Hours to get RE license - do they count towards RE pro status?

[Dan A.]

I left my job at the end of 2020 to focus full-time on managing our family's current investment properties and building out our RE portfolio in the years to come. As part of this change, I am planning to qualify as a RE professional. I am also considering obtaining my RE license so that I can get earlier access to listings, to potentially save on commissions, etc. If I go that route, would the hours that I spend on the pre-licensing coursework count towards the requisite hours to qualify for RE pro status?