license, tips to succeed, and what to avoid when obtaining your Pennsylvania real estate license.
How to Get Your PA Real Estate License
To obtain your real estate license in PA, there’s a set of basic requirements, most of which involve the individual’s background check and report. As a realtor, you’re held to specific standards and a code of ethics. When you’re dealing with thousands of dollars and a client’s livelihood, the “National Association of Realtors” is expected to protect sellers/buyers as well as other agents. In most states, such as Pennsylvania, to become a realtor, you must be at least 18 years old, while other states require the applicant to be 19 years old.
Additionally, another requirement is that the individual has a high school diploma or a GED. In addition to age and education requirements, the applicant must be a U.S citizen. Lastly, Pennsylvania and other states conduct a background check looking for felony convictions involving fraud, theft, forgery, or violent crime. However, there are certain factors that are considered, such as how severe the crime was, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the honesty of the potential agent. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the PA real estate license requirements; always be honest, and keep in mind that the reward of being an agent outweighs the fear of rejection.
How Long is Real Estate School?
The length of real estate school depends on how often the classes occur and whether the individual’s studying alone online or with a class in person. On average, it takes people between two and four months to pass their real estate exam. Therefore, while studying for your PA real estate license, stay consistent and don’t take time off between studying for the national portion and the state portion of the exam to keep the info fresh. Overall, real estate students required to complete a 75-hour pre-license education course. Furthermore, it’s 30 hours of real estate fundamentals and 45 hours of real estate practice.
Therefore, choose the right course provider and structure; some individuals learn better in a class setting, learning the tools and info by being more hands-on. You can complete your required hours by doing an online real estate school as Kaplan or Colibri, or in person at Temple University. No matter where the classes held, dedicate yourself to achieving your real estate license. Therefore, even when you feel overwhelmed, push through and dedicate more time to your studies.
What to do after Passing the Pre-license Exam
Before your real estate exam, you’ll want to pass the pre-license course exam to ensure you’re ready for the actual test. The pre-license exam is similar to a practice test; although it’s not mandatory, it’s certainly suggested to prepare yourself. Furthermore, the only requirement is completing the 75-hour license education course. When you’re ready to take your test, you’ll follow these steps:
- Apply to take your PA real estate license exam. Expect both a national and state portion of the exam. To pass your exam, you need to have at least 75% of the questions correct on both parts of the test. This translates to at least 60 of the 80 national questions & 30 of the 40 Pennsylvania-tailored questions.
- Pay your testing fees. In Pennsylvania and other states, to take your real estate license exam, the fees and costs are around $49.
- Take your final test. There are two options to take your PA real estate license exam: in person through a Pearson VUE test center or their proctoring service from the comfort of your own home.
- Complete the background check and apply for your license through the Pennsylvania Department of State, with regulations approved by the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission. Additionally, Pennsylvania requires a fingerprint process conducted at IdentoGO, a state-approved PA fingerprinting center.
Once you pass the exam and are approved by the PA State Real Estate Commission, it’ll be time to review real estate companies and choose a broker.
Choose Broker to hold the PA Real Estate License
Although agents are independent contractors, Pennsylvania requires realtors to work under a broker. It can be challenging choosing a real estate broker to hang your license with in PA. Most new agents want a company name that people can recognize. However, larger brokers tend to take a percentage of each deal until you reach a cap rate. Which can be roughly $7,000 paid from your deals to your broker. Furthermore, for agents just starting, it’s more appealing to keep your entire agent commission and just pay your broker a flat fee (which can be covered by your home seller/buyer).
Some real estate brokers have a tight-knit environment where it feels like one big family; this environment minimizes envy or tension around the office. Additionally, some brokers have hands-on training, where a seasoned and experienced agent guides you through your first few deals. It’s essential to remember that not every broker is equal, and their contract terms can vary significantly. Therefore, it’s important to interview multiple companies before making your decision. Keep in mind that when meeting with a real estate broker, they’re not the only ones conducting the interview. The agent is also asking questions and seeing if that brokerage is the right fit.
Maintaining Your PA Real Estate License
Once you pass your real estate license exam, there’s continued education that’s required along with the renewal of your license. Here are a few things you need to do to maintain your active PA real estate license:
- Every two years, Pennsylvania realtors need to renew their licenses. The license renewal consists of 14 hours of training. You’ll need to pay any renewal fees and have your renewal application reviewed by the Pennsylvania real estate commission.
Tips to Succeed with a Realtor License PA
Earning success as a real estate agent consists of being personable, trustworthy, and hard-working. Furthermore, to earn the trust of sellers and buyers, you need to find a way to connect with these individuals beyond a business relationship. Therefore, you need to prove your worth, whether it’s your level of experience or what you can bring to the table, if it’s real estate marketing or holding multiple open houses. Here are some other tips to achieve success with your PA real estate license:
- Build your brand. As a new real estate agent, the best way to produce deals is by using your personal network. Let your friends, family, and neighbors know you’re an agent. The trust aspect’s established. At times, these individuals will utilize you even with little to no experience, because they know you and trust you. Using your network is a great way to establish yourself and to get a couple of deals under your belt.
- Network with other agents. Real estate is a career path that blends what you know with who you know. Some higher-up agents are too busy to handle every aspect of real estate. Therefore, some busy agents have leads they need to call and handle. In addition, speak with property managers; they may have a renter who’s ready to purchase a property. Being around your broker’s office and making yourself known and available to other agents may lead to potential deals as a new agent.
- Marketing strategies are vital in any aspect of your real estate career. We live in a time of modern technology; we can obtain deals through social media, websites, mailers, cold calling, and many other marketing techniques. Some marketing strategies require funds, like mailers or paid-per-click ads. However, you can network and make yourself known for free by staying active with social media posts.
- Mentorship can make all the difference. In any industry, the right mentor can teach you how to handle stress and how to succeed. As we mentioned, not all brokers are equal, and some brokers have strong training programs that can make all the difference for newer agents.
Is it worth studying for a PA Real Estate License?
Obtaining a PA real estate license isn’t always simple. Therefore, it takes time to learn the information for your real estate exam, typically two to four months. Dedication is key to success even beyond the license test. Understand that not all brokers and real estate companies are equal. Some brokers take a large percentage of your commissions until you hit the cap. In addition, some real estate brokers have a sufficient training program that teaches the agent to be ready for any circumstance.
Ensure you weigh out the pros and cons of each brokerage before signing an agreement. If you’re not satisfied with your broker, you can easily switch to a new company. However, if you have active listings, then you need to agree with your current broker. Furthermore, always build a strong real estate connection and network. Being an agent consists of knowledge, networking, and hard work. Therefore, with these personality traits, any realtor can achieve financial freedom and a flexible work schedule, making real estate the ideal career path.