If you’re looking for the best real estate schools in Pennsylvania, look no further. We’ve researched real estate classes from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (and everywhere in between) to find the best in the state based on course offerings, instruction quality, user interface, usability, and more.
A real estate career can give you more flexibility and autonomy, and it can be a lucrative career path. But first, you’ll need to complete 75 hours of prelicensing classes plus post-licensing and continuing education requirements once you’re licensed. That’s why choosing the right school to take you through your new career is crucial. Check out our top picks below to get started!
5 Best Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania
| Our Top 5 Picks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: The CE Shop | ||
| Best for Online: Colibri Real Estate | ||
| Best School for Exam Prep: Aceable Agent | ||
| Best for Extra Features: PDH Real Estate Academy | ||
| Best for Live Instruction: Philadelphia Real Estate Classes |
(Pennsylvania prelicensing package prices as of September 2023)
Pennsylvania Real Estate Governing Body:
Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
75 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
14 Hours Within Two Years
Continuing Education Requirements:
14 Hours Every Two Years
If you want to know the types of classes that you’ll need to take throughout your real estate career, simply jump into the helpful info section. But if you’re ready to choose your education provider, let’s dig into our vetted list of the best real estate schools in Pennsylvania and why they’re our favorites.
Best Overall Real Estate School in Pennsylvania: The CE Shop
The CE Shop offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Continuing education courses
- Post-licensing
- Broker prelicensing
The CE Shop holds a reputation for quality instruction and affordable education options. While Pennsylvania doesn’t publish official pass rates for each school, The CE Shop does boast of a 91% pass rate for the license exam. But what really sets The CE Shop apart is that you can get your prelicensing, post-licensing, and continuing education—and even upgrade to a broker license—all in one place.
Try The CE Shop’s FREE 5-DAY TRIAL
The CE Shop is the only school on our list that lets you test drive their courses & features before you buy. Visit their website today!
The CE Shop Pricing
You have four prelicensing packages to choose from with The CE Shop.
- Courses Only ($419): Perfect for the self-starter who’s looking for classes without a ton of extra features, this package includes e-books, digital flashcards, career resources, a real estate glossary, and a study schedule to keep you on track.
- Standard Package ($515): This includes everything in the previous package plus The CE Shop’s Exam Prep Edge to help you get ready for the state licensure exam.
- Value Package ($559): This includes everything in the Standard Package plus business-building courses designed for new real estate agents.
- Premium Package ($685): This package includes everything in the previous one plus your 14-hour post-licensing course bundled in, so you won’t have to worry about paying for it once you’re licensed.
(The CE Shop prelicensing package prices as of September 2023)
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Best Feature
We love a one-stop shop. If you’re committing to a career in real estate in PA, you know you’ll be back in school soon to satisfy your post-licensing and continuing education requirements. Including the post-licensing course in the Premium Package gives you peace of mind for your first few years as an agent.
Room to Improve
The CE Shop’s packages are not for aspiring agents on a budget. If you are looking for something that won’t break the bank, consider Aceable Agent.
Bottom Line
If you don’t want to fuss with jumping between schools for all your Pennsylvania real estate education needs, The CE Shop has you covered.
Best Real Estate School in Pennsylvania for Online: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
- Post-licensing
Colibri Real Estate has been providing affordable real estate education across the U.S. for 25 years. They were one of the early adopters of online learning in the industry, so their platform is easy to use. Colibri Real Estate shines in its affordability, and students don’t lose out on extra features.
Colibri Real Estate Pricing
Prospective real estate agents in Pennsylvania can choose from five prelicensing course packages from Colibri Real Estate.
- The Basics ($360): An excellent option for a motivated self-starter, this package includes the 75-hour course with basic instructor support. It also includes helpful e-books and coaching videos.
- Exam Preparation ($455): This package includes everything in the previous one, a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee, and exam prep materials such as audio review guides, flashcards, and simulated exams.
- Exam Preparation Plus ($527): This package includes everything in the previous package plus live Q&A webinars with your class and an instructor, a real estate dictionary, and a live Exam Crammer series.
- Ultimate Learning ($627): You’ll get everything in the previous package plus a printed course textbook and one year of professional development support to help launch your career.
- Livestream Learning ($549): This package includes everything in the Ultimate Learning package but with classes live streamed full days Monday through Thursday or Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
(Colibri Real Estate prelicensing package prices as of September 2023)
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Best Feature
One of Colibri’s best features has to be the Exam Crammer series, which offers six one-hour live exam prep webinars. There’s nothing like being able to ask an instructor a question you’re stuck on in real time.
