- The PA-RES has 80 scored national questions and 40 scored Pennsylvania questions, plus unscored pretest items.
- You need a scaled score of 75 on both the national and state portions to pass.
- Reservation fees are $52 for national-only or combined bookings, and $49 for Pennsylvania-only.
- Domains 1-8 cover national content; Domains 9-13 cover Pennsylvania-specific law and regulation.
Quick Facts Snapshot
Before diving into content review, anchor yourself with the numbers that actually matter on test day. This cheat sheet is meant to be the one page you skim the night before your appointment, not a substitute for full preparation. For a deeper walkthrough of how to build a study plan around these facts, see the PA-RES Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing body | Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission |
| Testing provider | Pearson VUE |
| National questions (scored) | 80, plus 5 unscored pretest |
| State questions (scored) | 40, plus 10 unscored pretest |
| Time limits | 150 minutes national, 60 minutes state |
| Passing score | 75 scaled on each portion |
| Reservation fee | $52 national or combined; $49 state-only |
| Delivery options | Test center or OnVUE online |
| Result validity | 3 years |
| License renewal | Biennial, 14 hours continuing education |
National Portion: Domains 1-8
The national portion carries the heaviest question count - 80 scored items across 150 minutes - and it draws from eight domains that mirror general real estate practice rather than Pennsylvania statute. Understanding the boundary between these domains and the state-specific ones is one of the most efficient study moves you can make. A full domain-by-domain breakdown lives in the PA-RES Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas, but here's the condensed version for quick review.
Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use
Covers how property is physically and legally defined.
- Metes and bounds, government survey, and lot-and-block descriptions
- Fixtures versus personal property distinctions
- Land use controls and zoning basics
Domain 2: Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title
Focuses on how title moves between parties and how ownership is held.
- Tenancy types: joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety
- Deeds, conveyance instruments, and recording priority
- Liens and encumbrances affecting marketable title
Domain 3: Property Value and Appraisal
Tests valuation logic rather than formal appraisal certification.
- Sales comparison, cost, and income approaches
- Factors that influence market value
- Depreciation concepts as they relate to value estimates
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency
One of the densest domains - contract law meets agency relationships.
- Elements of a valid contract and contract remedies
- Listing agreements versus buyer representation agreements
- Agency creation, termination, and fiduciary duties
Domain 5: Real Estate Practice
Day-to-day licensee conduct and transaction mechanics.
- Advertising and marketing rules
- Handling offers, counteroffers, and multiple offers
- Property management basics
Domain 6: Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues
Combines seller disclosure obligations with environmental hazard awareness.
- Material defect disclosure requirements
- Lead-based paint and other environmental hazards
- Fair housing implications tied to disclosure practices
Domain 7: Financing and Settlement
Mortgage instruments and the closing process.
- Loan types: conventional, FHA, VA, adjustable-rate
- Settlement statement line items and prorations
- Escrow and closing procedures
Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations
Applied math woven throughout transaction scenarios.
- Commission splits and net-to-seller calculations
- Loan-to-value ratios and amortization basics
- Prorations for taxes, rent, and utilities
Pennsylvania Portion: Domains 9-13
The state portion is shorter - 40 scored questions in 60 minutes - but it's where candidates lose points if they study generic national material and skip Pennsylvania-specific law. These five domains are tested exclusively against the Pennsylvania outline effective March 16, 2026.
Domain 9: Real Estate Commission
Structure, authority, and enforcement power of the licensing body.
- Commission composition and rulemaking authority
- Disciplinary actions and complaint procedures
Domain 10: Licensure
Who needs a license and how it's obtained and maintained.
- Education hour requirements and exemptions
- License activation, broker affiliation, and reciprocity considerations
Domain 11: Agency and Disclosure
Pennsylvania's specific agency disclosure rules layered on top of general agency law.
- Required consumer notices at first substantive contact
- Dual agency and designated agency rules under state law
Domain 12: Regulations Governing the Activities of Licensees
The rulebook licensees must follow in daily practice.
- Escrow and trust account handling
- Advertising, recordkeeping, and supervision requirements
Domain 13: Miscellaneous
A catch-all domain for state-specific topics that don't fit elsewhere.
- Recovery fund provisions
- Other statutory odds and ends unique to Pennsylvania practice
Key Takeaway
Split your final review sessions so national domains (1-8) and state domains (9-13) each get dedicated time - don't let state-specific rules get crowded out by national math and contract review.
