The Alabama Real Estate Salesperson License Exam is the state licensing examination required by the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) and delivered by Pearson VUE. Passing it, after completing the 60-hour prelicense course, qualifies a candidate to apply for a temporary salesperson license and begin practicing under an Alabama qualifying broker.

Who it's for

Anyone who wants to list, sell, lease, or negotiate real estate for others in Alabama for compensation. Candidates must be at least 19 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have completed an AREC-approved 60-hour salesperson prelicense course before sitting for the exam.

What's covered

Real Property, Land Use, Ownership and Title — fixtures and personal property, legal descriptions, government and private land use controls, estates, forms of ownership, leases, liens, deeds, and recording.
Property Valuation and Appraisal — principles of value, the three approaches to value, CMAs and broker price opinions, and assessed value.
Real Estate Contracts and Agency — contract elements and performance, offers and contingencies, options and installment contracts, agency types, creation and termination, and duties to parties.
Real Estate Practice, Fair Housing and Disclosures — listing and buyer agreements, property management, fair housing and the ADA, antitrust and risk management, and environmental and property condition disclosures.
Financing, Settlement and Real Estate Math — loan types and clauses, FHA/VA/USDA and conventional requirements, TILA, TRID, RESPA and ECOA, closing statements, and the calculations tested in the math section.
Alabama License Law and Commission Rules — the role of the Commission, licensing and renewal requirements, temporary and original licenses, license status, qualifying brokers and companies, the Recovery Fund, disciplinary process, estimated closing statements, and trust funds.
Alabama RECAD and Violations — the Real Estate Consumer's Agency and Disclosure Act, brokerage agreements, transaction facilitators, teams, and the violations that can lead to disciplinary action.

What to expect

The exam has two portions taken in one sitting: a national (general) portion of 80 scored questions and an Alabama state portion of 40 scored questions, plus a small number of unscored pretest questions mixed in. All questions are multiple-choice and delivered on computer at a Pearson VUE test center. Violations that may result in disciplinary action are the single largest state topic, at 15 of the 40 state questions. Two figures are not provided at the test center and must be memorized: 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile.

How to prepare

Study the two portions differently. The national portion rewards understanding concepts well enough to apply them to short fact patterns: contracts and agency is the largest national topic, and math appears as a dedicated set of calculation questions. The state portion rewards exact recall of Alabama rules: time limits, dollar amounts, who must do what, and the list of prohibited acts. Alabama license law was amended effective October 1, 2025, changing fine amounts, RECAD terminology, and adding rules for teams, so make sure your notes reflect the current law.

Certification details

Administering body: Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC); exam delivered by Pearson VUE.
Format: Computer-based, multiple-choice; 80 national and 40 state scored questions.
Eligibility: Age 19 or older, high school diploma or equivalent, and completion of the 60-hour prelicense course.
After passing: Apply for a temporary license under a qualifying broker within 90 days, then complete the 30-hour post-license course to obtain an original license.
Renewal: Licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years; active licensees complete 15 hours of continuing education each license period.