How to Get a Broker License in Alabama

Obtaining an Alabama Real Estate Broker License is crucial if you’re looking to advance your real estate career. Despite the streamlined online application process, many aspiring real estate brokers find the requirements and procedures complex and challenging.

This How to Get a Broker License in Alabama article will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what it takes to achieve this license and elevate your real estate career as quickly as possible.

Alabama Real Estate Broker License

In order to get your Alabama real estate broker license and take your career to the next level, there are several key steps you’ll need to complete, including:

1. Ensuring You Meet the Eligibility and Experience Requirements
2. Pre-Registering with the Commission
3. Completing the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education
4. Passing the Alabama Broker Licensing Exam
5. Passing a Background Check
6. Submitting a License Application

In the sections below, we’ve explored each of these steps in more detail.

Note: If you’re just starting out, you’ll need to check out our Alabama Real Estate License guide instead.

Step 1: Meet the Alabama Eligibility and Experience Requirements

Before proceeding with the application process for your Alabama real estate broker license, you’ll need to first make sure that you meet the general prerequisites outlined under Ala. Code § 34-27-32:

• You must either be a US citizen, permanent resident alien, or otherwise legally present
• You must be at least 19 years of age
• You must be able to provide evidence of bona fide residency in any US state
• You must be able to show proof that you graduated high school graduation (or equivalent)
• You can’t have been convicted of any felonies (or crimes that involve moral turpitude)
• You must not have had any real estate license rejected or revoked in two years prior to application

In addition to the general eligibility requirements outlined above, you’ll also be expected to satisfy certain experience requirements. In particular, this will involve holding a real estate salesperson license (in any state) for a minimum of two years out of the 3-year period immediately preceding your application.

Note: If you’re unsure whether or not you’re eligible for a broker license in Alabama, you can file an electronic Request For Determination of Broker Eligibility through the Alabama Real Estate Commission’s Online Services Platform.

Step 2: Pre-Register with the Commission

After confirming that you’re eligible to apply for an Alabama real estate broker license, the next step you’ll need to complete is to pre-register with the Commission in order to obtain your official ID Number (if you haven’t already).

In order to complete pre-registration with the Commission, you’ll be required to enter your SSN on the ID Number Registration page of AREC’s website and then follow the rest of the on-screen steps.

Without this ID Number, you won’t be able to complete any of the subsequent steps required to obtain a real estate broker license in Alabama.

Note: While we recommend getting this step out of the way as early on as possible, you’re able to complete it at any point during your pre-licensing education up until your course’s final exam.

Step 3: Complete the Mandatory Pre-Licensing Education

Beyond the general requirements mentioned earlier, you must also fulfill specific educational prerequisites under Ala. Code § 34-27-32(c)(3) to be able to apply for an Alabama real estate broker license.

In particular, this will involve completing a total of 60 hours of qualifying pre-licensing education and successfully passing a final proctored exam administered by a third party.

Once that is completed, your course provider should issue a certificate to the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) stating that you’ve satisfactorily met the educational requirements for a broker license.

Once this has been received and processed by AREC, you’ll have six months from the date you officially completed your education to take and pass the Alabama real estate broker examination.

Step 4: Pass the Broker Licensing Exam

In Alabama, this 3.5-hour exam is administered by Pearson VUE and is made up of 120 scored questions — as well as between 10 and 15 unscored questions — all of which are divided across two sections: General and State-Specific.

Once Pearson VUE receives confirmation from AREC that you’re eligible to take the Alabama licensing exam, you should receive an Authorization to Test email — after which you’ll be able to schedule an exam date.

In order to schedule your real estate broker exam, you’ll need to make an online reservation using the Pearson VUE website. Note that you’ll need to create an account for this service if this is your first time using it, after which you’ll be shown step-by-step instructions on how to complete your reservation.

Keep in mind that you’ll be required to pay a $70 fee at the time of reservation, as this cannot be paid at the exam center.