Registration and Fee Mechanics
Registration logistics are simple once you know the fee structure. Booking both portions together, or the national portion alone, costs $52. Booking the Pennsylvania-only portion costs $49. These are reservation fees paid through Pearson VUE, the exam's testing provider. If you need a complete breakdown of every cost associated with licensure - education hours, application fees, and exam fees together - the PA-RES Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown article covers it in full.
Before you can register, you'll need to confirm eligibility: candidates must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 75 hours (5 credits) of approved education within five years unless exempt, clear the Commission's criminal-history review, and eventually affiliate with a Pennsylvania broker for active practice. The PA-RES Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify page walks through each prerequisite in detail.
Exam Day Format and Timing
Knowing the clock and question count in advance removes a layer of exam-day anxiety. The national portion gives you 150 minutes to answer 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions mixed in - you won't know which is which, so treat every question with equal care. The state portion gives you 60 minutes for 40 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions.
You have two delivery choices: an in-person Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE remote online proctoring. Both formats use the same question bank and time limits; the choice comes down to your comfort with home testing conditions versus a dedicated test center environment.
- Test center: Consistent environment, proctor on-site, no home setup requirements.
- OnVUE online: Requires a private room, working webcam, and stable internet, but saves travel time.
For a candid assessment of how challenging the format and pacing actually feel in practice, read How Hard Is the PA-RES Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. And if you want to see how PA-RES difficulty compares against outcome data, check the PA-RES Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows article.
Scoring and Eligibility Recap
Scoring is straightforward but strict: you need a minimum scaled score of 75 on each portion independently. Passing the national portion doesn't carry you if you fall short on the state portion, and vice versa. Passed results stay valid for three years, giving you a window to complete any remaining licensing steps like broker affiliation.
For the exact mechanics of how scaled scoring works and what 75 actually represents in raw-question terms, see PA-RES Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. If you're still deciding when to sit for the exam relative to your education completion and application timelines, the PA-RES Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling guide lays out the scheduling logic.
Key Takeaway
Treat the two portions as two separate pass/fail events with the same 75 threshold - a strong national score cannot offset a weak state score.
The Week-Before Review Plan
In the final week before your appointment, resist adding new material. Instead, rotate through weak domains using short, timed retrieval sessions rather than passive rereading.
National heavy-hitters
- Drill Domain 4 (Contracts and Agency) and Domain 8 (Math Calculations) - historically the densest national domains
- Rework any commission-split or proration problems you've missed before
State law focus
- Review Domain 11 (Agency and Disclosure) and Domain 12 (Regulations Governing the Activities of Licensees) against the current Pennsylvania outline
- Memorize disclosure timing requirements and escrow handling rules
Full mixed review
- Take timed practice sets covering all 13 domains together
- Flag remaining gaps in Domains 1-3 and 9-10
Light review only
- Skim this cheat sheet and your personal error log
- Confirm your test-center address or OnVUE system check, ID requirements, and appointment time
This isn't a generic study calendar - it's built around the fact that the national portion is longer and denser, while the state portion is shorter but tests law that changes with the outline update. If you'd rather follow a complete multi-week plan from day one, start with the PA-RES Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and use practice questions on our practice test platform to simulate the timed format before exam day.
After You Pass
Passing both portions is only the licensing milestone - activating a license requires affiliating with a Pennsylvania broker, and once active, you'll need 14 hours of continuing education every two years to renew. Many candidates ask what comes next in terms of job placement; the PA-RES Jobs page and PA-RES Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis article both cover what hiring brokerages typically look for in newly licensed salespersons.
If you're still weighing whether the licensing investment is worthwhile relative to the time and fees involved, the Is the PA-RES Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 piece breaks down that decision without relying on inflated claims. And if any terminology in this cheat sheet felt unfamiliar, the What Is PA-RES? and PA-RES Meaning explainers fill in the basics before you return to focused review on the main practice test site.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 80 scored national questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions, and 40 scored state questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions, for a combined 135 questions across both portions.
Yes. You can book them together for $52 or book the Pennsylvania-only portion separately for $49 if you've already passed or are scheduling the national portion independently.
You need a minimum scaled score of 75 on the national portion and a separate minimum scaled score of 75 on the state portion.
Passed results remain valid for three years, giving you time to complete remaining licensing steps such as broker affiliation.
Confirm your appointment date against the outline effective dates: the national outline took effect April 1, 2025, and the Pennsylvania outline updates March 16, 2026, so double-check which version applies to your test date.