License Renewals

Every two years, real estate professionals must renew their licenses with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The current cycle ends on May 31. The renewal process involves completing 14 hours of approved continuing education, completing the online renewal, and paying a renewal fee of either $96 or $126. If a licensee obtains a new license or reactivates between December 1, 2005 and May 31, 2006, he/she would not be required to complete an additional 14 hours of continuing education in order to renew the license by May 31, 2006.  

The State Real Estate Commission will be sending out letters in March to licensed real estate brokers/agents who must renew their licenses. The letter will contain an online registration code to use on the commission’s Web site.

The commission is encouraging all those renewing their licenses to do so online. The process will be quicker and more efficient. Based on the Bureau’s experience with other licensing boards, turn around time for online renewals, where all requirements are met, is generally about two days. Salespersons may complete their online renewals before their brokers; however, the Commission will not release the renewed salespersons licenses until the broker has renewed. Paper applications are also being accepted, but are not the preferred method. The letter the Commission provides to you in March will provide instructions on how to obtain a paper renewal.

Continuing education must be completed at an approved school, either in person or by distance learning. A list of approved schools and classes is provided on the Commission’s Web site. Courses are individually approved by the commission.

The Pennsylvania REALTORS® Institute (PRI) electronically submits continuing education credit that has been completed to the State Real Estate Commission within 30 days of course completion. Transcripts are sent out following that submission.

If there is a discrepancy between the number of hours of continuing education that a licensee has completed and the information transferred by the provider, the licensee should contact the provider directly. The Commission’s records cannot be changed without documentation from the provider.

f a licensee is unable to complete continuing education through in-person or distance education, he or she may request a waiver from the Commission. To be considered for a waiver, you must provide a letter detailing the reason(s) you are requesting a waiver. Supporting documents, such a letter from your physician outlining the medical condition and prognosis, are also required. Since distance education is available to all licensees, licensees who request a waiver should also explain why this method was not used. The following is posted on the Commission’s Web site: “If you are unable to complete your continuing education requirement by instructor-led or distance education learning, you will need to provide this office with (1) a letter detailing the reason(s) you are requesting a waiver from the continuing education requirement, and (2) a current letter from your medical or osteopathic physician outlining your medical condition and prognosis (if a medical condition is the reason for the waiver) as well as confirmation that the doctor does not believe you would be able to complete the either instructor-led or distance education.” Waiver letters and attachments must be received in the Commission office no later than April 30, 2006 and will be presented to the Commission at its May 2006 meeting. Any requests made after April 30, 2006, will not be presented to the Commission until the June 2006 meeting and you will not have a license to practice real estate past the May 31, 2006 expiration date.

Licenses which have been in escrow for more than five years are no longer eligible for renewal, but most be reactivated instead. Instructions for reactivation are located on the SREC Web site. In order to reactivate your license after five or more years, you must retake the Real Estate Examination. (Please review the Commission’s reactivation procedure online.)

The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® (PAR) does not participate in the license renewal process. If you elect to submit your license renewal application through the mail, please send it directly to the State Real Estate Commission, PO Box 8413, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8413. Submitting to PAR will only delay your renewal process. If you have questions about this process, you should contact the State Real Estate Commission at 717-783-3658 or st-realestate@state.pa.us.  n