Room to Improve
We don’t have too much to complain about here, except the fact that their basic package doesn’t include any exam prep. And it would be nice if Colibri could add continuing education options.
Bottom Line
Colibri Real Estate is great for students who are comfortable using online platforms and can get the most out of their extra features.
Can You Be a Part-time Real Estate Agent? (+ Free Guide & Videos)
Best Real Estate School in Pennsylvania for Exam Prep: Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
If your number one priority is acing the Pennsylvania real estate license exam, Aceable Agent will help you feel confident about taking the test. They self-report a 94% pass rate on the Pennsylvania real estate license exam and offer a variety of exam prep materials.
This school understands that most students want a real estate school that they can access quickly and get the job done. But if you have concerns about test-taking and are looking for an extra focus on exam prep, Aceable Agent offers at least some of these add-ons in its most basic package.
Aceable Agent Pricing
All three of Aceable Agent’s prelicensing packages in PA include the 75-hour state-required prelicensing course and exam prep.
- Basic ($299): This package includes your 75 hours of prelicensing class hours, “lite” exam prep with 1,000 practice questions, a course on how to find the right broker, instructor support via email anytime you need it, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Deluxe ($429): This package includes everything in the previous one plus 75 instruction videos, 75 audio lessons, digital flashcards, 1,660 practice questions, and an exam e-book to help you study.
- Premium ($529): This offering includes everything in the previous one plus extra support with live webinars five times a week, Q&As with instructors on Fridays, and one hour of private, one-on-one tutoring.
(Aceable Agent prelicensing package price as of September 2023)
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Best Feature
Aceable Agent is dedicated to preparing you for your license exam. Whether you need materials to study on your own or more interactive tutoring, they have an option for every level of preparation.
Room to Improve
Aceable Agent doesn’t offer post-licensing courses, so you’ll need to find another real estate school to maintain your Pennsylvania license.
Bottom Line
Aceable Agent is for you if you’re looking for more confidence in taking the exam and unique features such as tutoring.
Best Real Estate School in Pennsylvania for Extra Features: PDH Real Estate Academy
PDH Real Estate Academy offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
PDH Real Estate Academy offers many of the same reliable features as our other top schools plus a little something different. Their courses are totally self-paced, with a simple online platform you can use on any mobile device or computer.
PDH Real Estate provides extra support by phone, so you can call and talk to someone if you’re stuck on any part of the material. Real estate professionals put together the courses, and they make sure to include practice questions and a simulated final exam.
PDH Real Estate Academy Pricing
In Pennsylvania, PDH Real Estate Academy offers only one comprehensive package for prospective prelicensing students.
- All-Inclusive Package ($360): This includes exam prep with more than 800 practice questions, pass guarantee, lifetime access, instructor support, and career resources. You’ll also get bonus home inspection courses to expand your real estate knowledge.
(PDH Real Estate Academy prelicensing package prices as of September 2023)
Best Feature
Lifetime access to course materials is key. Typically, you’ll find that real estate schools give you a six- to 12-month period to complete your courses, after which you can no longer access the course. PDH Real Estate Academy’s lifetime access means you can re-watch any video lectures whenever you need.
Room to Improve
PDH Real Estate Academy only offers one package, so you won’t get much choice. And, like Aceable Agent, PDH doesn’t offer post-licensing courses.
Bottom Line
Choose PDH Real Estate Academy if you’re looking for an affordable package option with unlimited access.
Best Real Estate School in Pennsylvania for Live Instruction: Philadelphia Real Estate Classes
Philadelphia Real Estate Classes offers:
- Prelicensing
- Exam prep
Philadelphia Real Estate Classes is a local real estate school owned and operated by Mark Cumberland. The company specializes in live instruction and believes that differentiator offers a better educational experience than a set of slides or videos.
To better prepare the students for the license exam, Philadelphia Real Estate Classes’ instructors give practice exams after every chapter and a final practice test as a refresher for the whole course.
Philadelphia Real Estate Classes Pricing
Students can choose between daytime, nighttime, or weekend classes from the school’s list of available schedules, but there’s only one package option:
- Livestreaming Instructor-led Class ($499): This package includes your 75-hour prelicensing course, a real estate book, practice exams, and a three-hour business building coaching session.
