Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker Licensing Examination

Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker Licensing Examination: Complete 2026 Study Guide

You've already earned your salesperson license. Now you're going after the broker credential — and that means passing a more demanding, two-part exam that tests not just real estate knowledge but your ability to run a brokerage. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker Licensing Examination is administered by Pearson VUE, and clearing both portions is the gateway to operating your own office, supervising other licensees, and building the career you want. This guide breaks down everything you need to know: exam structure, topic coverage, sample questions, study materials, and strategies that actually work. Start with our free practice exam whenever you're ready to test yourself.

Exam Overview: Two Separate Portions

The Pennsylvania broker exam is not a single test — it's two independently timed and scored portions. You pass or fail each one on its own. If you pass one and fail the other, you only retake the part you failed, and passing results are valid for three years.

National/General Portion
- 80 scored questions (plus unscored pretest items)
- 150-minute time limit
- Passing score: 75 (scaled, 0–100)

Pennsylvania State-Specific Portion
- 40 scored questions (plus unscored pretest items)
- 60-minute time limit
- Passing score: 75 (scaled, 0–100)

The passing score of 75 is a scaled score on a 0–100 scale — it is not a raw count of correct answers. The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission sets this standard in partnership with Pearson VUE, and the score is equated across exam forms to account for variation in difficulty.

Both portions are closed-book, administered at a Pearson VUE test center. Check the exam registration page to schedule your appointment, and review the official exam bulletin for the most current content outlines. The Pennsylvania state-specific content outline is effective March 16, 2026; the national/general content outline is effective April 1, 2026.

Topics Covered on the Pennsylvania State-Specific Portion

The 40 scored state-specific items are distributed across six topic areas. Here's where the questions go and what each area covers:

Agency and Disclosure and Regulations Governing the Activities of Licensees together account for half the state exam — concentrate serious study time there.

• Real Estate Commission: The duties and powers of the Commission, how complaints and investigations work, hearings and appeals, and the Real Estate Recovery Fund.
• Licensure: Which activities require a license, broker-specific license types and eligibility, license renewal, reactivation, and change of employment. Note that broker candidates face experience and education prerequisites that salesperson candidates don't — this section is tailored to the broker credential.
• Agency and Disclosure: Duties of licensees, agency relationships, agency disclosure requirements, and compensation rules.
• Regulations Governing the Activities of Licensees: Advertising standards, the broker/salesperson supervisory relationship, and prohibited conduct.
• Miscellaneous: Property disclosures, contracts and forms, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, time-shares/planned communities/condominiums, and rentals/leasing/property management.
• Brokerage Management (broker-only content): Office requirements and inspections, trust/escrow account management, handling of funds and recordkeeping under 49 Pa. Code Chapter 35 and the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA).

The national/general portion covers eight content areas including Real Property Characteristics, Forms of Ownership and Title, Property Value and Appraisal, Real Estate Contracts and Agency, Real Estate Practice, Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues, Financing and Settlement, and Real Estate Math Calculations. The broker-level national exam places heavier emphasis on application and analysis than the salesperson exam does — expect more fact-pattern questions that require a decision, not just a definition.

Sample PA Broker Exam Questions

These questions are drawn from actual broker exam topic areas. Work through them — but you won't find the answers here. Take our free practice exam to check your instincts.

Question 1 (Brokerage Management — Hard)

If money is expected to be held in escrow for more than 6 months, the broker is required by regulation to deposit the money into an interest-bearing escrow account.

What it tests: Whether you know Pennsylvania's specific escrow handling rules — the kind of broker-only detail you won't find in a national prep book.

Question 2 (Brokerage Management — Medium)

Which of the following individuals is permitted to supervise the main office of a broker in Pennsylvania?
A) A salesperson holding a standard license
B) An associate broker holding a standard or reciprocal license
C) A campground membership salesperson
D) An unlicensed office manager with 10 years of experience

What it tests: Pennsylvania's supervision and office management requirements — a broker-specific topic the salesperson exam doesn't cover.

