PA-RES · Syllabus & Exam Outline 2026
Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson
Exam-aligned study paths covering the national real estate core plus Pennsylvania state law, in retention-first 15-minute topics.
- Questions
- 110 items (80 National, 30 State)
- Time limit
- 180 minutes (120 minutes National, 60 minutes State)
- Passing score
- Scaled score determined by the provider (typically 75)
- Cost
- $49 (for one or both portions)
- Format
- Multiple-choice
- Delivery
- Computer-based testing (in-person at Pearson VUE test centers or online via OnVUE)
- Calculator
- Only non-programmable calculators that are silent, battery-operated, do not have paper tape printing capabilities, and do not have a keyboard containing the alphabet are allowed.
- Prep time
- ~90 hours
Exam overview
The Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson exam assesses a candidate's readiness to responsibly and legally perform real estate transactions within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Administered as a two-part test, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in both overarching national real estate principles and state-specific laws. The national portion focuses on fundamental topics such as contracts, property ownership, and financing, while the state portion drills down into the Pennsylvania Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and the specific duties of the State Real Estate Commission. Preparing for the PA real estate exam requires balancing a high volume of memorization with situational application. Because the 'Practice of Real Estate' domain carries such a heavy weight, test-takers must possess a thorough understanding of fair housing guidelines, antitrust regulations, and ethical licensee conduct. Only Ever takes this comprehensive syllabus and breaks it down into bite-sized, 15-minute study topics, helping you master complex regulations and calculations at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed.
Exam domains & weighting
Each domain's share of the exam — study deepest where the weight is highest. Open one for how to study it and its objectives.
How to study this domain
Focus on differentiating between real and personal property and how they are transferred. Be able to read and recognize the three main methods of land description (metes and bounds, lot and block, government survey). Familiarize yourself with the nuances of ownership types like joint tenancy versus tenancy in common.
Key objectives
- Real and Personal Property Conveyances
- Legal Property Descriptions
- Measuring Structures and Land
- Liens, Easements, and Encumbrances
- Surface, Subsurface, Air, and Water Rights
- Basic Types of Ownership and Tenancy
- Common-Interest, Trusts, and Business Ownership
Readiness self-check
Tick off everything you can confidently explain. Anything left unchecked is your study list — tap “Review” to jump straight into that domain.
Readiness
0 / 11
Quick reference
Core Real Estate Acronyms
Important acronyms referenced directly in the Pennsylvania curriculum that you should commit to memory.
- LTV
- Loan-to-Value Ratio
- PMI
- Private Mortgage Insurance
- PITI
- Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance
- CC&Rs
- Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions
- RESPA
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
- TRID
- TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure
- ECOA
- Equal Credit Opportunity Act
- ADA
- Americans with Disabilities Act
Key Licensing Terminology
Fundamental legal and practice concepts tested on the PA-RES exam.
Eminent Domain
The right of the government to acquire private property for public use through condemnation.
Escheat
The reversion of property to the state when an individual dies without a will and without legal heirs.
Blockbusting
The illegal practice of inducing panic selling in a neighborhood by asserting that people of a protected class are moving in.
Redlining
The illegal practice by financial institutions of refusing loans or altering terms in specific geographic areas based on protected classes.
Severalty
Sole ownership of real property by a single individual or entity.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know
- Candidates must provide two forms of identification on test day. One must be a valid, government-issued photo ID with signature.
- A 15-minute introductory tutorial is provided before the exam begins, which does not count against your 180-minute testing time.
- The exam includes 5 to 10 experimental, unscored questions that are mixed into the exam and do not count against your score.
- Personal belongings, including bulky clothing, electronic devices, and hats (unless for religious purposes), are not permitted in the testing room.
- Scores are provided on-screen immediately following the completion of the computer-based exam, and an official paper report is printed at the site.
Reading isn’t remembering.
Pennsylvania prep blends national real estate concepts with Pennsylvania-specific license law and Commission rules, and most materials muddle the two.
Only Ever teaches the shared national core once, then layers Pennsylvania state law, regulated by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission, as focused 15-minute topics.