Do you need a license to be a property manager in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, managing or renting property for others for pay is real estate work that needs a license: the real estate broker or salesperson license, issued by the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission. Leasing apartments for others generally needs a license too. The exact wording, with any exceptions, is below.

Managing property for others""Broker." Any of the following: (1) Any person who, for another and for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration: ... (iii) manages any real estate;" official source
On-site and employee exemptions"An owner of real estate with respect to property owned or leased by such owner. In the case of a partnership or corporation, this exclusion shall not extend to more than five of its partners or officers, respectively, nor to other partnership or corporation personnel or employees." "Any person employed by an owner of real estate for the purpose of managing or maintaining multifamily residential property: Provided, however, That such person is not authorized or empowered by such owner to enter into leases on behalf of the owner, to negotiate terms or conditions of occupancy with current or prospective tenants or to hold money belonging to tenants other than on behalf of the owner." "So long as the owner retains the authority to make all such decisions, the employees may show apartments and provide information on rental amounts, building rules and regulations and leasing determinations." ""Salesperson." Any person employed by a licensed real estate broker to perform comparative market analyses or to list for sale, sell or offer for sale, to buy or offer to buy or to negotiate the purchase or sale or exchange of real estate or to negotiate a loan on real estate or to lease or rent or offer to lease, rent or place for rent any real estate or collect or offer or attempt to collect rent for the use of real estate" official source
Leasing agents"Any person employed by a licensed real estate broker to perform comparative market analyses or to list for sale, sell or offer for sale, to buy or offer to buy or to negotiate the purchase or sale or exchange of real estate or to negotiate a loan on real estate or to lease or rent or offer to lease, rent or place for rent any real estate or collect or offer or attempt to collect rent" official source
Licensing agencyPennsylvania State Real Estate Commission (Department of State) official source
CredentialReal estate broker or salesperson license (also a separate Rental Listing Referral Agent license) official source

Checked against official Pennsylvania sources on Oct 27, 2026. This is not legal advice: rules change and exemptions depend on who employs you, so confirm with the licensing agency. This page lists only what we could confirm on an official page.

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