Alabama · AL
Alabama Real Estate License Checklist (2026)
Every step, fee, and deadline on one page — designed to print cleanly to PDF and check off as you go.
Before you start
- You are at least 19 years old
- You hold a high school diploma or GED
- You can pass a criminal background check / fingerprinting
Education
60-hour pre-license course, and you must pass the state exam within 6 months of completing it or retake the entire course. Alabama's entry license is distinctive: you're first issued a TEMPORARY salesperson license, then must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months (within 6 months to stay active) to receive the permanent 'original' license — so budget for 90 total hours in year one. Also note: the minimum age is 19, not 18 — Alabama's age of majority.
- Confirm eligibility: at least 19 years old (Alabama's age of majority), high school diploma or equivalent, U.S. citizenship/permanent residency or legal presence, and proof of residency in a U.S. state
- Complete an AREC-approved 60-hour salesperson pre-license course
- Schedule the exam with Pearson VUE within 6 months of finishing the course — miss that window and you retake the 60 hours
- Pass the exam; your passing score is only valid for 90 days, so be ready to move straight into the application
- Plan for the 30-hour post-license course — it's due within 12 months of licensure (within 6 months to keep an active license)
Application & exam
- Submit the temporary salesperson license application within 90 days of your exam date — miss it and your exam score is null and void
- Pay the $210 fee: $150 license fee + $30 Research and Education fee + $30 Recovery Fund fee
- Complete the fingerprint-based state and FBI background check through Fieldprint (fieldprintalabama.com), AREC's processing vendor (roughly $50). Results are only available to AREC for 30 days — get fingerprinted the SAME day you submit your application
- If you have felony convictions, gather certified court documents early — a felony or crime of moral turpitude is disqualifying by statute
- Your temporary license is issued to your qualifying broker, and you cannot practice until the broker has it in hand
- Complete the 30-hour post-license course within 12 months (6 months to remain active) to convert the temporary license into your permanent original license
Budget
| Item | Estimate | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 60-hour pre-license course | $150 – $450 | |
| Pearson VUE exam fee | $73 per attempt (raised from $70 effective Aug 1, 2025) | |
| Temporary license application ($150 + $30 research/education + $30 recovery fund) | $210 | |
| Fingerprint background check (Fieldprint) | ~$50 | |
| 30-hour post-license course (required within 12 months) | $100 – $250 | |
| Estimated total | $500 – $1,000 |
Key deadlines
- 60-hour pre-license course, and you must pass the state exam within 6 months of completing it or retake the entire course.
- Alabama's entry license is distinctive: you're first issued a TEMPORARY salesperson license, then must complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months (within 6 months to stay active) to receive the permanent 'original' license — so budget for 90 total hours in year one.
- Two-year license periods; all licenses except temporary ones expire at midnight September 30 of even-numbered years (renew by the preceding August 31 to avoid penalty).
- The temporary license converts to the permanent original license via the 30-hour post-license course within your first 12 months.
- Confirm eligibility: at least 19 years old (Alabama's age of majority), high school diploma or equivalent, U.S.
- Schedule the exam with Pearson VUE within 6 months of finishing the course — miss that window and you retake the 60 hours
- Pass the exam; your passing score is only valid for 90 days, so be ready to move straight into the application
- Plan for the 30-hour post-license course — it's due within 12 months of licensure (within 6 months to keep an active license)