Real Estate License Renewal in Alabama (2026)

Real Estate license renewal in Alabama is handled by the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC), which requires Real Estate Agent (Salesperson)s to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Alabama Real Estate renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	Real estate licenses renew on a fixed two-year cycle: license periods run October 1 of an even year through September 30 of the next even year. Licensees must renew before the September 30 expiration; a renewal completed after the August 31 deadline incurs a $150 penalty. Licenses not renewed by September 30 are placed on inactive status on October 1, and both active and inactive licenses must be renewed each cycle.
CE hours required	15 hours
Renewal fee	see board (fee not fixed/published)
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC)

Go to the official Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC). automated research workflow (official alabama real estate commission), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for Real Estates in Alabama

Active salespersons must complete 15 hours of Commission-approved CE per two-year license period: a mandatory 3-hour "Risk Management: Initial Contact to Accepted Offer" course plus 12 hours of approved elective courses. No Code of Ethics or fair-housing course is mandated by the Commission (Code of Ethics is only a REALTOR association requirement). Excess CE hours do not carry over to the next period. First renewal differs: the 30-hour post-license course required to convert a temporary license to an original (permanent) salesperson license satisfies the 15-hour CE requirement for the first renewal. CE credit must be submitted to AREC by the school; failure to satisfy the specific CE mix can place a license inactive even if fees were paid and 15 generic hours completed.

Need approved hours? Compare Alabama Real Estate CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your Real Estate license in Alabama

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) portal.
Complete the required 15 CE hours.
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Salesperson (not broker/appraiser). Brokers have a different CE mix (Risk Management 3 hrs + Mandatory Broker CE 3 hrs + 9 elective). Licenses (other than temporary) expire midnight September 30 of even years; renewal opens online (eCheck/credit card) mid-June and the no-penalty deadline is August 31. The $150 penalty applies to renewals after August 31; a separate $25 reactivation fee applies if CE is not on record and the license goes inactive. AREC does not appear to use a third-party CE tracker like CE Broker; CE is tracked in AREC Online Services / Education History and reported via the school's CMap system. The single fixed salesperson renewal fee amount was not confidently verifiable on the official pages reviewed (fee schedule PDF inaccessible), so renewal_fee_usd is left null rather than guessed.

Real Estate license renewal in Alabama: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Real Estate license in Alabama?

Alabama Real Estate licenses renew every 24 months. Real estate licenses renew on a fixed two-year cycle: license periods run October 1 of an even year through September 30 of the next even year. Licensees must renew before the September 30 expiration; a renewal completed after the August 31 deadline incurs a $150 penalty. Licenses not renewed by September 30 are placed on inactive status on October 1, and both active and inactive licenses must be renewed each cycle.

How many CE hours are required to renew an Real Estate license in Alabama?

Approximately 15 continuing-education hours per cycle. Active salespersons must complete 15 hours of Commission-approved CE per two-year license period: a mandatory 3-hour "Risk Management: Initial Contact to Accepted Offer" course plus 12 hours of approved elective courses. No Code of Ethics or fair-housing course is mandated by the Commission (Code of Ethics is only a REALTOR association requirement). Excess CE hours do not carry over to the next period. First renewal differs: the 30-hour post-license course required to convert a temporary license to an original (permanent) salesperson license satisfies the 15-hour CE requirement for the first renewal. CE credit must be submitted to AREC by the school; failure to satisfy the specific CE mix can place a license inactive even if fees were paid and 15 generic hours completed. Confirm the current requirement with the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC).

Can I renew my Alabama Real Estate license online?

Yes — Alabama offers online renewal through the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC). Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Alabama Real Estate license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $150 may apply. Contact the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Real Estate Agent (Salesperson) renewal