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 real estate schools in the state based on course offerings, instruction quality, user interface, usability, and more. We’ve listed our top four recommendations below.
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!
4 Best Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania
| Our Top 5 Picks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall: The CE Shop | ||
| Best Value School: Colibri Real Estate | ||
| Best School for Exam Prep: Aceable Agent | ||
| Best No-fuss Real Estate School: PDH Real Estate Academy |
(Pennsylvania prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
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
Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania – Helpful Info
To get your real estate license in Pennsylvania, you’ll first need to complete 75 hours of prelicensing courses. 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.
Note that you’ll have to complete a final exam for 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.
Read our article How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania to learn more about the process of getting licensed.
Exam Preparation Courses
You’ll need to study to feel confident about passing the Pennsylvania real estate license exam. 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 post-licensing courses refer to the 14 hours of coursework you must complete within your first two years as a licensed real estate salesperson.
Continuing Education Classes
After you’ve completed your post-licensing courses during your first two years as a licensed real estate agent, you’ll need to complete 14 hours of continuing education (CE) to renew your license every two years.
Now that you’re familiar with the ongoing education required of real estate agents in Pennsylvania, you can probably see the importance of choosing the right real estate school and course packages at the outset of your new career. Check out our vetted list of the best real estate schools in Pennsylvania and learn why they’re our favorites.
Best Overall Real Estate School in Pennsylvania: The CE Shop
The CE Shop holds a reputation for quality instruction and affordable education options. It also boasts a high pass rate for the license exam (see their website for latest stats). But what sets The CE Shop apart is that you can get your prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education—and even upgrade to a broker license—all in one place.
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The CE Shop Pricing
You have four prelicensing packages to choose from with The CE Shop.
- Courses-Only Package ($399): Perfect for the self-starter who’s only looking for the course without a ton of extra features, though this package includes e-books, digital flashcards, career resources, a real estate glossary, and a study schedule to keep you on track.
- Standard Package ($489): 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 ($529): Includes everything in the previous package, plus business-building courses designed for new real estate agents.
- Premium Package ($649): 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 separately once you’re licensed.
(The CE Shop prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
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BEST FEATURE: We love a one-stop shop school. If you’re committing to a career in real estate in PA, you know you’ll be back in school soon for your post-licensing and continuing education. Including the post-licensing course in your prelicensing package gives you peace of mind for your first few years as an agent.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The CE Shop doesn’t go above and beyond with live instructor support. They do provide email support, but you also won’t find opportunities to ask questions of an instructor during your online classes.
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.
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!
Best Value Real Estate School in Pennsylvania: Colibri Real Estate
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.
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Colibri Real Estate Pricing
Colibri Real Estate offers five prelicensing course packages for prospective real estate agents in Pennsylvania.
- The Basics ($349): An excellent option for a motivated self-starter, this package includes the 75-hour course with basic instructor support. It includes the 30 hours of fundamentals, 45 hours of practice courses, plus helpful e-books.
- Exam Preparation ($401): Upgrade your course with exam prep. This package includes everything in the previous one, plus exam prep materials to help you study, and a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee.
- Exam Preparation Plus ($469): 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 Package ($549): You’ll get everything in the previous package, plus a printed course textbook and one year of professional development to help launch your career.
- Livestream ($549): Everything in the Ultimate Learning package but with classes livestreamed full days Monday through Thursday or Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
(Colibri Real Estate prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
Readers of The Close can SAVE 25% on any Colibri Real Estate prelicensing course in Pennsylvania. Use promo code TheClose25 at checkout.
BEST FEATURE: One of their 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. On the other hand, some students are looking for a basic package without any bells or whistles.
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
If your number one priority is acing the Pennsylvania real estate license exam, Aceable Agent will help you feel confident about taking the exam. They boast a 94% pass rate on the Pennsylvania real estate license exam and offer a variety of exam prep materials.
This school understands its students’ priorities: a real estate school that they can access quickly and get the job done. If you have concerns about test-taking and are looking for an extra focus on exam prep, look no further than Aceable Agent.
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Aceable Agent Pricing
Aceable Agent only offers three prelicensing packages in PA, and all include the 75-hour state-required prelicensing course.
- Basic Package ($299): This package includes your 75 hours of prelicensing class hours, lite exam prep, free online exam proctoring (for the course exam), and instructor support via email anytime you need it.
- Premium Package ($429): The premium package includes everything in the previous package, plus 75 instruction videos, 75 audio lessons, digital flashcards an an exam e-book to help you study.
- Deluxe Package ($529): This package includes everything in the previous one, plus extra support with live webinars five times a week, Q&As with instructors on Facebook Fridays, and one hour of private, one-on-one tutoring.
(Aceable Agent prelicensing package price as of December 2022)
Click our Aceable Agent link and SAVE 25%.
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 once you have your license, you’ll need to find another real estate school in Pennsylvania. They also aren’t the most affordable school on the list, though you’ll have to decide for yourself if your priority is exam prep.
BOTTOM LINE: Aceable Agent is for you if you’re looking for more confidence in taking exams and if you like more unique features like Q&As and tutoring.
Best No-fuss Real Estate School in Pennsylvania: PDH Real Estate Academy
PDH Real Estate Academy offers 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 teach their courses, and they make sure to include practice questions and a simulated final exam.
PDH Real Estate Academy Pros | PDH Real Estate Academy Cons |
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PDH Real Estate Academy Pricing
PDH Real Estate Academy offers one comprehensive package for prospective prelicensing students in Pennsylvania.
- All-Inclusive Package ($360): Includes exam prep, lifetime access, and career resources.
(PDH Real Estate Academy prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: The 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. On the other hand, this could be a pro for people who want to keep the process of choosing a school simple.
BOTTOM LINE: Choose PDH Real Estate Academy if you’re looking for an affordable package option with a decent amount of features.
Real Estate Schools in Pennsylvania FAQS
Got more questions? We have answers to your most frequently asked questions about a real estate career in Pennsylvania.
How long does it take to complete the PA prelicensing courses?
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 break the course up to take during evenings and weekends.
Each of the schools on our list offers 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.
How do I take the exam at the end of my prelicensing course?
Real estate schools with PA prelicensing packages will include your final exam. The exam is proctored, which means you’ll need to take the test supervised. But you’ll be able to take the exam with an online proctor from the comfort of home. The schools on our list all include the state-required prelicensing exam.
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.
Once you’ve finished your prelicensing course, 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.
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’ November 2022 data, there are 39,210 Realtors in Pennsylvania. This is about the same as the previous month, and about one percent more than 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 Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in Pennsylvania made $80,913 in 2022, which is 16% below the national average. Agents with ten or more years of experience should make about $8,000 more a year.
What’s the average home price in Pennsylvania?
According to Zillow, home values in Pennsylvania were up almost 10% in 2022, reaching $270,035. Averages in Philadelphia are slightly lower, at $242,586.
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Bringing It All Together
We wish you luck in choosing the right 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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