Real estate license requirements in Alabama
Alabama licenses new agents on a temporary basis first — you’ll complete 60 hours of pre-licensing education, pass a Pearson VUE exam, then finish a 30-hour post-licensing course to convert to a permanent license.
Education
The Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) requires a 60-clock-hour, AREC-approved pre-licensing course before you can sit for the state exam. Once you finish the course, you need to pass the exam within six months — don’t let your coursework sit too long before you test.
| Requirement | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AREC-approved pre-licensing course | 60 | Must pass the exam within 6 months of finishing |
There’s no split into separate topic courses here the way some states require — it’s one 60-hour AREC-approved program, offered by multiple licensed schools around the state.
What Alabama calls your first license
Alabama’s entry-level license is called “Salesperson,” but it’s issued as a temporary license first. You’ll practice under a broker on that temporary license while you complete a separate 30-hour post-licensing course, which converts you to a full, permanent Salesperson license. Alabama law (Ala. Code §34-27-32) sets a conversion deadline in roughly the 6–12 month range after you’re first licensed — the exact cutoff isn’t unambiguous from the statute text alone, so confirm your personal deadline directly with AREC rather than assuming.
The licensing exam
Alabama uses Pearson VUE (not PSI, despite that being a common assumption) to administer the licensing exam.
| Portion | Items | Time | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 scored + 10–15 unscored pretest | 2.5 hrs | 70% |
| Alabama state law | 40 scored + 5–10 unscored pretest | 1 hr | 70% |
| Total sitting | 120 scored items | 3.5 hrs | Both portions |
The exam fee is $73, paid to Pearson VUE when you schedule. You need a 70% score on both the national and state-law portions.
Passing the exam doesn't finish the job in Alabama. Budget time and money for the 30-hour post-licensing course, and confirm your conversion deadline with AREC as soon as you're licensed so you don't risk lapsing back to unlicensed status.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $73 | Pearson VUE |
| Active temporary license | $210 total | AREC ($150 license + $30 research/education + $30 recovery fund) |
| Inactive license (alternative) | $180 | AREC |
| Background check | ~$48–$50 (estimate) | Fieldprint — not confirmed from a primary source |
We could not confirm AREC’s exact Fieldprint background-check fee from a primary source this pass; the figure above is a commonly-cited estimate only. Confirm the current amount directly with AREC or Fieldprint (fieldprintalabama.com) before you budget.
How to apply, step by step
Alabama’s process runs education first, then exam, then a temporary license you convert to permanent status.
From any AREC-licensed school.
Alabama's fingerprint-based state and FBI background check, required under Ala. Code §34-27-32.
Both the national and Alabama state-law portions, within 6 months of finishing your course.
Along with the license fee, to be issued a temporary Salesperson license.
You must be affiliated with a licensed Alabama broker to practice.
Required to convert from temporary to permanent Salesperson status — confirm your deadline with AREC.
After you’re licensed: staying current
Alabama’s post-licensing requirement isn’t optional CE — it’s the 30-hour course that converts your temporary Salesperson license to a permanent one. AREC’s statute doesn’t give an unambiguous single deadline in the sources we checked, with reports ranging from roughly six to twelve months after initial licensure, so verify your specific conversion deadline with AREC directly rather than assuming a number.
Reciprocity
Alabama will license you from any “qualifying state” — one that issues its license on a course-plus-comprehensive-exam basis — through a reciprocal pathway. You’ll still need a 6-hour Alabama law course and a shorter, state-specific exam (70% pass, about 1 hour), plus a certificate of licensure history less than 120 days old and a nonresident consent affidavit.
Common questions
Do I need a sponsoring broker before I take the exam?
No, but you’ll need one before your temporary Salesperson license can be activated and you can start practicing.
What happens if I don't finish the 30-hour post-licensing course in time?
Alabama’s exact conversion deadline isn’t unambiguous from the statute text we reviewed — confirm your specific cutoff with AREC. Missing it risks your temporary license lapsing.
Is Alabama's exam vendor PSI or Pearson VUE?
Pearson VUE. Some third-party prep sites list PSI, but that’s incorrect for Alabama.
How much should I budget for the background check?
AREC uses Fieldprint for fingerprinting, but we couldn’t confirm the exact current fee from a primary source — commonly-cited estimates run $48–$50. Check fieldprintalabama.com for the current price.
Can an out-of-state license shortcut Alabama's requirements?
If your state qualifies, yes — you can skip the 60-hour pre-licensing course and take a shorter reciprocal path: a 6-hour Alabama law course plus a state-specific exam.
Next step
Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) — https://arec.alabama.gov
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