Schlicher Kratz Institute
	Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Licensing Questions
 

• How does one acquire a Pennsylvania Real Estate License?
• What are the 2 basic courses required?
• Does it matter which course I take first?
• How long does it take to complete the two required courses (Fundamentals and Practice)?
• When are these courses offered?
• What is the cost for the courses and books?
• How can I enroll for the pre-licensing courses?
• When will I receive my transcript?
• When is the State Licensing Exam given?
• What are the requirements in Pennsylvania for becoming a Licensed Salesperson?
• What are the requirements in Pennsylvania for becoming a Licensed Broker?

• What are the Continuing Education (MCE) requirements for Licensed Brokers/Salesperson?

• What is the phone number for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission?
• What is the phone number for the Pennsylvania Appraisal Board?
• What is our repeat policy?
• How do I obtain copies of my transcripts?

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 Practice.  Fundamentals 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:

• Three weekends:  Attend class all day Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. for three consecutive weekends. One course is presented in the morning session and the other in the afternoon session.  This is the fastest way to complete both courses.
• Two months:  If the student takes the courses one at a time, either on two morning sessions per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), or on two evening sessions (Mondays and Wednesdays), the course work can be completed in approximately two months.  It takes 4 weeks to complete each course.
• One month:  The student may elect to take both courses in the same month by choosing to attend both the evening classes and the daytime classes. Another alternative is to attend one weekday session (either Monday and Wednesday evenings or Tuesday and Thursday mornings) and one weekend session (either mornings or afternoons.)  Any combination of classes would allow the student to complete the courses in 4 weeks.  Course offerings vary depending on location.

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

Continuing Education Questions

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

You must complete a total of 14 hours of continuing education by 5/31/2010 to renew your license.

• If you were originally licensed before December 1, 2007, you may take any elective CE courses (including the New Licensee Required Training) or a broker course to complete your course work.
• If you were originally licensed ­after December 1, 2007, (which means your real estate license number is higher than RS306390),  you need to complete the 14 hours of  “new licensee” continuing education.  

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

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;

How do I obtain duplicate copies of my transcript?
Transcripts are provided upon completion of each course at no charge. There is a $5.00 charge for duplicate transcripts. Requests may be submitted in writing along with a check or may be requested via fax with payment by credit card.  Mail to Schlicher Kratz Institute, P.O. Box 176, Lansdale, PA  19446. Include your name and approximate time when the class was taken along with your current address where the transcript should be sent.