Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson Exam: How Many Questions, How Long, and What Score Do You Need to Pass?
Short answer: The Pennsylvania real estate salesperson exam has two parts, and you must pass each one that applies to you (an applicant actively licensed in another state within the last 5 years takes only the State part). The National portion has 80 scored questions and a 150-minute time limit; the Pennsylvania State portion has 40 scored questions and a 60-minute time limit. The minimum passing score is 75% on each part, and Pearson uses scaled scores. Each part also carries a few unidentified pretest questions that do not count. These facts come from the Pearson VUE Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission Candidate Handbook dated October 2026.
The exam at a glance
| Item | National portion | Pennsylvania State portion |
|---|---|---|
| Scored questions | 80 | 40 |
| Time allotted | 150 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Minimum passing score | 75% | 75% |
| Pretest (unscored) questions | Included, unidentified, not scored | Included, unidentified, not scored |
| Exam fee listed in the October 2026 handbook (fees may vary) | $52 | $49 |
Pearson gives the exam for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission at its test centers and, through OnVUE, online. Pretest questions are mixed in with the scored ones and look the same, so answer every question. The handbook says fees may vary, must be paid by credit or debit card when you reserve, and are non-refundable and non-transferable.
What the National portion covers
The National salesperson outline, effective April 1, 2025, spreads the 80 scored items over eight areas:
| # | Area | Items |
|---|---|---|
| I | Real property characteristics, legal descriptions, and property use | 11 |
| II | Forms of ownership, transfer, and recording of title | 9 |
| III | Property value and appraisal | 11 |
| IV | Real estate contracts and agency | 16 |
| V | Real estate practice | 10 |
| VI | Property disclosures and environmental issues | 9 |
| VII | Financing and settlement | 7 |
| VIII | Real estate math calculations | 7 |
You must memorize 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile; the handbook says that information is not available at the test center. A proration question will tell you whether to use a 360- or 365-day year and who owns the day of closing.
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Start free quiz →What the Pennsylvania State portion covers
The Pennsylvania salesperson outline, effective March 16, 2026, has 40 scored items in five areas:
| # | Area | Items |
|---|---|---|
| I | Real Estate Commission (duties and powers, complaints and hearings, Recovery Fund) | 5 |
| II | Licensure (qualifications, activities requiring a license, renewal, change of employment, exemptions) | 8 |
| III | Agency and disclosure (agency disclosures, duties, relationships, compensation) | 10 |
| IV | Regulations governing the activities of licensees (advertising, broker/salesperson relations, funds and accounts, prohibited conduct, suspension and revocation) | 11 |
| V | Miscellaneous (property disclosures, documents and forms, Human Relations Act, time-shares and condominiums, leasing) | 6 |
Agency and disclosure plus licensee conduct make up 21 of the 40 State items, so the Consumer Notice and the escrow rules deserve extra time.
How scoring works
Pearson builds several versions (forms) of each exam and uses a statistical process called equating so that no one is helped or hurt by the form they get. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores from 0 to 100. The scaled score is not the number or the percentage of questions you answered correctly. You get a score report marked pass or fail. Only candidates who fail see a numeric score, with diagnostic information for the national and state sections. Exam material is not available for review.
Scheduling and test day
- Apply for exam eligibility in Clarus and upload proof of education. Pearson reviews salesperson eligibility and emails you when you are authorized to test.
- Reserve online or by phone at least 24 hours before the exam date. Walk-ins are not available.
- To get the combination discount, schedule the State and National exams on the same order; the discount cannot be applied afterward.
- Change or cancel at least 48 hours ahead, or you forfeit the fee.
- Arrive 30 minutes early with unexpired, government-issued photo identification bearing your signature, in a name that exactly matches your registration.
If you pass one part and fail the other
You retake only the part you failed, and you cannot retake a part you already passed. Salesperson candidates may make unlimited attempts within 5 years from the date the earliest required course was completed. A passing score is good for three years; if you pass the two parts on different dates, the three years run from the first pass. Online (OnVUE) candidates must wait seven days between attempts. Then file your license application, as explained in Pennsylvania license steps. Browse all Pennsylvania lessons.
Independent exam-prep guide. Not affiliated with the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission, the Department of State or Pearson VUE. Always confirm current requirements with the Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Pennsylvania real estate salesperson exam?
What score do you need to pass the Pennsylvania real estate exam?
How long is the Pennsylvania real estate exam?
Do I have to retake both parts if I fail one?
- Pearson VUE Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission Candidate Handbook #093900 (October 2026) — exam parts, items, time, 75% passing, fees, scheduling, scoring, retakes, eligibility
