License Law
A licensee must include the name of the employing broker and the main phone number of the
employing broker in all advertisements. The ad may also contain the licensees name and other
phone numbers or contact information (email, websites etc.) but these cannot be larger than
the name and number of the broker. They may be of equal size.

Use of the Term REALTOR®

The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark of the National Association of REALTOR®. It
denotes membership in the REALTOR® organization. It may be used only in conjunction with
your name. (EX. REALTOR® Jane Doe or Jane Doe, REALTOR®). It may not be used in
combination with descriptive words or phrases (EX. Your Buyer’s REALTOR® or Main Street,
USA’s REALTOR or Number one REALTOR, etc.)

Guidelines for Team Advertising

When two or more licensees wish to form a team the team name must be the name of one of
the licenses on that team. For example, John Doe and Jane Smith may advertise themselves as
the John Doe Team or the Jane Smith Team. They may not advertise as the Doe-Smith or SmithDoe team or use a fictitious name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I want to use a nickname on my ads. 

A: Unless that nickname is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State on your real estate license – all marketing must reflect that.

Please see directions below on how to make those changes if you choose to do so.

1. To have a nickname approved, send an email to ra-realestate@pa.gov. Include the full name, license number, and nickname you wish to have approved.
2. Be aware that nicknames are generally only approved as derivatives of your first name (i.e. “Tim” For “Timothy”) and you are still required to use your surname in all advertising. If your full name is Timothy Jones, you could use “Tim” as a nickname, but any advertising must still include “Jones.”
3. Once the nickname has been approved, an approval letter will be sent by email. The letter should be retained for your records. The approved nickname will also be noted in the license record maintained by the Commission.

“Section 35.305(b) of the Commission’s Regulations, 49 Pa. Code §35.305(b), permits a licensee to advertise using a nickname for the licensee’s first name so long as the licensee has registered that nickname with the Commission.”