Question 3 (Real Estate Commission — Medium)

A consumer files a claim against the Real Estate Recovery Fund. Under what circumstances does the Fund reimburse a person?
A) When a licensee fails to complete a continuing education requirement
B) When a person has obtained a final civil judgment against a licensee for fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit and has been unable to collect after exhausting legal and equitable remedies
C) When a consumer is dissatisfied with a property purchased through a licensee
D) When a licensee's errors and omissions insurance policy has lapsed

What it tests: The specific conditions required for Recovery Fund eligibility — not just that the Fund exists, but precisely when it applies.

Question 4 (Licensure — Medium)

May a broker examination candidate apply credits earned to qualify for the salesperson's examination toward fulfilling the broker education requirement?
A) Yes, all credits earned for the salesperson's exam may be applied toward the broker education requirement
B) Yes, but only up to 8 of the required 16 credits may be transferred from the salesperson's education
C) No, credits used to qualify for the salesperson's examination may not be applied toward the broker education requirement
D) Yes, credits may be applied, but only if the salesperson's coursework was completed within the past 5 years

What it tests: A detail that surprises many broker candidates — how Pennsylvania treats prior education credits when you step up to the broker exam.

Question 5 (Real Estate Commission — Easy)

The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission is required to hold at least one public meeting each year in which three cities?
A) Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton
B) Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg
C) Harrisburg, Allentown, and Erie
D) Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Harrisburg

What it tests: Basic Commission structure knowledge — the kind of factual recall question that's quick to answer if you've studied the statute.

What Types of Questions to Expect

Our PA broker exam prep covers both portions with 330 total practice questions organized by topic. Here's what each section tests and how many practice questions we offer:

• Real Estate Commission — 53 practice questions: The Commission's powers, complaint and investigation procedures, hearing and appeal rights, and the conditions governing Recovery Fund claims.
• Licensure — 70 practice questions: Broker-specific license types and eligibility requirements, which transactions require a license, change-of-employment rules, and renewal and reactivation procedures.
• Agency and Disclosure — 63 practice questions: Agency relationship types, the duties owed to clients and customers, disclosure timing and content requirements, and how compensation is structured.
• Regulations Governing the Activities of Licensees — 65 practice questions: Advertising rules, the supervisory responsibilities brokers hold over salespersons, and conduct that crosses into prohibited territory.
• Miscellaneous — 40 practice questions: Seller property disclosure requirements, forms and contract rules, fair housing under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, time-share and condominium regulations, and property management and leasing rules.
• Brokerage Management — 39 practice questions: Trust and escrow account requirements (including the 6-month interest-bearing rule), office setup and inspection obligations, and proper handling and recordkeeping of client funds — all broker-only material.

The national/general portion will also include real estate math. You must memorize two values: 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile. These are not provided at the test center. Proration problems will specify whether to use a 360- or 365-day year and who owns the closing day.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Study Guide: Required Materials

For PA broker exam prep, you're working from primary legal sources, not a textbook summary. Here's what to study:

Required Legal Sources

• Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission regulations — PA Title 49, Chapter 35. This is the regulatory backbone of the state exam. Read it directly.
• Pennsylvania Real Estate Licensing Act (RELRA) — The governing statute for licensure, agency, and broker conduct in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania Title 49 — Chapter 43b.8 — Covers additional regulatory requirements relevant to broker practice.
• Pennsylvania Title 68 — Chapter 73 Seller Disclosures — The seller disclosure statute, which feeds directly into exam questions on property disclosure.

The official exam bulletin also references general real estate textbooks from publishers including Dearborn, Performance Programs Company, and OnCourse Learning Publishing. Pearson VUE does not endorse any specific provider, so check for the most current editions before purchasing.

Recommended Supply

When you're reading through statutes and regulations, annotating matters. Sharpie Tank Highlighters are built for heavy use — wide barrel, large ink supply, a narrow chisel tip, and fluorescent ink that stands out without bleeding through the page. The 12-pack covers color-coding by topic area, which helps when you're switching between Commission rules, licensure requirements, and disclosure statutes.

