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Can a convicted felon get a real estate license in Alabama? The Commission will not issue a license to any person convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. If you have questions about if a prior conviction will impact your eligibility, you can submit a request for determination of licensing eligibility for individuals with a criminal history. The AREC will make a determination on your case. Alabama also will not issue a license if you have had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years. First, you’ll have to fill out the Pre-Registration form and have a user identification number. You’ll also need to submit fingerprints to its background check processor, Gemalto. Alabama’s Temporary Salesperson License Application will ask if you have been arrested, indicted, convicted of a criminal offense, fined, imprisoned, or placed on probation.

Do you need high school diploma for real estate license in Alabama? A high school diploma or its equivalent general education diploma (GED) is required to get an Alabama real estate salesperson's license.

To become a real estate broker in Alabama, you must complete a 60-hour broker prelicense course through an AREC-approved school and have held an active salesperson license in any state for at least 24 months of the 36-month period immediately preceding the application date. You must pass the broker licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE, within 6 months of completing the prelicense course, and submit the completed application, fees, and background check to the Alabama Real Estate Commission within 90 days of the exam date. There is no post-license course requirement for brokers.

To become a licensed real estate salesperson in Alabama, you must meet eligibility requirements (at least 19 years old, U.S. citizen or legally present, high school diploma or equivalent, no felony or moral turpitude conviction), complete a 60-hour prelicense course, and pass the state licensing exam within 6 months of course completion. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE, and you must submit your application, fees, and fingerprint-based background check through Fieldprint within 90 days of passing. Once licensed, you must complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first 6 months for active status or within the first year for inactive status.

To become a REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent must join their local REALTOR® association and pay membership dues, which automatically provides membership in the state and national associations. REALTORS® must complete Code of Ethics training every three years, and NAR also requires Fair Housing training on the same three-year cycle. The term "REALTOR®" is a trademark of the National Association of REALTORS®, and only NAR members may use it.

Building a sphere of influence, finding a mentor, and using social media for lead generation are recommended first steps for new agents. The first sale may take 4 to 6 months or more, so financial preparation during the initial months is necessary. The median gross income of REALTORS® was $58,100 according to the 2025 NAR Member Profile, though agents with 2 years or less of experience earned a median of $8,100 annually. Alabama agents work as independent contractors under a qualifying broker, and 54% of real estate brokers and sales agents nationally are self-employed.

How to get a copy of my real estate license in Alabama? If you’d like a hard copy of your Alabama salesperson license, request one with the license print and mail form. You may also be able to request one through AREC’s online services or your qualifying broker.

To obtain an Alabama salesperson license, an applicant must be at least 19 years old, a U.S. citizen or legally present, show proof of high school graduation or equivalent, and not have been convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude. The applicant must complete a 60-hour AREC-approved prelicense course, pass the state licensing exam within 6 months of course completion, submit a fingerprint-based background check through Fieldprint, file the license application within 90 days of the exam, and complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first 6 months of licensure to maintain active status.

How to get fingerprinted for real estate license in Alabama? Start by visiting the state’s background check processor Gemalto. Create an account, schedule your fingerprinting, and pay the fees through a credit card checkout. Visit any Gemalto Cogent fingerprint location, checking their hours first. Out-of-state applicants will need to submit a fingerprint card to Gemalto Cogent. Alabama requires all applicants to submit their fingerprints for a state and federal background check. You’ll need to have your fingerprints taken within 90 days after passing the Alabama state licensing exam. This is because the submission of your fingerprints must coincide with your temporary salesperson license application.

To get an Alabama real estate salesperson license, you must be at least 19 years old, a U.S. citizen or legally present, show proof of high school graduation or equivalent, and not have been convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude. You must complete a 60-hour prelicense course approved by the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC), pass the state licensing exam administered by Pearson VUE within 6 months of course completion, and submit your application, fees, and fingerprint-based background check through Fieldprint within 90 days of the exam date. AREC issues a temporary license once the application is approved and a sponsoring broker is secured. To convert to a permanent license, you must complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first 6 months of licensure to maintain active status, or within the first year to obtain an inactive permanent license.