Real Estate License from Alabama to Montana: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry) ↗
A real estate license transfers from Alabama to Montana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry), verify your Alabama license, and meet Montana's endorsement requirements. National portion waived under the Out-of-State Licensee/Waiver Process: the applicant passes only the Montana STATE portion of the salesperson examination; the 70-hour pre-licensing education required of new applicants is not required.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Montana publishes no agreement covering Alabama, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Montana's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry) 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 → Montana
| Alabama (current) | Montana (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 60 | 70 |
| 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). | $80 ($80 application fee; separate Pearson VUE examination fee paid to the test vendor) |
| Processing time | AREC does not publish a fixed processing time; the complete application and fees are due within 90 days of the exam date. | Board of Realty Regulation does not publish a processing-time range |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) | Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Montana sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Pass the Montana STATE portion of the salesperson examination (taken via Pearson VUE).
- Provide official license verification from every state/jurisdiction in which the applicant holds or has ever held any professional license.
- Be employed by or under contract with a Montana broker who holds a Supervising Broker Endorsement.
- Provide proof of Professional Liability / Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance (MCA 37-51-325).
- Disclose and document any prior discipline.
- Pay the fees ($80 ($80 application fee; separate Pearson VUE examination fee paid to the test vendor)) and allow Board of Realty Regulation does not publish a processing-time range.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Montana accept a Alabama real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from Alabama to Montana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Montana Board of Realty Regulation (Department of Labor & Industry), verify your Alabama license, and meet Montana's endorsement requirements. National portion waived under the Out-of-State Licensee/Waiver Process: the applicant passes only the Montana STATE portion of the salesperson examination; the 70-hour pre-licensing education required of new applicants is not required.
Which exams will I take moving from Alabama to Montana?
National portion waived under the Out-of-State Licensee/Waiver Process: the applicant passes only the Montana STATE portion of the salesperson examination; the 70-hour pre-licensing education required of new applicants is not required.
What does the move cost?
$80 ($80 application fee; separate Pearson VUE examination fee paid to the test vendor) ($80 application fee; separate Pearson VUE examination fee paid to the test vendor).
Can I keep selling in Alabama after I'm licensed in Montana?
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.
- MT Board of Realty Regulation — Real Estate Salesperson license information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MT Board of Realty Regulation — Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Requirements & Application Checklist (Updated 11/2025; Out-of-State Licensee/Waiver Process; $80 fee; 70-hour pre-licensing) ↗ (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]