Also visit the state licensing website for current forms, policy updates, and anything that's changed since your pre-licensing coursework.

Study Tips for the PA Pearson Vue Broker Questions

1. Practice until passing feels routine. Take the practice exam multiple times. The goal is to score consistently above 75 so passing feels normal before you ever sit down at a Pearson VUE terminal. Once clearing that mark is automatic, test-day nerves lose their grip.

2. Study state law separately — don't rely on national prep alone. The Pennsylvania state portion tests specific statutes, deadlines, agency rules, and regulatory details that differ from general principles. A national Pennsylvania real estate study guide won't cover the 6-month escrow rule or the exact cities where the Commission holds public meetings. Go to the source.

3. Don't aim for perfect. Your license won't show your exam score. Whether you score a 75 or a 98, you walk out licensed either way — as the saying goes, C's get licenses. Aim to pass, not to be flawless, and don't keep a mental tally while you're testing. That pressure costs points.

4. Read the question, not your assumptions. Broker exam questions are analysis-heavy. A fact pattern that looks like a simple agency question might hinge on a single disclosure timing detail. Slow down on anything with multiple conditions before you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker Licensing Examination?
The exam has two portions. The national/general portion has 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest items. The Pennsylvania state-specific portion has 40 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest items. Each portion is timed and scored independently.

Do the pretest questions count toward my score?
No. Pretest items are not identified during the exam — they look exactly like scored questions — but they don't affect your score on either portion. Answer every question; you have no way to tell which ones are pretest items.

What topics are on the Pennsylvania state-specific broker exam?
The 40 scored items cover six areas: Real Estate Commission (4 items), Licensure (6 items), Agency and Disclosure (10 items), Regulations Governing the Activities of Licensees (10 items), Miscellaneous (5 items), and Brokerage Management (5 items).

What topics are on the national/general portion?
The 80 scored items span eight areas: Real Property Characteristics (10), Forms of Ownership and Title (8), Property Value and Appraisal (10), Real Estate Contracts and Agency (15), Real Estate Practice (12), Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues (9), Financing and Settlement (8), and Real Estate Math Calculations (8).

What cognitive levels do the questions use?
Every item is classified as knowledge (recalling facts or definitions), application (applying knowledge to a scenario), or analysis (examining a fact pattern to reach a conclusion). The broker exam leans harder on application and analysis than the salesperson exam does — expect more scenario-based questions.

Is a calculator allowed, and are math formulas provided?
The bulletin does not confirm whether a calculator is provided, but it's clear that two values are NOT available at the test center and must be memorized: 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile. Proration questions will specify the day-count convention and who owns closing day.

Are there broker-specific topics that salesperson candidates aren't tested on?
Yes. The Pennsylvania broker state exam includes Types of Licenses (Broker only), Eligibility for License (Broker only), Office Requirements and Inspections (Broker only), and Brokerage Management as a full standalone section — none of which appear on the salesperson exam.

What is the effective date of the Pennsylvania broker content outline?
The Pennsylvania state-specific content outline is effective March 16, 2026. The national/general content outline is effective April 1, 2026.

Does the bulletin recommend specific study materials?
The bulletin lists general real estate textbooks from Dearborn, Performance Programs Company, and OnCourse Learning Publishing as references. Pearson VUE does not endorse any particular prep provider — check publishers for current editions.

You're Ready. Start Practicing.

Passing the Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker Licensing Examination is completely achievable with focused, source-based study — especially if you're already familiar with real estate fundamentals from your salesperson experience. Know your statutes, understand the broker-specific rules that the salesperson exam skipped, and practice until a 75 feels easy.

Start with our free practice exam — no account required, no cost, 10 questions to get a feel for the format. When you're ready to go deep, upgrade to the full practice exam, which mirrors the real two-part structure with separate state and national timed sessions, a large rotating question pool, and detailed topic-by-topic score breakdowns so you know exactly where to focus. Good luck — you're closer than you think.