Real estate school to broker: how to get an Alabama real estate license
Getting an Alabama real estate license requires completing a 60-hour pre-licensing course at a real estate school approved by the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC), passing the state licensing exam, submitting an application with a background check, and affiliating with a sponsoring broker. AREC regulates every step from course approval through license issuance, and applicants who follow the process in order can move from enrollment to an active license within a few months.
Who qualifies for an Alabama real estate license
Alabama's salesperson license requirements cover age, citizenship, residency, education, and criminal history. Applicants must also have no real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years (AREC — Become a Licensed Real Estate Professional[1]).
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.
Attorneys and CPAs are not exempt from the pre-licensing course or the licensing exam. They must meet the same requirements as every other applicant (AREC FAQ[2]).
Complete the 60-hour pre-licensing course
Before sitting for the state exam, you must complete AREC-approved pre-licensing education.
Alabama requires salesperson applicants to complete a 60-hour prelicense course approved by the Alabama Real Estate Commission before taking the state licensing exam. Reciprocal applicants who hold a current license in another state instead complete a 6-hour reciprocal prelicense course covering Alabama License Law. Both types of applicants must pass the licensing exam within 6 months of course completion, and the 6-hour reciprocal course hours do not qualify for continuing education credit.
Enrollment gives you one year to finish the coursework and pass the course final exam (AREC FAQ[2]). After passing the course final, you have six months to pass the state licensing exam. If that deadline passes, you must retake the entire pre-licensing course (AREC — Course Requirements[3]).
Both classroom and online formats are available for the pre-licensing requirement.
Yes, Alabama allows pre-licensing courses to be completed online. The Alabama Real Estate Commission states that online courses may be taken at the applicant's own pace, and the course must be completed within one year from the start date. Online courses used for Alabama credit must be taken from Alabama-approved providers and must be ARELLO certified.
Schedule and pass the state licensing exam
The state licensing exam is the second major step in the Alabama licensing process, and Pearson VUE administers it at testing centers statewide.
Pearson VUE administers Alabama's real estate licensing exam, having replaced PSI effective January 3, 2023. Candidates schedule exams through Pearson VUE at home.pearsonvue.com/al/realestate or by calling 888-926-9488. Pearson VUE offers all salesperson, broker, and reciprocal license examinations for the Alabama Real Estate Commission.
The exam consists of two portions with a combined 120 scored questions and a passing score of 70% on each section:
| Portion | Scored questions | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| National | 80 | 150 minutes |
| State (Alabama) | 40 | 60 minutes |
(Pearson VUE — Alabama Real Estate Content Outlines[4])
An exam fee is charged per attempt, payable through Pearson VUE when scheduling. You can find exam locations and schedule your exam through the AREC exam scheduling page[5] or by calling Pearson VUE at 888-926-9488. There is no limit on the number of exam retakes (AREC FAQ[2]).
Apply for your license and pass the background check
After passing the exam, you must submit a completed license application, all supporting materials, and fees to AREC within 90 days of your examination date. The 90-day window is measured by postmark for mailed applications, and missing it means your exam score becomes null and void (AREC — License Application Instructions[6]).
Background check and fingerprinting
Alabama requires a fingerprint-based federal and state criminal background check through AREC's processing vendor, Fieldprint, at fieldprintalabama.com. A fee applies for fingerprinting, paid directly to Fieldprint. Criminal history records are available to AREC for 30 days, so AREC recommends submitting your license application on the same day you complete fingerprinting (AREC — License Application Instructions[6]).
License application fees
The current AREC application form lists the following fees for an original salesperson license:
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Original license fee (licenses issued Oct 2024 – Sep 2025) | $170 | AREC |
| Original license fee (licenses issued Oct 2025 – Sep 2026) | $85 | AREC |
| Recovery fund fee (active license) | $30 | AREC |
Total fees paid to AREC for an active license are $200 in the first year of the license cycle or $115 in the second year. Applications must be mailed or delivered to AREC at 1201 Carmichael Way, Montgomery, AL 36106, with a check or money order enclosed. AREC does not accept credit cards in the office (AREC — Application for Real Estate Salesperson's Original License[7], published October 2, 2024; AREC — License Application Instructions[6]).