In order to pass, you’ll need to obtain a scaled score of at least 70 on the overall exam (i.e., across both of its sections). While you’ll need to obtain a passing score within six months of completing your pre-licensing education, you’ll have an unlimited amount of attempts during this time to do so.

Note: You can read more about the broker licensing exam in Pearson VUE’s Alabama Real Estate Candidate Handbook.

Step 5: Pass the Background Check

After successfully passing the broker exam, the last step you’ll need to complete before your license can be issued is to request both a state and national criminal history background check under Ala. Code § 34-27-32(j).

In order to do this, you’ll first need to have your prints taken at a fingerprinting site, which in Alabama, are handled by the state’s partner Fieldprint. After scheduling your appointment at the site closest to you and having your fingerprints taken, Fieldprint will then scan and process them — which will commence the background check.

Once the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and FBI have finished these background checks, they’ll send reports of their findings to AREC, which will then use this information to inform their decision on whether or not to give you a broker license.

Note: If you have a criminal record and are worried it may influence the outcome of your broker license application, we recommend filing an Application for Determination of Licensing Eligibility with AREC.

Step 6: Submit a License Application 

After completing your pre-licensing education and ensuring that you satisfy all other licensing requirements, you’ll be ready to move on to submitting your license application.

In order to do this, you’ll need to fill out and complete the application form you’ll be sent in the score report you receive after passing the Alabama real estate broker exam. Note that the application form linked here may not be the most up-to-date version; for this reason, you should use the one linked in your score report.

Once complete, you’ll need to send this form by mail to AREC alongside the Fieldprint background check fee and relevant application fee. Mail submissions must be sent to the following address:

1201 Carmichael Way
Montgomery AL 36106

Be aware that the application fee you’ll be required to pay can vary depending on where you were initially licensed as an Alabama real estate agent or not. If you didn’t initially qualify in Alabama, you’ll also be required to pay a $30 Research and Education Fee and a $30 Recovery Fund Fee when you apply.

This brings the total to $210 for out-of-state salespersons, while those who were licensed within Alabama only need to pay a $150 application fee.

Alongside your application, you’ll also be expected to include the following documentation:

• Proof of age
• Proof of US citizenship (or legal presence in the country)
• Proof of residency in your home state
• Proof you successfully completed high school (or an accepted equivalent)

Note: As mentioned earlier on in this article, you’ll need to complete this final step of the application process within six months of the date you officially finished your pre-licensing education.

Step 7: Application Review

If you’ve managed to get this far, congratulations!

After submitting your real estate broker application, it’s typical to receive an email from AREC within several business days to confirm the issuance of your license.

Be sure to take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. You’ve put in a lot of work and effort and deserve a celebration!

Note: If you’re not sure what’s happening with your license and it’s been longer than expected, we recommend reaching out to AREC directly, either by phone or email.

Alabama Real Estate License Renewal

In order to keep your real estate broker license valid, you’ll need to renew it every even-numbered year (i.e., every two years) by August 31 through AREC’s Online Services portal.

However, before you can renew your real estate broker license, you’ll first be required to complete 15 hours of continuing education (CE). In order to meet AREC’s requirements, this total time must be broken down as follows:

• Risk Management: Initial Contact to Accepted Offer (3 hours)
• Mandatory Broker CE Course (3 hours)
• Elective courses (9 hours)

Unlike real estate agents in Alabama, there’s no post license requirement for brokers, meaning you won’t need to complete a post license course.

We always encourage our readers to think of the post licensing course they take as an investment in their future career — higher quality, more reliable course content is a central part of ensuring you continue to grow professionally.

Alabama Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address:
1201 Carmichael Way
Montgomery, AL 36106

Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 4:30pm

Phone: (334) 242-5544

Fax: (334) 270-9118

Email: arec@arec.alabama.gov 

Website: https://arec.alabama.gov/arec/