State Practice Exam
Alabama Real Estate Practice Exam
50 questions covering Alabama real estate licensing topics with detailed explanations.
Question 1 of 50
Which of the following is considered an unauthorized act for a real estate licensee in Alabama?
This practice test prepares you for the Alabama Real Estate Salesperson exam. You’ll find a 120-question practice test, a breakdown of exam requirements, exam topics, 2025 legal updates, and exam prep tips. Start the practice test to assess your understanding of exam topics.
Who is eligible to take the Alabama Real Estate Salesperson license exam?
To be eligible, applicants must meet the Alabama Real Estate Commission's (AREC) standards for age, legal presence, residency, education, and character standards.
General eligibility criteria include:
- Be at least 19 years old
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or legally present in the U.S.
- Provide proof of bona fide residency in any U.S. state
- Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Have no felony convictions or crimes involving moral turpitude
- Have not had a real estate license or application rejected or revoked in any state within the past two years
Education and exam requirements:
- Complete a 60-hour state-approved pre-license course:
This course must be finished before taking the state licensing exam, and the exam must be attempted within 6 months of completing the course. If not, the course must be retaken. - Pass the Alabama Salesperson Licensing Exam:
The exam evaluates knowledge of state-specific real estate laws and practices. A passing score is required before moving forward with licensing.
Post-licensure training:
- Complete a 30-hour post-license course within 12 months of initial licensure:
This course is required to convert the temporary license into a permanent one. - To keep your license active, complete the post-license course and obtain your original license within 6 months. If you don’t, your license will be marked inactive.
According to the AREC Official Guidelines, failure to complete pre- and post-licensing deadlines can delay or invalidate your licensing process.
What’s on the Alabama Real Estate Salesperson exam?
The exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions divided into 80 questions for national and 40 questions state-specific sections. Each exam contains 10 to 15 unscored pretest questions, which are randomly placed and not labeled.
The state portion of the exam evaluates your understanding across 10 key areas. These include licensing requirements, license statuses, company and broker licensing, trust funds, violations, and RECAD (Real Estate Consumer's Agency and Disclosure Act), among others.
Alabama Real Estate exam topics
The table below are major licensing topics you’ll need to study:
| Topic | Sub-Content | Number of Questions |
| I. Purpose of License Law / Rules and Regulation and Role of Commission | 1 | |
| II. Licensing Requirements | A. Activities which require a licenseB. CobrokeringC. Qualifications for a licenseD. Renewal of a licenseE. Continuing educationF. Post-license educationG. Temporary and original Salesperson licenses | 7 |
| III. License Status | A. Transferring a licenseB. Inactive statusC. Reactivation of a license | 2 |
| IV. Broker and Company Licenses; Place of Business | A. Issuance of company and branch office licensesB. Issuance of broker licensesC. Who may serve as qualifying brokerD. Responsibilities of qualifying brokerE. Termination of qualifying broker statusF. Serving as qualifying broker for more than one companyG. Temporary qualifying brokerH. Associate broker statusI. Operating from home | 5 |
| V. Recovery Fund | A. Payment into fundB. Payment from fund | 2 |
| VI. Disciplinary Actions and Process | A. ComplaintsB. HearingsC. Disciplinary actionsD. RehearingE. Appeals | 2 |
| VII. Estimated Closing Statement | 1 | |
| VIII. Trust Funds | 2 | |
| IX. RECAD | 3 | |
| X. Violations Leading to Disciplinary Action | A. Misrepresentation and dishonest dealingsB. Inducing a party to break a contractC. AdvertisingD. Listing agreementsE. Failure to give proper disclosureF. Keeping appropriate recordsG. RebatesH. Paying or receiving commissions fromunlicensed personsI. Bad checksJ. Failure to inform Commission of suit/judgment/other dispositionK. LotteriesL. Handling of documentsM. Violation of rule or order of CommissionN. Offers | 15 |
What is the exam passing score?
A minimum score of 70% is required on both exam sections to pass. This means at least 56 correct answers out of 80 on the national portion, and 28 correct out of 40 on the state portion.
Upon completing the exam, candidates receive an immediate score report labeled either “Pass” or “Fail.” For security and fairness, numeric scores are only provided to those who fail.
What 2025 Alabama Real Estate Laws should you know for the Salesperson exam?
In 2025, Alabama introduced several legal updates relevant to the Salesperson exam. Key changes include new requirements for agency disclosure (RECAD), revised co-brokerage rules, updated licensing procedures, and the adoption of a commercial receivership law. Most of these laws are reflected under topics such as RECAD, license requirements, disciplinary actions, and brokerage operations.
