how long will it take to get my criminal record sealed?

Hi Maureen, based on previous experience handling these types of matters I realize how frustrating something like this can be...Here is a bit of information, I hope it helps.  Generally, a person arrested for a summary offense can petition the court for expungement (destroying the record) after five years from the date of the conviction.  Assuming that your retail theft case was a summary (based on your description it sounds like it is) you would likely be eligible for expungement.  I suggest that you obtain competent counsel who can help facilitate this process and make navigating the complicated system of paperwork a bit easier.  Good Luck.