Schlicher Kratz Institute
 
Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Licensing Questions
 

Continuing Education/License Reactivation Questions
  General Questions
 


Pre-Licensing Questions

How does one acquire a Pennsylvania Real Estate License?
A person wishing to acquire a Pensylvania Real estate License must be at least 18 years of age, have 4 educational credits in real estate (Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate Practice), and have successfully completed the State Licensing Examination.  After one has passed the State Licensing Exam, a sponsoring broker is required for issuance of the salesperson's license.  Acquiring the educational credits is mandatory before one takes the exam.  After one has passed the Exam, one may wait up to three years before activating the license.  Failure to do so within three years would mean that the prospective licensee must re-take the Exam.

What are the 2 basic courses?
The 2 basic courses are Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate PracticeFundamentals provides the student with a basic foundation for additional study and supports the practice of real estate in Pennsylvania.  The course is designed to acquaint the student with the language, principles and laws that govern the business of real estate.  Practice provides the student with an introduction to all facets of the real estate business, including a survey of fields of specialization.  The course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic techniques, procedures, regulations, and ethics involved in a real estate transaction, along with a working knowledge of the forms and documents used, including the related mathematics.  Each course is worth 2 credits.  An official school transcript is provided for each course.

Does it matter which course I take first?
It does not matter which of the two courses is taken first. The student may take  FUNDAMENTALS first or, instead, take PRACTICE first. A strongly motivated student is the best guarantor of a person’s being well prepared to take and pass the State Licensing Exam. Those seeking to take both courses at the same time should recognize that ample study time must be provided in the student’s schedule.

How long does it take to complete the two required courses (Fundamentals and Practice)?
Schlicher-Kratz offers you several options to obtain the required sixty hours:

When are these courses offered?
Schlicher Kratz Institute offers these courses every month throughout the year, morning, evening and/or weekend classes. (Click here to view our Pre-Licensing Class Schedule). By enrolling in both sessions of our weekend classes, a student can complete the educational requirements of the State Real Estate Commission in just three weekends.

What is the cost for the courses and books?
Tuition is $195.00 per course plus the cost of the required textbooks. The texts, Basic Principles of Real Estate, 10th edition and The 16 Day Real Estate Math Book, 7th edition, and the audio, The Vocabulary Words of Real Estate, are used for both FUNDAMENTALS and PRACTICE.  A student enrolling in both courses pays the texts and materials fee only once.  The total cost for the 2 courses and the books is $470.00. The License Review Preparation Course is an optional, but recommended, course designed to prepare you for the State Licensing Exam.  The cost for the course including the book, Pennsylvania Real Estate Exam Preparation Manual, 9th edition, and materials is $80.00.  If you wish to purchase the book without taking the prep course, the fee is $45.00.

How can I enroll for the pre-licensing courses?
The student may register by mail, fax or telephone. Tuition must be paid in full when the class begins. We accept check, cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Checks should be made payable to: SCHLICHER-KRATZ INSTITUTE.  If enrolling by mail, send your application to Schlicher-Kratz Institute, P.O. Box 176, Lansdale, PA  19446.  If enrolling by fax, send to (215) 855-9332.  If enrolling by telephone, you will be asked for your name, address, phone number and dates for classes in which you wish to enroll.

When will I receive my transcript?
Before a student can receive a transcript, the student must have met all attendance (80% minimum class attendance) and examination requirements of our school.  Transcripts are generally mailed within three days following the completion of both courses.

When is the State Licensing Exam given?
The schedule for administering the State Licensing Exam is established by the Testing Agency which holds the testing contract with the State Real Estate Commission. PSI currently holds the testing contract for Pennsylvania. The exam is offered Monday through Saturday at most locations and is administered by PSI at their locations.  The cost of the exam is $56.00. The application process is reviewed and forms for registration are provided in class.(Click here for more details of Exam procedures and Test Locations).

What are the requirements in Pennsylvania for becoming a Licensed Salesperson?
Click here for a review of qualifications needed for approval as a licensed salesperson by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission.

What are the requirements in Pennsylvania for becoming a Licensed Broker?
Click here for a review of qualifications needed for approval as a licensed salesperson by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission

What is the website for a Pennsylvania Criminial Background Check?
A criminal background check is required at the time that you apply for your license with the Real Estate Commission.  It is NOT required in order to take the licensing exam or register with PSI.  To complete a background check online, click here for the website: Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History.  The background check results are valid for 90 days

Continuing Education Questions

What are the Continuing Education (CE) requirements for Licensed Brokers/Salespersons?

You must complete a total of 14 hours of continuing education by 5/31/2012 to renew your license.

 Click to see our current CE class schedule or our current Broker Course schedule.

What is the required form for Salesperson License Reactivation?
The form required to reactivate a Salesperson License is Real Estate Commission form SPOA 2104.  The link to the form can be found on the following web page:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_real_estate_commission/12523/licensure_information/572096


What is the website for completing a criminal background check in Pennsylvania prior to reactivating a license?
Criminal background checks can be completed online at this website:  https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp  Under the section titled:  Credit Card Users, click on the link:  Submit a New Record Check.  Once completed, background checks are valid for 90 days.

General Questions

What is the phone number for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission?
The phone number for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission is 1-717-783-3658.

What is the phone number for the Pennsylvania Appraisal Board?
The phone number for the Pennsylvania Appraisal Board is 1-717-783-4866.

What is the repeat policy?
If a student has paid for, and has been enrolled in, a Schlicher-Kratz Fundamentals and Practice course and,

  1. fails the course, or;
  2. receives an "Incomplete" for the course, or;
  3. fails the Pennsylvania State Salesperson Exam;
the student may repeat the Fundamentals and Practice course at no charge if the course is repeated within six (6) months of the original class ending date.  After one (1) year, full price will be charged.

What is the refund policy?
The Schlicher-Kratz Institute refund policy shall be as follows:  Tuition for accredited courses will be refunded in full if cancellation occurs prior to the first class.  If cancellation occurs after the first class, tuition will be refunded on a complete pro-rata basis.  No refund will be given for the books, tapes, CDs, other materials or the license review courses.

How do I obtain duplicate copies of my transcript?
Duplicate transcripts may be obtained by completing the Request for Official Transcript Form and submitting the form to our office via fax or mail. There is a $10.00 charge per Request Form. Mail request to Schlicher Kratz Institute, P.O. Box 176, Lansdale, PA  19446 or Fax to 215-855-9332.

I have an active real estate license in Pennsylvania.  How do I obtain a salesperson license in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires a total of 75 hours of prelicensing education.  As an active real estate licensee in Pennsylvania, you have completed a total of 60 hours of prelicensing education.  Therefore, to obtain a New Jersey salesperson license, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Complete an additional 15 hours of broker prelicensure education in Pennsylvania (view our broker schedule)
  2. Complete a New Jersey Salesperson Waiver Application
  3. Submit a Certificate of Licensure (found in the Commission Services section of the Pennsylvania Rea Estate Commission website). along with a transcript of the 15-hour broker course and  a money order or certified check for $25.00.  When the application is approved, you will be issued a Certificate of Examiniation Eligilibility.
  4. Pass both portions of the New Jersey state test at the same sitting.
For more information, call the New Jersey Real Estate Commission at 609-292-8300 ext. 50137

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