The State Real Estate Commission requires each real estate licensee to take 14 hours of continuing education during each license renewal period. The current period began June 1, 2006, and ends May 31, 2008.

The changes the State Real Estate Commission previously approved for education for the 2004-2006 Continuing Education renewal cycle remain in place:

1. For 2006-2008, licensees will be able to complete their continuing education requirements with classes that are a minimum of 2 hours in length.
   
2. Licensees will be able to complete all 14 hours of continuing education for the 2006-2008 renewal period in elective courses. At this time there are no mandatory topics. 
   
3. Licensees may fulfill their CE requirements through approved distance education courses through approved providers.

The Pennsylvania REALTORS^® Institute (PRI) offers a variety of courses -- both traditional and distance education -- that meet the requirements of continuing education (CE). In addition, many instructor-led designation/certification courses also fulfill the requirement.

For more information on CE requirements, refer to Subchapter H of the State Real Estate Commission regulations.

In addition to meeting other licensing requirements, an individual who wants to take the salesperson’s examination to obtain a Pennsylvania salesperson’s license must:

• Have successfully completed four credits, or 60 hours, of instruction in basic real estate courses as determined by the Commission, and offered by an approved education provider.
• The Commission may recognize a bachelor’s degree in real estate from an accredited college, or university, or a juris doctor degree from an accredited law school as fulfillment of the education requirement.
• Coursework must have been completed within 10 years prior to the date of successful completion of the licensing examination.

For more information, refer to Subchapter D, Section 35.272 of the State Real Estate Commission regulations.

In addition to meeting other licensing requirements, an individual who wants to obtain a Pennsylvania broker’s license must:

• Have acquired 16 credits, or 240 hours of instruction in professional real estate education as determined by the Commission, and offered by an approved education provider. A portion of these hours must be taken in required courses developed by the Commission.
• The Commission may recognize a bachelor’s degree in real estate from an accredited college, or university, or a juris doctor degree from an accredited law school as fulfillment of the education requirement.
• A candidate may not apply credits used to qualify for the salesperson’s examination toward fulfillment of the broker education requirement.
• Coursework must have been completed within 10 years of the successful completion of the licensing examination.
• Two credits will be allowed for each year of active practice the candidate has had a broker license in another jurisdiction during the 10-year period immediately preceding the submission of the examination record.

For more information, refer to Subchapter D, Section 35.271 of the State Real Estate Commission regulations.

The Pennsylvania REALTORS^® Institute (PRI) offers a variety of designation/certification courses which will count toward the elective credit requirement.

For more information, contact the PA State Real Estate Commission.