50-State Real Estate Broker Licensing Compliance Guide
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Alabama Real Estate License

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Licensing requirements for Alabama brokerage firms.

A business entity offering real estate brokerage services to the public typically must register with the real estate commission before conducting business activity. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Company Licenses

Alabama Real Estate Company Licenses

Alabama Real Estate Branch Office License

Agency:Alabama Real Estate Commission
Law:

Alabama License Law

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • General Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Proprietorships
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • An application for a company license or branch office license shall be made by a qualifying broker on a form prescribed by the commission.
  • The qualifying broker shall be an officer, partner, or employee of the company.
  • A broker may serve as qualifying broker for a salesperson or associate broker only if licensed in Alabama, his or her principal business is that of a real estate broker, and he or she shall be in a position to actually supervise the real estate activities of the associate broker or salesperson on a full-time basis.
  • Each company or branch office shall be under the direction and supervision of a qualifying broker licensed at that address.
  • No person may serve as a qualifying broker at more than one location.
  • The qualifying broker for the branch office and the qualifying broker for the company shall share equal responsibility for the real estate activities of all licensees assigned to the branch office or company.
Requirement Notes:

Most Companies, except Sole Proprietorships, are required by law to register or be qualified with the office of Secretary of State in Alabama. 

Initial Registration

Form:

Branch Office Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

Depends on when you register: $170 for registering in the first year of the biennium (between 10/01/2020 and 09/30/2021) or $85 for registering in the second year ( between 10/01/2021 and 09/30/2022).

Turnaround:

Completed applications are normally processed within 3 business days from the date received. Once processed, the licenses will be available for printing by the Qualifying Broker from the Commission’s website, arec.alabama.gov, using the Company’s login (the company license number and the Qualifying Broker’s personal information). 

How to Apply:
  1. An application for a company license or branch office license shall be made by a qualifying broker on a form prescribed by the commission. Use this form to register the qualifying broker.
  2. Once the qualifying broker is registered, the Commission will issue the license to the company listed on the qualifying broker registration/transfer form. 
  3. Most Companies, except Sole Proprietorships, are required by law to register or be qualified with the office of Secretary of State in Alabama. Please call 334.242.5324 for further information.
  4. If licensees are transferring into this company, submit a Real Estate Commission Registration/Transfer Form, and $25 registration fee for each licensee, or if licensees are activating a license into this company, submit an Application for License Activation and $25 activation fee. 
  5. Complete the form and mail it to the Alabama Real Estate Commission.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$170

Due:

By September 30 of even-numbered years.

Alabama Real Estate Company License

Agency:Alabama Real Estate Commission
Law:

Alabama License Law

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • General Partnerships 
  • Limited Liability Companies 
  • Proprietorships 
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • An application for a company license or branch office license shall be made by a qualifying broker on a form prescribed by the commission.
  • The qualifying broker shall be an officer, partner, or employee of the company.
  • A broker may serve as qualifying broker for a salesperson or associate broker only if licensed in Alabama, his or her principal business is that of a real estate broker, and he or she shall be in a position to actually supervise the real estate activities of the associate broker or salesperson on a full-time basis.
  • Each company or branch office shall be under the direction and supervision of a qualifying broker licensed at that address.
  • No person may serve as a qualifying broker at more than one location.
  • The qualifying broker for the branch office and the qualifying broker for the company shall share equal responsibility for the real estate activities of all licensees assigned to the branch office or company.

Initial Registration

Form:

Company License Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

Depends on when you register: $170 for registering in the first year of the biennium (between 10/01/2020 and 09/30/2021) or $85 for registering in the second year ( between 10/01/2021 and 09/30/2022).

Turnaround:

Completed applications are normally processed within 3 business days from the date received. Once processed, the licenses will be available for printing by the Qualifying Broker from the Commission’s website, arec.alabama.gov, using the Company’s login (the company license number and the Qualifying Broker’s personal information). 

Notes:

Companies with more than one place of business need multiple company licenses.

How to Apply:
  1. An application for a company license or branch office license shall be made by a qualifying broker on a form prescribed by the commission. Use this form to register the qualifying broker.
  2. Once the qualifying broker is registered, the Commission will issue the license to the company listed on the qualifying broker registration/transfer form. 
  3. Most Companies, except Sole Proprietorships, are required by law to register or be qualified with the office of Secretary of State in Alabama. Please call 334.242.5324 for further information.
  4. If licensees are transferring into this company, submit a Real Estate Commission Registration/Transfer Form, and $25 registration fee for each licensee, or if licensees are activating a license into this company, submit an Application for License Activation and $25 activation fee. 
  5. Complete the form and mail it to the Alabama Real Estate Commission.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Online

Agency Fee:

$170

Due:

By September 30 of even-numbered years.

Individual Licenses

Alabama Individual Real Estate Licenses

Alabama Real Estate Broker License

Agency:Alabama Real Estate Commission

Initial Registration

Notes:

License applications are provided after passing the exam.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$205

Due:

Biennially

Alabama Real Estate Salesperson License

Agency:Alabama Real Estate Commission

Initial Registration

Agency Fee:

$85

Notes:

License applications are provided after passing the exam.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$185

Due:

Biennially

Learn about real estate licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Associate Broker - Associate brokers are qualified to work independently as a broker, but choose to work under the authority of a designated broker.

On-Site Manager - A broker or salesperson who oversees the operations of a branch office under the authority of the designated broker.

Qualifying Broker/Designated Broker - An experienced and licensed real estate broker responsible for management and operation of a real estate firm.

Real Estate - Land, buildings, and their permanent improvements and fixtures. Also called "real property" in contrast to personal property.

Real Estate Agent - This term refers generally to any licensed real estate professional.

Reciprocity - Reciprocity makes it easier for out-of-state real estate firms to gain approval to operate in a foreign state by streamlining some licensing requirements.

Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)
Offers a license verification database accross 43 jurisdictions.

NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Agencies
Aid education, research, and advocacy efforts in the real estate industry.

National Association of Realtors
Real estate trade organization that provides information and resources for development of the real estate industry.

Urban Land Institute
Research and education association concerned with responsible land use and creating sustainable communities.

Revised April 27, 2022. Complete data last reviewed April 08, 2022.
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