Alabama Real Estate License Requirements
Choose the education step that matches your Alabama license status. The Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) sets eligibility, examination and licensing deadlines.
New to real estate? Start with a 60-hour salesperson prelicense course. Already have a temporary salesperson license? Choose the 30-hour post-license course. Experienced salespersons pursuing a broker license need a separate 60-hour broker prelicense course.
1. Starting your salesperson license
Complete an approved 60-hour salesperson prelicense course before the state licensing exam. You must finish the course, including its final exam and required documents, within one year of starting. Pass the state exam within six months after course completion.
Before enrolling, review AREC eligibility requirements, including a minimum age of 19, high-school graduation or equivalent, lawful U.S. presence, residency and background requirements. Register for your AREC identification number before completing the course.
Read the full AREC eligibility requirements · AREC ID registration
2. Moving from a temporary to an original salesperson license
You must hold a temporary salesperson license before starting the 30-hour post-license course for credit. To stay active, complete the course and have your original license issued by the six-month deadline. The six-month period starts on the first day of the month after your temporary license is issued and ends on the last day of the sixth month.
All temporary license holders must complete the post-license and original-license requirements within the 12-month limit. A temporary license becomes inactive after the initial active period and lapses if the final requirements are not completed in time.
Check AREC licensing deadlines (PDF)
3. Preparing for a broker license
Broker applicants need an approved 60-hour broker prelicense course and at least 24 months of active salesperson licensure during the 36 months immediately before application. Pass the broker examination within six months of course completion. Alabama does not require broker post-license education.
Review AREC course requirements
How long does it take to get an Alabama real estate license?
Your timeline includes coursework, the course final, state-exam preparation and scheduling, and the license application. A 60-hour course is an education requirement, not a promise that your license will arrive after 60 hours.
For planning, 60 hours divided across 10 study hours each week is six weeks; at five hours each week it is twelve weeks. These are arithmetic examples, not typical completion times. Set aside additional time for review, exams, documents and processing. Follow the pacing and completion requirements in your course portal.
For distance education, AREC's one-year prelicense completion period starts when the course is purchased. Completion includes lessons, the final examination and required documents. Your provider's access expiration may be different; check the date in your account before making a study plan.
After passing the state exam, submit the temporary salesperson or broker application to AREC within 90 calendar days, counting the exam date as day one. Use AREC's application instructions for required documentation, background checks and fees. Passing the exam alone does not authorize you to practice.
Read AREC's official course, exam and application deadlines (PDF).
What does an Alabama real estate license cost?
Build your budget in stages. Tuition is one part of the cost, and the lowest advertised course price is not a complete licensing budget.
- Prelicense education: compare the 60-hour Course Only package and the course with Exam Prep Edge. Each product page shows current tuition and inclusions.
- Course-final proctoring: review your provider's process and confirm any separate proctoring or retake fee before scheduling.
- State examination: Pearson VUE collects an examination fee at reservation. Confirm the current amount for your examination and review the cancellation rules.
- License application: budget for the applicable AREC license, background-check and recovery-fund charges. Amounts can depend on the license type, status and issuance period; confirm them in the current application.
- Post-license education: the 30-hour post-license course is a separate purchase from either salesperson prelicense package. An original salesperson license application and its applicable fee are also required.
- Starting work: ask your prospective qualifying broker about brokerage, insurance, association, MLS and business expenses that may apply to your plans.
Check Pearson VUE examination information and AREC licensing and application guidance. Contact the school for course-specific charges before enrolling. This guide does not quote a single all-inclusive licensing total.
Choosing a package and preparing for the exam
The Course Only package focuses on the 60-hour salesperson prelicense education. The Exam Prep Edge package includes that education plus Alabama Exam Prep Edge. Choose based on whether you want the additional preparation product; neither package includes post-license education or guarantees a passing result.
Use the current Alabama candidate handbook (PDF) to understand the examination outline, identification rules and testing procedures. Build a study routine around the topics you need to strengthen. Practice questions support review; they do not replace completing the required course.
Before booking the state exam, confirm that your course completion has been reported and follow your authorization-to-test instructions. The course final and the state licensing exam are separate appointments. Compare the two salesperson course packages.
Your course final and the state licensing exam
The proctored course final is part of your education. The state licensing exam is a separate registration and examination process through Pearson VUE. Follow your course portal instructions for completion, proctoring, reporting and certificates.
Alabama licensing exam information
Course completion, reporting and certificate information
Alabama State Requirement Details for Real Estate Pre-Licensing Education
Hours Required by the State: 60 hours
Licensing Exam: The licensing exam will be administered by Pearson Vue. Registration for the state licensing exam is an entirely separate process from proctoring for your course final exam. For instructions to register for your state licensing exam through Pearson VUE, please click here.
The CE Shop’s Offering: 60 hours
Reporting: The state requires course completions to be reported to the state. We will report your course to the state upon completion.
Expiration Date of Course: Course expiration dates vary by course. Each individual course will have an expiration date listed in your account.
Certificates: Immediately upon course completions, The CE Shop will provide students with an electronic copy of the course certificate of completion. Certificates will remain in your account for a minimum of five years, should you need additional copies at a later time. Please refer to your application to determine if you need to submit your certificate(s) of completion. Course completion dates are recorded using Central Standard Time. Please note that the date on your certificate of completion will reflect this.
Proctoring Final Exam: The state requires that your 60 Hour Salesperson and 6-hour Reciprocal final course exams be proctored. You’ll need to schedule an appointment with an online proctor in advance. You can find full details of the proctoring process here. Upon passing the final course exam you will be asked to sign an affidavit verifying your identity as the student who completed the course and the final course exam. Final exams must be passed with a minimum of 70% and may be taken a maximum of two times. Students may verify reported credits through the Commission website using the state's CMAP instructions here.
Note: Students must register online with the Commission at arec.alabama.gov prior to completing the salesperson prelicense course in order to take the license examination. You can register here through this link.
Post-Licensing: Completion of the 30-hour post-licensing course is required for salespersons within the first 6 months of licensure for active licensees and within one year for inactive licensees. Individuals must also apply for an Original Salesperson License and have it issued before the expiration of the first 6-month period. Note: There is no post-license requirement for brokers.
Alabama Real Estate Commission
Street Address: 1201 Carmichael Way, Montgomery, AL 36106
Telephone: 334.242.5544
Fax: 334.270.9118
Renewal and Continuing Education Information
Contact the Alabama Real Estate Commission
Choose your next course
Explore our Alabama course catalog or contact the School Administrator for help choosing the appropriate course. After enrollment, allow up to 24 hours for your personalized course-portal access information.
Published by Alabama Real Estate Education Academy. State guidance reviewed November 3, 2026. AREC determines eligibility and the requirements that apply to your license. Use the linked official sources to confirm your dates and current fees.