Getting your Alabama Real Estate License is the first step to becoming a real estate agent in Alabama. Nowadays, this process can be done almost entirely online. You will still need to take your Alabama real estate license exam in person, but the rest of the process can be completed entirely online!

This article outlines the process to get your AL Real Estate License in an easy to understand, step-by-step manner. You’ll learn how much it will cost, how long it will take, what is on the exam, and much more.

How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Alabama

Becoming a real estate agent in Alabama is as simple as getting your license, finding a broker sponsor, and getting to work selling real estate! As long as you fulfill the below requirements, you are already on your way to your goal.

Alabama Real Estate License Requirements

The requirements to become a real estate agent in Alabama are:

• Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
• Be 18 years of age or older
• You must have proof of high school graduation or the equivalent
• You must show proof of bonafide residency in any state in the US
• You must not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude
• You must not have had a real estate application or license rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years

How to Get Your Real Estate License in Alabama

Step 1. Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course

To start, you must successfully complete an approved 60-hour pre-licensing course.

Most people choose to take their pre-license education course online. The majority of online courses are self-paced and include study materials like real estate practice exams and flashcards. Some also come with a “guarantee” that you will pass the exam on your first attempt if you complete their course. These benefits are all dependent on the education provider and package you choose, so be sure to get the course that best suits your needs.

Remember that the point of these courses isn’t just to check a box and complete a requirement, but rather to prepare you to pass your exam and become a better agent.

Alabama is one of the few states that require the final pre-license exam to be supervised by a proctor. This is not the same as the state exam. This test is provided by your pre-license education company and is an indication that you have completed and retained the information from your pre-license education course. Similar to the state exam, this test is closed-book and closed-note. You are allowed to use a basic-function calculator and scratch paper, but no cell phones or outside internet access.

In most cases, you can take this test in your own home, but you must have a proctor overseeing you when sitting for the test. When purchasing your real estate pre-license course, check to see if a proctor is included in your education package.

Step 2. Alabama Real Estate License Exam

After you’ve completed your pre-license education and course exam, it is time to take the Alabama Real Estate Exam.

The fee to take the exam is $77 per attempt.

The Alabama Real Estate Exam consists of 140 questions. This includes 100 for the National section and 40 for the State section.

You will have 210 minutes (3.5 hours) to complete the entire exam.

A passing score for the Alabama Real Estate Salesperson Exam is 70/100 on the National section and 28/40 on the State section.

If you pass the examination, you will receive a score report and instructions for applying for a license. If you do not achieve a passing score, your score report will include diagnostic scoring information and reapplication instructions.

You can register to take your exam on the PSI Alabama Real Estate page. On this page, you will find some other helpful resources as well, including the Candidate Handbook and Content Outline.

Step 3. Fingerprinting and Background Check

After passing your examination, the next step is to complete your fingerprinting and background check. The Alabama Real Estate Commission requires that all applicants have a background check performed before they can become a licensed real estate agent in Alabama.

To proceed with fingerprinting, follow the instructions for fingerprint scanning and processing found on Gemalto. The Commission can only utilize fingerprints processed through Gemalto. The Commission will not accept fingerprints completed for any reason outside of pursuing a real estate license from the Alabama Real Estate Commission.

The fee to complete your fingerprinting services is $48.25.

Completing and turning in your fingerprints will begin the background check process. The Alabama Real Estate Commission will review any findings in your background report to ensure your eligibility. During this process, they may reach out to you to provide additional information or documentation to clear up any findings.

For those who have criminal offenses or judgments against them, there’s a possibility that you may not be eligible for a real estate license in Alabama. If this is the case, you should complete and submit an Application for Determination of Licensing Eligibility form before your license application.

License issuance will not proceed until the Alabama Real Estate Commission has received and reviewed the criminal history record information (CHRI) along with the application. The criminal record information will come to the Commission directly from Gemalto and will only be available to the Commission for 30 days. Gemalto is the company that will process your fingerprints.

It is recommended that applicants submit this form (by mail or in-person) to the Real Estate Commission on the same day that they go to a fingerprinting site to be scanned.

Step 4. Real Estate License Application

The completed applications, all additional materials, and fees must be complete and submitted to the Alabama Real Estate Commission within 90 days of your examination date.

The total fee for this application is $210, which includes a $150 License Fee, $30 Research and Education Fee, and $30 Recovery Fund Fee.

Send the completed application and any other documentation to the Alabama Real Estate Commission’s Licensing Division at 1201 Carmichael Way, Montgomery, AL 36106.

Step 5. Application Review

Once you’ve passed your exam, you will only need to wait for your background report to come back as a pass. In most cases, this process should take between 5-10 business days. After this, you should receive a copy of your license mailed to your sponsor broker’s office. If you have any questions at this point, you should contact AREC at (334) 242-5544 or arec@arec.alabama.gov.

Congratulations!

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

Alabama Post-Licensing Education

Within the first 12 months of licensure, you must complete a 30-hour post-licensing course.

You should already have a temporary ID number. If you can’t remember it, you can look up your temporary ID here. You will be required to provide this number at the start of your post-licensing course.

AREC – Alabama Real Estate Commission

Mailing Address: 

Alabama Real Estate Commission
1201 Carmichael Way
Montgomery, AL 36106

Phone: (334) 242-5544

Fax: (334) 270-9118

Email: arec@arec.alabama.gov

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