Transfer Your Real Estate License to Pennsylvania: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) ↗
Pennsylvania has no blanket reciprocity agreement, but the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) evaluates out-of-state licensees for endorsement individually. An applicant actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in another state within the last 5 years takes and passes only the Pennsylvania state portion of the exam (national portion waived); a non-resident reciprocal license requires no Pennsylvania examination.. Application fee: $97 (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.).
Moving to Pennsylvania from a specific state?
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Two out-of-state pathways: (1) a RECIPROCAL license for a salesperson/broker holding a current license in ANY other state whose principal place of business remains OUTSIDE Pennsylvania (no PA exam or pre-license education); and (2) Act 41 of 2019 ENDORSEMENT for licensees relocating to PA from states with substantially equivalent requirements (active, good standing, no discipline). A relocating applicant seeking a standard resident license completes 75 hours of pre-license education and passes the PA state exam (national portion waived if licensed elsewhere within 5 years). PA's current official materials do NOT publish a named partner-state list, so reciprocity_partners is empty; the seed's older Maryland + New Jersey specific reciprocity/turf references were NOT found in current commission materials and appear outdated. A JD or real-estate-major bachelor's degree satisfies the education requirement.
Pennsylvania requirements at a glance
| Exam | An applicant actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in another state within the last 5 years takes and passes only the Pennsylvania state portion of the exam (national portion waived); a non-resident reciprocal license requires no Pennsylvania examination. |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 75 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $97 (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.) |
| Processing time | Commission does not publish a fixed timeline; see its Licensure Processing Guides and Timelines. |
Step by step
- Confirm Pennsylvania's current requirements on the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate or equivalent.
- Submit a current letter of good standing from the state licensing agency where you are licensed.
- For a reciprocal license, keep your principal place of business outside Pennsylvania.
- Be active, in good standing, and free of discipline/criminal conviction (Act 41 endorsement).
- Apply through the PALS licensing system.
- Pay the fees ($97 (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.)) and allow Commission does not publish a fixed timeline; see its Licensure Processing Guides and Timelines..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Pennsylvania:
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Frequently asked questions
Does my real estate license transfer to Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no blanket reciprocity agreement, but the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) evaluates out-of-state licensees for endorsement individually. An applicant actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in another state within the last 5 years takes and passes only the Pennsylvania state portion of the exam (national portion waived); a non-resident reciprocal license requires no Pennsylvania examination.. Application fee: $97 (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.).
Do I have to retake real estate exams in Pennsylvania?
An applicant actively licensed as a salesperson or broker in another state within the last 5 years takes and passes only the Pennsylvania state portion of the exam (national portion waived); a non-resident reciprocal license requires no Pennsylvania examination..
What does a Pennsylvania real estate license cost an out-of-state applicant?
$97 (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.) (Standard salesperson initial fee = $72 licensure + $25 application; reciprocal-license fees are billed through PALS. Renewal is $96 biennially.).
How long does the Pennsylvania process take?
Commission does not publish a fixed timeline; see its Licensure Processing Guides and Timelines. — Commission does not publish a fixed timeline; see its Licensure Processing Guides and Timelines..
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- PA - Real Estate Salesperson Licensure Snapshot (requirements, exam waiver, reciprocity, Act 41) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PA State Real Estate Commission - main page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]