About Real Estate Licensing
Real estate salespeople, also known as real estate agents or realtors, are licensed professionals who help others buy and sell property, including residential and commercial buildings. Salespeople help individuals and companies improve their living situations and conduct business, all while maintaining a flexible schedule and excellent earning potential.
Real estate salespeople must obtain a license in order to practice in Pennsylvania, which includes sitting for the state’s examinations. To qualify for the examinations, applicants must complete 75 hours of basic real estate courses from an accredited college or approved education provider—like CCAC.
CCAC offers two 100% online programs, both of which provide all of the instruction necessary for students to obtain their Pennsylvania salesperson license. By choosing either our instructor-led or self-paced option, you can launch a successful career in the format that suits your current schedule.
Instructor-Led (Real Estate Fundamentals & Practice)
- 100% online
- Led by an instructor via Zoom
- 75 hours of instruction
- 12 weeks
- Classes scheduled at various times throughout the year
Self-Paced (The CE Shop Package)
Students may register and start this course at any time.
- 100% online
- Self-paced learning
- 75 hours of coursework
- Up to six months to complete
CCAC has partnered with the CE Shop to offer this online package, which includes not just the required 75-hour real estate pre-license course but additional resources to support your success.
The package includes:
- Exam prep based on the Pennsylvania candidate handbook
- Business e-books written by the experts
- Career resources about interviewing brokers, finding your niche and starting your career
- Downloadable study resources
- Digital flashcards
- Real estate glossary
All of the course content is offered both live online (synchronous) and self-paced online (asynchronous), meaning you can easily complete the course however it best suits your busy schedule. Both versions of the course are totally parallel to one another. They’re split into sections so that you can even choose to take some sections of the course synchronously and other parts asynchronously—without missing a beat. If you devote a full-time schedule to completing this 75-hour course, you can finish within a few weeks.
Program Outcomes
Individuals who successfully complete the 75 hours of instruction in either format are eligible to sit for the Pennsylvania State and National Real Estate Salesperson examinations to obtain their real estate salesperson license.
The exams are administered by a company called Pearson VUE using a system called Clarus. When you’re ready to apply for your salesperson exams, create an account on Clarus’ website and follow their application instructions.
Pearson VUE will review your application and notify you via email if you’re eligible to proceed. This email will contain instructions to schedule your exam.
The exams are available remotely or in-person at Pearson VUE’s test centers. There are currently six test centers in the Pittsburgh area and about 30 across the state. Find your nearest location here.
For more information about the exam process, download the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission Candidate Handbook on Pearson VUE’s website.
After passing the exams, licensed salespeople may launch a career on their own terms. After securing a sponsoring brokerage, their day-to-day work is largely self-directed: they manage their own customer relationships and set their own schedules, determining what kind and quantity of work to pursue. This can translate to both personal flexibility and a lucrative career.
Program Requirements
If you want to get a salesperson license (that is, a license where your real estate activity is supervised by a licensed broker), you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school degree or an equivalent certificate
- Have a reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, competence and integrity
- Be in good standing, meaning you don’t have a past real estate license (of any kind, anywhere) that has been suspended, surrendered or revoked as a result of disciplinary action or unpaid fees
- Have a clear criminal history
- Undergo a criminal record check from the Pennsylvania State Police, dated within 90 days of when you register to take the exam
Students may register online or by phone at 412.788.7546.
Online Real Estate Licensing
It's okay to be an overachiever! The Pennsylvania "The Works Deluxe" package has everything you need to become a real estate salesperson. If you like learning on your own, then this is the program for you. Work at your own pace, on your own time! There is not a set schedule you have to worry about.
The Community College of Allegheny County has partnered with Career WebSchool to offer this online course package to make sure you are set up for success in both the state exam and your future career in real estate.
You may register and start this course at your convenience anytime throughout the year. You have approximately six months to complete the course once you begin.
Pennsylvania Sales Pre-license Course: Containing everything needed to satisfy Pennsylvania's state requirement for education for a real estate salesperson to qualify to take the state licensing exam, this 75 hour real estate pre-license course is an affordable, hassle-free way to prepare you to begin a successful career in real estate. Highlights include real estate law, finance, ownership, contracts and the transfer and use of property.
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Pennsylvania Exam Prep -
The only mastery fluency exam prep system in the market. -
MathMaster -
There's no need to be afraid of tackling math problems. The purpose of this is to give you the tools and expertise to "master" real estate math. Students will love the hands-on practice problems and detailed, clear descriptions of the purpose, use and formulas. -
Real Estate: An Introduction to the Profession (Hardcover Book) -
Please note that our courses are designed to comply with the state requirements without the need of a textbook. This book is added value to the package and an additional resource. -
Virtual Study Program -
Weekly live, interactive webinars to help you master key national real estate concepts. -
The Career Webschool Quality Guarantee -
In the instance that one of our students does not pass the state exam on the first try, Career Webschool will reimburse that student for their second state exam fee. To be eligible for reimbursement, the student must take the state exam within 1 year of completing our course and must have also passed our course exam with a grade of at least 80%.