Alabama Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 15 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
The Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) requires 15 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle. All licensees must complete the 3-hour Risk Management course (AREC #903) covering initial contact to accepted offer. Brokers have an additional 3-hour Mandatory Broker CE course (AREC #164), bringing their mandatory total to 6 hours with 9 elective hours remaining.
The renewal deadline is September 30 of even years, but AREC recommends completing all courses at least 3 days before the last business day of September to allow for provider reporting. Online renewal opens mid-June of even years. A late fee of $150 kicks in after August 31, and licenses become inactive if not renewed by October 1.
Alabama caps daily CE intake at 9 hours per calendar day and prohibits repeating the same course within the two-year period preceding your renewal date. No final exam is required for CE credit. There are no carry-over provisions, so all 15 hours must be completed within the current cycle.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk Management: Initial Contact to Accepted Offer | 3 | Every renewal | AREC #903. Required for both salespersons and brokers. |
| Mandatory Broker CE | 3 | Every renewal | AREC #164. Required for brokers only. |
Renewal Pathways
Real Estate Broker Continuing Education in Alabama
In Alabama, real estate brokers renew under their own broker-license pathway, and the continuing education total matches the salesperson requirement: 15 CE hours every 2 years.
Broker-specific course requirements
- Mandatory Broker CE (3 hours) — AREC #164. Required for brokers only.
License categories and totals above are verified from the published rules of the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) — confirm current broker requirements with the board before enrolling.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Alabama CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Alabama that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — No carry-over provisions identified. All 15 hours must be completed by September 30 of each even year.
- Maximum of 9 CE hours may be earned on any one calendar day.
- Licensees cannot repeat the same course within the two-year period preceding renewal date.
- Renewal deadline is September 30 of even years; late fee of $150 after August 31.
- License becomes inactive if not renewed by October 1.
- All CE courses should be completed 3 days prior to last business day of September for reporting.
- No final exam required for CE credit.
- Online license renewal starts mid-June of even years.
Provider Requirements
Courses must be AREC-approved. Providers receive AREC School Approval Codes. AREC does not require a final exam for CE credit.
Tips for Alabama Real Estate Agents
- Finish your courses by late September — AREC needs time to process provider reports, so completing CE on September 30 itself risks a missed deadline.
- You can take up to 9 CE hours in one day, so a focused two-day weekend can knock out over half your requirement.
- Don't repeat any course you've taken in the past two years, even if it's been updated — AREC won't grant duplicate credit.
- Online renewal opens mid-June of even years. Complete your CE and renew early to avoid the $150 late fee that starts after August 31.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC)
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 3 sources cited — 1 primary (official board)
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