Required documents
Your application must include proof of age (a copy of both sides of a valid driver's license, U.S. passport, or birth certificate) and proof of high school graduation (a copy of your diploma, GED certificate, college transcript or diploma, or equivalent documentation). If applying for an active license, you must also list an Alabama-licensed qualifying broker on the application (AREC — License Application Instructions[6]).
Activate your license through a sponsoring broker
In Alabama, your salesperson license is held by your qualifying broker, not by you personally. You cannot practice real estate until the license is issued to your broker (AREC — License Application Instructions[6]).
You can submit your application as either active or inactive. An active application requires you to list an Alabama-licensed broker; an inactive application does not, but you cannot practice until you affiliate with one and activate the license.
Alabama law requires all salespersons to work under a qualifying broker, and the license is issued to the qualifying broker rather than the salesperson. To find a sponsoring broker, research brokerages in the area, reach out to multiple brokers, and schedule interviews. Ask about commission splits, training programs, mentorship opportunities, monthly fees, and lead generation support. A licensee may not engage in real estate business until the license has been issued to the qualifying broker.
Complete post-license education for your permanent license
Once AREC accepts your application, you receive a temporary salesperson license. To convert it to a permanent license and maintain active status, you must complete additional education.
New Alabama salespersons must complete a 30-hour post-license course within the first 6 months of licensure to maintain an active license, or within the first year to receive a permanent (original) license on inactive status. The post-license course also satisfies the 15 hours of continuing education required for the first license renewal. There is no post-license requirement for brokers.
Completing this course also fulfills your initial CE obligation, eliminating the need for separate CE credits before the first renewal (AREC FAQ[2]).
A lapsed license cannot be reactivated. If you let the temporary license expire without completing the post-license course and obtaining your permanent license, you must retake all courses and exams as if never licensed (AREC FAQ[2]).
Next steps after getting licensed
After receiving your permanent license, three areas keep your career on track: continuing education, REALTOR® membership, and the broker upgrade path.
Continuing education and renewal
Alabama requires 15 hours of continuing education every two years, completed by September 30 of each even-numbered year. Salespersons must complete a 3-hour Risk Management course plus 12 hours of elective courses (AREC — Course Requirements[3]). Renew without penalty by August 31; licenses not renewed by September 30 are placed on inactive status (AREC — License Renewal[8]).
Joining a REALTOR® association
REALTOR® membership is a voluntary professional designation, distinct from the state license.
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.
Upgrading to a broker license
Broker licensure requires additional education and experience beyond the salesperson level. Candidates must complete a broker pre-licensing course and demonstrate prior active salesperson experience to qualify (AREC — Become a Licensed Real Estate Professional[1]).
A real estate salesperson (agent) is licensed to help clients buy, sell, or rent property but must work under a licensed broker. In Alabama, the agent's license is held by the qualifying broker, and the agent cannot engage in real estate business independently. A broker has completed additional education and experience requirements and is licensed to manage an independent business, hire agents, and supervise transactions. In Alabama, broker applicants must have held an active salesperson license for at least 24 of the 36 months preceding application and complete a 60-hour broker prelicense course.
To begin the licensing process, verify your eligibility against AREC's requirements and enroll in an approved pre-licensing course.
Sources
- AREC — Become a Licensed Real Estate ProfessionalGovernmentAugust 2026
- AREC — Alabama Real Estate Commission FAQGovernmentAugust 2026
- AREC — Course RequirementsGovernmentAugust 2026
- Pearson VUE — Alabama Real Estate Content Outlines (#093301)EducationAugust 2026
- AREC — Exam SchedulingGovernmentAugust 2026
- AREC — License Application InstructionsGovernmentAugust 2026
- Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) — Application for Real Estate Salesperson's Original LicenseEducationAugust 2026
- AREC — License RenewalGovernmentAugust 2026