§ 34-27-32 — [Effective until October 1, 2028] Requirements for License; Application; Place of Business; Branch Offices; Multiple Brokers; Fees

(a) A license for a broker or a salesperson shall be registered to a specific real estate office and shall be issued only to, and held only by, a person who meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Is trustworthy and competent to transact the business of a broker or salesperson in a manner that safeguards the interest of the public.
(2) Is a person whose application for a real estate license has not been rejected in any state on any grounds other than failure to pass a written examination within the two years prior to the application for a real estate license with Alabama. If the applicant’s rejection for a real estate license in any state is more than two years from the date of application for a license in Alabama, then the applicant may not be issued an Alabama real estate license without the approval of the commissioners.
(3) Is a person whose real estate license has not been revoked in any state within the two years prior to application for a real estate license in Alabama. If the applicant’s real estate license revocation in any state, including Alabama, is more than two years from the date of application for a license in Alabama, then the applicant may not be issued an Alabama real estate license without the approval of the commissioners.
(4) Is at least 19 years of age.
(5) Is a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, a person who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government, or is an alien with permanent resident status.
(6) Is a person who, if a nonresident, agrees to sign an affidavit stating the following and in the following form:
“I, as a nonresident applicant for a real estate license and as a licensee, agree that the Alabama Real Estate Commission shall have jurisdiction over me in any and all of my real estate related activities the same as if I were an Alabama resident licensee. I agree to be subject to investigations and disciplinary actions the same as Alabama resident licensees. Further, I agree that civil actions may be commenced against me in any court of competent jurisdiction in any county of the State of Alabama.
“I hereby appoint the Executive Director or the Assistant Executive Director of the Alabama Real Estate Commission as my agent upon whom all disciplinary, judicial, or other process or legal notices may be served. I agree that any service upon my agent shall be the same as service upon me and that certified copies of this appointment shall be deemed sufficient evidence and shall be admitted into evidence with the same force and effect as the original might be admitted. I agree that any lawful process against me which is served upon my agent shall be of the same legal force and validity as if personally served upon me and that this appointment shall continue in effect for as long as I have any liability remaining in the State of Alabama. I understand that my agent shall, within a reasonable time after service upon him or her, mail a copy of the service by certified mail, return receipt requested, to me at my last known business address.
“I agree that I am bound by all the provisions of the Alabama Real Estate License Law the same as if I were a resident of the State of Alabama.
__________Legal Signature of Applicant”
(b) The commission may reject the application of any person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
(c)(1)a. A person who holds a current real estate salesperson license in another state, including persons who move to and become residents of Alabama, shall apply for a reciprocal salesperson license. A person who holds a current broker license in another state, including persons who move to and become residents of Alabama, shall apply for a reciprocal broker license on a form prescribed by the commission.
b. The applicant shall submit proof that he or she has a current real estate license in another state as evidenced by a certificate of licensure, together with any other information required by the commission. The applicant shall also show proof that he or she has completed at least six hours of course work in Alabama real estate which is approved by the commission. Applicants for a reciprocal license shall not be subject to the complete examination or temporary license requirements of Section 34-27-33, but shall pass a reasonable written examination prepared by the commission on the subject of Alabama real estate. A person who holds a reciprocal license shall show proof of completion of continuing education either by meeting the requirements of Section 34-27-35 or by showing proof that his or her other state license remains active in that state.
c. The fees for issuance and renewal of a reciprocal license shall be the same as those for original licenses pursuant to Section 34-27-35. The recovery fund fee for issuance of a reciprocal license shall be the same as for an original license pursuant to Section 34-27-31.
(2) A person who holds a current Alabama license who moves to and becomes a resident of the state shall submit to the commission within 10 days a notice of change of address and all other license status changes.
(d) A person who does not hold a current real estate broker license in another state desiring to be a real estate broker in this state shall apply for a broker license. Along with the application, he or she shall submit all of the following:
