Have any Questions? We Are Here To Help!

We know that getting your Alabama real Estate License can be overwhelming. But don't worry, we are here to help. Below are some of the common questions we get from our students.


A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.

Bruce Lee

If you have a question feel free to reach out to us. We would love to help you achieve your goal of getting your Alabama Real Estate License.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an Alabama real estate license?

To obtain a real estate license in the State of Alabama, there are 4 steps: all applicants must be 19 years of age with a high school diploma or G.E.D. Step 1 - Take a 60-hour pre-license course required by the Alabama Real Estate Commission. Offered on this web site via live instruction delivered to your computer or self paced (Internet or CD-ROM). Successfully complete the course with the required 70% passing grade. You will receive a certificate of completion, which allows you to take the state exam. Step 2 - Take the state exam at one of four locations (Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Athens or Huntsville). Test is given weekdays 8:00am - 5:00pm. Pass with a 70% grade or higher. You will receive the results the day of testing. Step 3 - You have 90 days from the date you passed the state exam to decide whether you want your license issued on an active or inactive status. You will choose active status if you are ready to actively practice real estate. In which case, you must select a broker to work with. The broker agrees to hold your license and be accountable with you for your actions as you practice real estate. You will choose inactive status if you do not want to actively practice real estate at this time. In which case, the Alabama Real Estate Commission will hold your license for you until you are ready to practice real estate. The real estate commission will hold your license for you indefinitely as long as you renew it on inactive status every two years as required by Alabama law.

How do I get an Alabama real estate license if I currently have a license in another state?

You can obtain an Alabama real estate license by reciprocity if you hold a current license (one that is not reciprocal) in another state. If you hold a salesperson's license in another state you can apply for a reciprocal Alabama salesperson's license. If you hold a broker's license in another state you can apply for a reciprocal Alabama broker's license. The application for a reciprocal license can be found at www.arec.alabama.gov.

What skills and characteristics do top-producing real estate sales professionals share?

They are honest, willing to work hard, highly motivated, organized, and truly enjoy interacting with others.

What will it cost me to get started?

There are several start-up costs when beginning your real estate career. Fixed costs include: Pre-license course, state exam, post license course, state licensing fee, fees to join your local Board of Realtors and its Multiple Listing Service. You may also need such tools as a cell phone, laptop computer, palm pilot, etc.

Will any other materials be provided for me when i sign up for the course?

Within each session of the course, you will find a Resources tab in the upper right corner of the screen. There are printable documents of what you are looking at on the screen. You can print these out and make notes as you listen to the lecture.

How soon can I expect to generate income?

You are limited only by your imagination. Some new agents are selling homes in the first couple of months, while others may take longer to get their client base established.

What are my payment options?

You can pay for any course using your Visa, MasterCard,American Express or Discover Card. It is simple process and secured through Thawte.

How long will it take me to finish the prelicense course?

The salesperson prelicense is a 60-hour course. How long it will take to finish it depends on how many hours per day you can devote to the course.

Will I be tested during the course?

There are quizzes at the end of each course unit. When you have completed all course units there is a final exam. A minimum passing score of 70% is required on the final exam. If you do not pass the final exam there is a second final exam available. Final exams must be proctored.Alabama license law says that the minimum passing grade on the course final exam is 70%. However we have a higher standard. We require that a student pass the course final exam with an 70%.

Where do I take the proctored final exam?

Career Academy personnel will help you arrange a proctored exam. When you have completed all course units, call 1-800-481-3116 to make arrangements at an educational facility of your choice. Some educational facilities charge a fee for proctoring. That is not included in your course fee and it is an expense you would be responsible for. We provide the information you need to find an appropriate proctor for your course final. This proctored course final is part of the course and should not be confused with the state-licensing exam.

What if I don't get a passing score on the school's final examination?

You will be required to take a second final examination. A third exam is available if needed. You will have many opportunities to rehearse the exam taking process and to test your knowledge through the practice exams.

Are there any other courses that I am required to take?

Yes. You must turn the temporary license that you are initially issued into an original license. You do this by completing a post license course that is required by the Alabama Real Estate Commission. If your temporary license is active then you have six months from the date of issuance to complete post license to keep your license active. If you do not complete post license during this six-month period, your license will be placed on an inactive status and you have six more months to complete post license. If you do not complete post license during either of these six-month periods (twelve months total), then your temporary license will lapse and you will have to retake the prelicense course and retake the state exam. If your temporary license is inactive then you have twelve months from the date of issuance to complete post license. If you do not complete post license during this twelve-month period, your license will lapse and you will have to retake the course and retake the state exam.

How long do I have to complete the course?

We allow a student 6 months to complete the salesperson prelicense course but we recommend that a student complete it in 1 month or less. We find that a student performs better on the state exam if the course is not taken over a long period of time. There is a lot of information that has to be memorized and it is difficult to retain this much information for a long period of time. If, however, there are unforeseen life situations that prevent a student from completing the course in 6 months, two 3 month extensions can be purchased for $50 each.

Once I complete the course, what do you send me to verify I have finished?

Once you complete the online course material, you will receive an automated email that confirms that you have completed that portion of the course and that you are now ready to take the course final exam. YOU ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THE COURSE UNTIL YOU PASS THE COURSE FINAL EXAM WITH AN 70% OR BETTER.

Who can I contact if I have a problem while I am taking the course?

Between 9-4 on Monday through Friday central time you can contact us at 1-800-481-3116. At any time during the day you can email Customer Care. In the evenings Email at the same address Include your name and phone number State the problem If you need technical support, call 1-800-481-3116

If I don't get a passing score on the quizzes at the end of each unit, will I be able to go back and review the material before I take the quiz over again?

Yes, you will be able to go back to the material and review it as many times as you wish. It is recommended that you score 100% before you move forward in the course.

What happens after I complete the online course?

Within each session of the course, you will find a Resources tab in the upper right corner of the screen. There are printable documents of what you are looking at on the screen. You can print these out and make notes as you listen to the lecture.

What happens after I pass the state examination?

The state exam is given on computer and you will immediately be given your grade. After passing with a 70% or higher, you will be given an application for a temporary license. On this application you will indicate whether you want your license issued on active or inactive status. You will choose active status if you are ready to actively practice real estate. In which case, you must select a broker to work with. The broker agrees to hold your license and be accountable with you for your actions as you practice real estate. You will choose inactive status if you do not want to actively practice real estate at this time. In which case, the Alabama Real Estate Commission will hold your license for you until you are ready to practice real estate. The real estate commission will hold your license for you indefinitely as long as you renew it on inactive status every two years as required by Alabama law.