Real Estate License from Alabama to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR ↗
Yes — Florida has a reciprocity arrangement covering Alabama license holders. Apply to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Reciprocity agreement
Alabama is on Florida's recognition list, which puts this move on the streamlined track: your education and national exam are credited, and the requirements below are what Florida still insists on — typically its own law exam and a background check. One caution: agreements are directional and revocable. This page's verification date tells you when we last confirmed Alabama on the list; the commission link is the live truth.
What changes, Alabama → Florida
| Alabama (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 60 | 63 |
| 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). | $62.75 (DBPR RE-1 state application fee; the PSI/testing-vendor exam fee and the electronic fingerprint fee are paid separately) |
| Processing time | AREC does not publish a fixed processing time; the complete application and fees are due within 90 days of the exam date. | No board-stated timeframe; the license is issued after DBPR reviews the application and the applicant passes the 40-question Florida law exam |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) | Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity application to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Not be a Florida resident at the time of application.
- Have obtained the out-of-state license by meeting that state's own education and examination requirements (not by reciprocity).
- Hold a valid, current, active license in good standing in the mutual-recognition state.
- Submit a certification of license history and complete an electronic fingerprint background check.
- Pay the fees ($62.75 (DBPR RE-1 state application fee; the PSI/testing-vendor exam fee and the electronic fingerprint fee are paid separately)) and allow No board-stated timeframe; the license is issued after DBPR reviews the application and the applicant passes the 40-question Florida law exam.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a Alabama real estate license?
Yes — Florida has a reciprocity arrangement covering Alabama license holders. Apply to the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) / DBPR under its reciprocity/endorsement track; typically you skip the national exam and complete state-specific requirements only.
Which exams will I take moving from Alabama to Florida?
Mutual-recognition applicants skip the national exam and the 63-hour pre-license course; a 40-question Florida real estate law exam (30 of 40 correct to pass) is required.
What does the move cost?
$62.75 (DBPR RE-1 state application fee; the PSI/testing-vendor exam fee and the electronic fingerprint fee are paid separately) (DBPR RE-1 state application fee; the PSI/testing-vendor exam fee and the electronic fingerprint fee are paid separately).
Can I keep selling in Alabama after I'm licensed in Florida?
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.
- Florida FREC — Mutual Recognition States (10-state list; 40-question law exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida DBPR — RE-1 Sales Associate Application (application fee $62.75; mutual recognition section) ↗ (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]