(1) Proof that he or she has had an active real estate salesperson license in any state for at least 24 months of the 36-month period immediately preceding the date of application.
(2) Proof that he or she is a high school graduate or the equivalent.
(3) Proof that he or she has completed a course in real estate approved by the commission, which shall be a minimum of 60 clock hours.
(4) Any other information requested by the commission.
(e) A person who does not hold a current real estate salesperson license in another state desiring to be a real estate salesperson in this state shall apply for a salesperson’s license with the commission on a form prescribed by the commission which shall specify the real estate office to which he or she is registered. Along with the application, he or she shall furnish all of the following:
(1) Proof that he or she is a high school graduate or the equivalent.
(2) Proof that he or she has successfully completed a course in real estate approved by the commission, which shall be a minimum of 60 clock hours.
(3) Any other information required by the commission.
(f) An application for a company license or branch office license shall be made by a qualifying broker on a form prescribed by the commission. The qualifying broker shall be an officer, partner, or employee of the company.
(g) An applicant for a company or broker license shall maintain a place of business.
(h) If the applicant for a company or broker license maintains more than one place of business in the state, he or she shall have a company or branch office license for each separate location or branch office. Every application shall state the location of the company or branch office and the name of the company’s qualifying broker. Each company or branch office shall be under the direction and supervision of a qualifying broker licensed at that address. No person may serve as qualifying broker at more than one location. The qualifying broker for the branch office and the qualifying broker for the company shall share equal responsibility for the real estate activities of all licensees assigned to the branch office or company.
(i) No person may be a qualifying broker for more than one company or for a company and on his or her own behalf unless he or she meets all of the following requirements:
(1) All companies for which he or she is and proposes to be the qualifying broker consent in writing.
(2) He or she files a copy of the written consent with the commission.
(3) All companies for which he or she is and proposes to be the qualifying broker share the same company address.
(j) A person licensed under a qualifying broker may be engaged by one or more companies with the same qualifying broker.
(k) A person may use any office of a company under which he or she is licensed.
(l) A company license shall become invalid on the death or disability of a qualifying broker. Within 30 days after the death or disability, the corporation, or the remaining partners or the successor partnership, if any, may designate another of its officers, members, or salespersons to apply for a license as temporary qualifying broker. The person designated as temporary qualifying broker shall either be a broker or have been a salesperson for at least one year prior to filing the application. If the application is granted, the company may operate under that temporary qualifying broker for no more than six months after the commission issues the temporary qualifying broker license. Unless the company designates a fully licensed broker as the qualifying broker within the six-month period, the company license and all licenses under the company shall be classified inactive by the commission after two weeks prior electronic notice.
(m) The commission shall require both state and national criminal history background checks to issue a license. Applicants shall submit required information and fingerprints to the commission, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, or its successor, or to a fingerprint processing service that may be selected by the commission for this purpose. Criminal history record information shall be provided to the commission from both the State of Alabama and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The commission may use the provided criminal history for the determination of the qualifications and fitness of the applicant to hold a real estate license. The applicant shall assume the cost of the criminal history check. The criminal history shall be current to the issuance of the license.
(n) The commission may charge a fee of ten dollars ($10) for furnishing any person a copy of a license, certificate, or other official record of the commission.

Legislative History

(Acts 1951, No. 422, p. 745, §6; Acts 1963, No. 290, p. 734, §1; Acts 1971, No. 2485, p. 3966, §6; Acts 1971, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 310, p. 4599, §1; Acts 1975, No. 568, p. 1306, §1; Acts 1982, No. 82-231, p. 282, §1; Acts 1983, No. 83-516, p. 781, §1; Acts 1985, No. 85-750, p. 1204, §1; Acts 1988, No. 88-214, p. 315, §3; Acts 1989, No. 89-284, p. 447, §3; Acts 1992, No. 92-177, p. 305, §3; Acts 1996, No. 96-791, p. 1471, §1; Act 2003-298, p. 701, §1; Act 2008-141, p. 214, §3; Act 2009-617, p. 1781, §1; Act 2016-322, p. 803, §1; Act 2025-380, §1.)