Below is a summary of the key 2025 laws:
| Law / Act | Description | 2025 Status | Exam relevance |
| Buyer Brokerage Agreements (HB 230 / Alabama Act 2025‑59) | Written agreements are now required only before submitting an offer. Brokers must disclose compensation, client services, and office policies per RECAD. | Effective April 18, 2025 | Reflected in topics: RECAD, Agency Law, Violations |
| Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act (HB 350) | Allows courts to appoint receivers to manage or dispose of distressed commercial properties. Clarifies actions on liens and leases. | Effective May 16, 2024 | Not tested in Salesperson exam |
| Co-Brokerage by Out-of-State Brokers (Late 2024 Law) | Permits out-of-state brokers to partner with Alabama-licensed brokers under written agreements. Alabama brokers must supervise, be named in ads, and hold trust funds unless agreed otherwise. | Late 2024 implementation | Reflected in topics: Brokerage Licensing, Violations, Trust Funds |
| AREC Commission Rules & Licensing Activity (Spring 2025) | Updates include new standards for pre-/post-license education, reciprocal licensing, advertising, signage, and estimated closing statements. | Spring 2025 changes | Reflected in topics: License Requirements, Advertising, Closing Statements |
| HB 382 – RECAD Disclosure & Broker Oversight | Requires written RECAD disclosure before showing property. Clarifies team structures, broker payments, and multiple office policies. | Introduced 2025 | Reflected in topics: RECAD, Company Licensing, Agency Law |
| Commercial Land & Tax Trends (Contextual Law) | High interest rates impact financing; large projects like Meta's data center continue. | No direct legislative change | Not part of the licensing exam |
| HB 225 – Education Requirements (Effective Oct 2028) | Raises standards for prelicense and continuing education. | 2025 passage, 2028 effective | Exam unaffected before Oct 2028 |
How to prepare for the exam?
Improving your pass rate depends on understanding exam details, using trusted resources, and following a targeted study plan.
Understanding Alabama Salesperson exam details
Alabama Real Estate exam structure and requirements is essential for effective preparation. Here is information you need to know:
- Time allotted: 2.5 hrs for general section and 1 hr for state section, totaling 3.5 hours to complete the full exam.
- Exam fee: $70, payable by credit or debit card at the time of reservation.
- Deadline to pass: under state law, you must pass the exam within 6 months of completing the required prelicense course.
- Exam format: computer-delivered as either multiple-choice questions or simulation problems, depending on the license you are testing for.
- Licensing authority: Pearson VUE
- Where to take the exam: Candidates may take the exam at any Pearson VUE testing centers across Alabama: Athens, Auburn, Birmingham, Clanton, Decatur, Dothan, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Gadsden, Hanceville, Millbrook, Montgomery, Muscle Shoals, Opelika, Phenix City, Rainsville, Tanner, and Tuscaloosa.
Learning from prep resources
Use trusted study guides and platforms that align with Alabama’s exam outline. Quality resources include:
Prep books
- Alabama Real Estate License Exam Prep (AL‑RELEP): Comprehensive guide by Stephen Mettling & team, featuring Alabama-specific law review, 500 national + 125 state practice questions, and a 100-question state sample exam. Titled All‑in‑One Review and Testing to Pass Alabama’s Pearson VUE Exam.
- Alabama Real Estate Exam Prep: The Complete Guide to Passing by Kenneth Martin: Focused study tool with four full Alabama practice tests aligned to the AMP exam format.
Free practice test platforms
- Realtylicenseprep practice tests: offer national and 50-state exam simulations that mirror real test conditions and question types.
Other resources
- Video tutorials: explain complex topics step-by-step.
- Flashcards: effective for memorizing key terms and legal definitions.
- Joining a study group: provides discussion-based learning.
Follow study strategy
A structured study plan improves content retention and builds confidence under real exam timing. You can begin with core topics, then refine your approach based on past performance. The table below is a sample of 8‑week study plan:
| Week | Focus | Activities |
| 1 - 2 | Ownership & agency | Read outline, watch topic videos, flashcards |
| 3 - 4 | Valuation, financing, contracts | Practice questions + review wrong answers |
| 5 | Disclosures & ethics | Deep dive into cases & laws |
| 6 | Practice exams | Timed mock tests |
| 7 | Review weak areas | Re-study low-scoring sections |
| 8 | Final exam simulation | Full test practice under timed conditions |
Weak area analysis
- Review your score breakdown weekly.
- Focus additional study on areas below 70%.
- Review incorrect answers to understand mistakes deeply.
Mastering Real Estate math
There will be about 7math questions in the national section of the Alabama Real Estate Salesperson exam. These questions focus on practical real estate calculations such as loan-to-value ratios, down payments, and other common financial metrics relevant to property transactions.
Candidates are permitted to use the following standard conversion data during the exam, unless a specific question indicates otherwise:
- 43,560 square feet/acre
- 5,280 feet/mile
- Round off calculations (where applicable)
For questions that involve prorated amounts, the exam will clearly state:
- Whether the calculation should be based on a 360-day or 365-day year, and
- Whether the day of closing is assigned to the buyer or seller
Since math questions can affect your result, focused practice is essential after reviewing the main topics. To prepare:
- Review formulas for commission, loan-to-value ratio, and property tax calculations.
- Solve sample problems with our practice tests.
- Use flashcards or guided quizzes to reinforce conversions and amortization steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the exam in Alabama take?
The full national + state exam is officially 3.5 hours, but some candidates complete it in under an hour if well-prepared. Still, plan for the full duration and use all available time for review.
What topics do test-takers in Alabama struggle with most?
Challenging areas include: title transfers, property management regulations, Math/problem‑solving. A tip is to focus extra study on these areas while reinforcing vocabulary and legal concepts.
What are effective study strategies for taking the exam in Alabama?
Use targeted vocabulary review before the exam. On test day, answer confidently what you know, flag doubtful questions, and complete them in a second round. This method helps reduce second‑guessing.
How should I pace my exam approach?
Use a two-pass method: quickly answer confident questions, flag the rest, then review flagged items. Take your time to read carefully, eliminate wrong choices, and ensure math accuracy.
How do I overcome test anxiety and second-guessing?
Label questions based on confidence (A – sure, B – unsure, C – math), complete the A group first, skip B and C, then return for review. Look for clues in later questions, you may find hidden answers.