Real Estate License from Alabama to Tennessee: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance ↗
A real estate license transfers from Alabama to Tennessee by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance, verify your Alabama license, and meet Tennessee's endorsement requirements. Tennessee offers no reciprocal license, but a holder of an active out-of-state real estate license may qualify under Tennessee statute to substitute their real estate education, the national portion of the examination, and/or their experience for Tennessee's requirements; the Tennessee (state) portion of the PSI exam is still required.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Tennessee publishes no agreement covering Alabama, but it does evaluate out-of-state licensees individually — so this move runs on Tennessee's endorsement judgment rather than a guarantee. The requirements below are what the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance 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 → Tennessee
| Alabama (current) | Tennessee (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). | $91 (Initial Real Estate Affiliate Broker application fee filed at core.tn.gov; separate PSI exam and IdentoGO fingerprint vendor fees apply) |
| Processing time | AREC does not publish a fixed processing time; the complete application and fees are due within 90 days of the exam date. | Commission does not publish a processing-time estimate |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) | Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Tennessee sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Tennessee's current requirements on the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Complete a 60-hour real estate principles/fundamentals course plus the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates (may be substituted for a qualifying out-of-state licensee).
- Pass the PSI licensing examination (Tennessee state portion required).
- Provide proof of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance and proof of high school graduation.
- Complete the Eligibility for Entitlements Verification form.
- Complete an electronic fingerprint-based TBI/FBI background check (ORI# TN920784Z, service code 28TZ99).
- Application must be signed by your Principal Broker.
- Pay the fees ($91 (Initial Real Estate Affiliate Broker application fee filed at core.tn.gov; separate PSI exam and IdentoGO fingerprint vendor fees apply)) and allow Commission does not publish a processing-time estimate.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee accept a Alabama real estate license?
A real estate license transfers from Alabama to Tennessee by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) / TN Department of Commerce & Insurance, verify your Alabama license, and meet Tennessee's endorsement requirements. Tennessee offers no reciprocal license, but a holder of an active out-of-state real estate license may qualify under Tennessee statute to substitute their real estate education, the national portion of the examination, and/or their experience for Tennessee's requirements; the Tennessee (state) portion of the PSI exam is still required.
Which exams will I take moving from Alabama to Tennessee?
Tennessee offers no reciprocal license, but a holder of an active out-of-state real estate license may qualify under Tennessee statute to substitute their real estate education, the national portion of the examination, and/or their experience for Tennessee's requirements; the Tennessee (state) portion of the PSI exam is still required.
What does the move cost?
$91 (Initial Real Estate Affiliate Broker application fee filed at core.tn.gov; separate PSI exam and IdentoGO fingerprint vendor fees apply) (Initial Real Estate Affiliate Broker application fee filed at core.tn.gov; separate PSI exam and IdentoGO fingerprint vendor fees apply).
Can I keep selling in Alabama after I'm licensed in Tennessee?
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.
- TN Real Estate Commission - Renewal, Reciprocity & Other Resources ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Real Estate Commission - Affiliate Broker Licensure (requirements) ↗ (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
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