Get Your Alabama Real Estate License

There are certain mandated steps to follow to get a real estate license in Alabama.

• You must be at least 19 years old and a citizen of the USA. Legally-migrated aliens can also apply for an Alabama real estate license. 
• Have a high school graduation or equivalent.
• Not have a conviction for a crime involving financial embezzlement. 
• Not having a real estate license application rejected in any state in the USA in the past two years.

There are 7 steps to complete to get a real estate license in Alabama. 

Step 1

Go through the 60 hours of salesperson Alabama real estate license course, either a classroom-based course or an Alabama real estate course online. However, online courses are more convenient as you can study at any time while on the go.  

The 60 hours of real estate pre-licensing course in Alabama covers both national and state-specific subjects. These include property ownership, land use regulations, financing, principles of agency, Alabama laws and regulations, and licensing requirements.  

At the end of the coursework, you must take a test and clear it by scoring at least 70% grade.

The Alabama real estate license course must be completed within 12 months of enrollment.
 

Step 2

After you complete the 60-hour Alabama pre-license course, the course administrator will report your course completion information to the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC). They will then inform about your eligibility for scheduling the licensing exam and appearing for the test. You will now get a confirmation notice from PSI, the third-party exam administrator to schedule your licensing exam. You can schedule an exam by visiting the PSI website, over the telephone, or by email. 

The fee for scheduling the licensing exam is $70.  

Step 3

Pass the state licensing exam which consists of two parts – the National portion and the State portion. It has 100 and 40 multiple-choice questions respectively to be completed in 3.5 hours. Secure at least 70% grade to pass the test.  If you pass the exam, you are eligible to receive a temporary Alabama real estate license.  

Step 4

Visit the AREC website and apply for a temporary real estate license in Alabama within 90 days of passing the licensing exam. The total fees payable are a $150 license fee, $30 research and recovery fee, and a $30 recovery fund fee.

Step 5

Submit your fingerprints for a federal and state background check. AREC exclusively uses the processing company Gemalto for this purpose. 

The fee for a background check is $48.25.   

Step 6

After you submit the application and background check results to AREC, it will issue a temporary real estate license valid for one year. To receive a permanent license, you must complete a 30-hour Alabama real estate post-licensing course. This Alabama real estate post-license course focuses primarily on the operation side of real estate practice.

Step 7

After completing the 30 hours of Alabama real estate post-license course, apply for a Real Estate Salesperson's Original License. The Salesperson License fee is $85 plus $10 for certification of licensure. 

Your active permanent real estate license will be issued directly to your licensed sponsoring broker.    

You are now authorized to practice as a real estate salesperson in Alabama.

The cost of a real estate license in Alabama consists of Fixed and Variable Cost

Fixed Costs

• Scheduling the licensing exam: $70
• License Fee: $150  
• Research and Recovery Fee: $30
• Recovery Fund Fee: $30 
• Background check fee: $48.25.
• Salesperson License fee: $85 for a single year 
• Certification of licensure fee: $10 

Total fixed fees: $423.25

Variable Costs

This is your expense for enrolling in an Alabama real estate license course. It varies between different course providers with the average cost of pre-licensing coursework being typically $350.  

However, the best Alabama real estate course is provided by RealEstateU. Not only are their courses of the highest quality but they are the cheapest in this segment. The base course starts at $179 and $258 if you include e-textbook and study guides as part of the package. 

Hence, the total cost of getting an Alabama real estate license ranges between $609 to about $780.

Among the best Alabama real estate courses online is the one offered by RealEstateU. Their courses are designed by top real estate professionals in this field and hence are of the highest quality. However, what gives them an edge is that they are among the lowest-priced courses in this niche. Their base course starts at $179 only and the complete package with e-textbooks, study guides, and practice questions costs $258 only.

The 60-hour Alabama real estate license course includes property ownership, land use regulations, financing, principles of agency, Alabama laws and regulations, licensing requirements, and disciplinary procedures.

Yes, the real estate pre-licensing course in Alabama can be completed online. It offers more study time flexibility than classroom-based courses.

A real estate salesperson in Alabama earns an average of $77,762 per year. However, an important determining factor is the location of practice. Real estate salespersons, for example, take home about $116,788 in Huntsville while it is $80,551 in Florence. Experience and expertise in this profession also count towards the level of earnings per year in Alabama.

The Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) real estate licenses in Alabama.

A member of the National Association of Realtors in Alabama is called a realtor.

To sell, buy, lease, or rent real estate properties on behalf of clients, you need a real estate license in Alabama.

Yes, a real estate license in Alabama allows you to work in any city in the State without restrictions.

You must pass the Alabama state licensing exam to get a real estate license in AL. The exam is 3.5 hours in duration and has national and state-specific sections. The questions are in a multiple-choice format and you must get at least a 70% grade to clear the test.

The first step to a real estate career in Alabama is to become a real estate salesperson. You must work under a licensed broker who will hold the active real estate license on your behalf. A salesperson cannot set up individual practice or open a real estate firm. 

To be a broker, a salesperson must have a few years of experience, complete a broker pre-licensing course, and pass a broker licensing exam. As a licensed broker, you can then open your own firm and hire real estate salespersons to work in your firm.

In Alabama, you cannot have a felony conviction for moral turpitude or financial fraud and expect to get a real estate license. 

However, since this is a judgment call you can submit a Determination of License Eligibility to the AREC. The body will then evaluate your criminal background and decide whether you should be granted a license.  

Complete this step first before going through the process to get a real estate license in Alabama.