(Philadelphia Real Estate Classes prelicensing package prices as of September 2023)
Best Feature
Philadelphia Real Estate Classes’ best feature is the three-hour coaching session, called “Zero to Twenty Million in Production,” which is taught by the school’s founder. During the coaching session, students learn how to generate leads, negotiate commissions, and build a real estate team.
Room to Improve
We’d love it if Philadelphia Real Estate Classes could revamp the school’s website for a better user interface and experience. It was hard for us to understand the breadth of their offerings without getting in touch with the owner.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a school with live instruction and dedicated teachers who will give you the advice you need to pass your license exam and set up your business, consider Philadelphia Real Estate Classes.
How We Selected the Best Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania
Selecting the best real estate schools in Pennsylvania was not an easy task. Our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors use a weighted rubric for scoring each school according to the following criteria:
Read more about The Close’s methodology here.
Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania: Helpful Info
It’s not just prelicensing courses that you’ll have to worry about when it comes to choosing the best school for you. Real estate schools in Pennsylvania typically offer several types of courses to meet the needs of agents and brokers at various stages of their career.
Prelicensing Courses
All of the real estate schools in Pennsylvania that made our list offer the required 75 hours of prelicensing education you’ll need to sit the PA exam. Read our article How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania to learn more about the process of getting licensed.
Note that you’ll have to complete a final exam in your prelicensing course, which is distinct from the state’s licensing exam. In total, you’ll need to pass two exams (the course exam and the state licensing exam) to receive your real estate license in Pennsylvania.
Exam Preparation Courses
Your courses will give you a solid understanding of the real estate concepts you’ll need to know. But if you feel like you need some extra help before your license exam date, consider purchasing an exam prep package.
Several of our recommended schools offer standalone exam prep packages, while others offer exam prep as part of their prelicensing package. Some features of exam preparation are:
- Digital flashcards
- Real estate vocabulary
- Practice questions
- E-books
- Quizzes
- Simulated exams
Post-licensing Classes
Within two years of receiving your Pennsylvania real estate license, you’ll need to complete 14 hours of post-licensing courses. Keep in mind that if you like your prelicensing course provider, you might want to take your post-licensing with the same school too.
Continuing Education Classes
After you’ve completed your post-licensing courses, you’ll need to complete 14 hours of continuing education (CE) to renew your license every two years.
Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania FAQS
Got more questions? We have answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about a real estate career in Pennsylvania.
How long does it take to get a Pennsylvania real estate license?
Taking your prelicensing course is the longest process in getting your PA real estate license. Depending on how you schedule your time, you could get your license in as little as four months.
On average, students take three to six months to complete their online prelicensing course. This average reflects the fact that most people take the course while they work, so they often take classes during evenings and weekends.
Most of the schools on our list offer self-paced learning options, so you can take the time you need to complete the course. How long it takes you to complete the required 75-hour course will depend on your schedule and how much time you’re able to commit to class per week.
Once you’ve finished your prelicensing course and passed the test, you simply need to apply for your license exam, study, and pass the exam. Once you’ve passed, you can get a nearby broker to hire you.
How do I take the exam at the end of my prelicensing course?
All the schools on our list all include the state-required prelicensing exam. The exam is proctored, which means you’ll need to take the test supervised. But you can take the exam with an online proctor from the comfort of home in most cases.
Does Pennsylvania have post-licensing requirements?
Yes. You must complete 14 hours of post-licensing coursework within the first two years of getting your real estate salesperson license. After that, you’ll need to take 14 hours of continuing education coursework every two years to stay licensed.
How many Realtors are there in Pennsylvania?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ data, there are 38,513 Realtors in Pennsylvania. This is a very slight increase from the previous month, and a 0.34% decrease from this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in Pennsylvania?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to The Close’s salary information database, the average real estate agent in Pennsylvania makes $65,949.
What’s the average home price in Pennsylvania?
According to Zillow, home values in Pennsylvania were up 3.7% over the past year, reaching $257,511. Averages in Philadelphia are slightly lower, at $221,032.
Real Estate Broker vs. Agent: A Head-to-Head Analysis
Bringing It All Together
We wish you luck in choosing the right Pennsylvania real estate school for you. When you’ve received your real estate license, come back for more advice to help you succeed in real estate. At The Close, we’re committed to giving you actionable strategies so you can succeed in your career.
Have advice, thoughts, or more questions? Leave us a comment below!
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