Real Estate License from Alabama to Arizona: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) ↗
A real estate license transfers from Alabama to Arizona by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE), verify your Alabama license, and meet Arizona's endorsement requirements. No exam waiver - the applicant must pass the full Arizona Real Estate Salesperson examination (Pearson VUE; Arizona uses a single state-specific exam). Out-of-state license recognition waives the 90-hour pre-license course, but a 6-hour contract writing course is still required..
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Arizona publishes no agreement covering Alabama, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Arizona's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) commits to in writing; for anything discretionary (exam waivers, education credit), get the commission's answer in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, Alabama → Arizona
| Alabama (current) | Arizona (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 60 | 90 |
| Application fee | Reciprocal license fees mirror the original salesperson license fee: a License Fee plus a $25 criminal records search fee, a $30 research and education fee, and a $30 recovery fund fee (recovery fund fee set by Ala. Code 34-27-31). The License Fee is prorated within the two-year cycle (roughly $85 partial to $170 full per the Commission Candidate Handbook). The reciprocal exam fee is paid to the testing agency (Pearson VUE). Exact current total could NOT be confirmed on the official AREC fee page (arec.alabama.gov was unreachable from the research environment). | $60 (Original salesperson license: $50 license fee + $10 real estate recovery fund fee = $60. Plus a $75 examination application/exam fee (Pearson VUE) and the Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card fee (separate).) |
| Processing time | AREC does not publish a fixed processing time; the complete application and fees are due within 90 days of the exam date. | ADRE does not publish a fixed processing time for out-of-state recognition applications. |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) | Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arizona sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Arizona's current requirements on the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Submit a license history showing an equivalent active out-of-state license held for at least one year.
- Complete the Out-of-State License Recognition - Arizona Residency Attestation Form.
- Complete a 6-hour Contract Writing course.
- Obtain an Arizona Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- Pass the Arizona Real Estate Salesperson examination (Pearson VUE).
- Pay the fees ($60 (Original salesperson license: $50 license fee + $10 real estate recovery fund fee = $60. Plus a $75 examination application/exam fee (Pearson VUE) and the Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card fee (separate).)) and allow ADRE does not publish a fixed processing time for out-of-state recognition applications..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Arizona accept a Alabama real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from Alabama to Arizona by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE), verify your Alabama license, and meet Arizona's endorsement requirements. No exam waiver - the applicant must pass the full Arizona Real Estate Salesperson examination (Pearson VUE; Arizona uses a single state-specific exam). Out-of-state license recognition waives the 90-hour pre-license course, but a 6-hour contract writing course is still required..
Which exams will I take moving from Alabama to Arizona?
No exam waiver - the applicant must pass the full Arizona Real Estate Salesperson examination (Pearson VUE; Arizona uses a single state-specific exam). Out-of-state license recognition waives the 90-hour pre-license course, but a 6-hour contract writing course is still required..
What does the move cost?
$60 (Original salesperson license: $50 license fee + $10 real estate recovery fund fee = $60. Plus a $75 examination application/exam fee (Pearson VUE) and the Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card fee (separate).) (Original salesperson license: $50 license fee + $10 real estate recovery fund fee = $60. Plus a $75 examination application/exam fee (Pearson VUE) and the Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card fee (separate).).
Can I keep selling in Alabama after I'm licensed in Arizona?
Yes — real estate licenses stack. Keep the Alabama license active (renewals and CE continue separately) and you hold both; many border-market agents do exactly this.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- ADRE - Out-of-State License Recognition Salesperson License (cites A.R.S. 32-2124) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ADRE - Salesperson License (90-hour prelicense + 6-hour contract writing requirement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ADRE - Fees (salesperson license $50 + $10 recovery fund; exam $75) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ala. Admin. Code r. 790-X-1-.18 - Reciprocal License Requirements (official Alabama Administrative Code text via Cornell LII) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- AREC - Become a Licensed Real Estate Professional (salesperson 60-hour prelicense; retrieved via Internet Archive) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]