- How the 17 Domains Fit Into the AL-REB Exam
- The 8 General Real Estate Domains (80 Scored Items)
- The 9 Alabama State Law Domains (40 Scored Items)
- Domain Weight Comparison Table
- Registration, Fees, and Timing Mechanics
- Sequencing Your Study by Domain Weight
- Who This Credential Prepares You For
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The AL-REB exam has 17 domains split into 8 General topics (80 items) and 9 Alabama State topics (40 items).
- Domain 4 (Real Estate Contracts and Agency) carries the most General weight at 15 items.
- Domain 17 (Violations Which May Result in Disciplinary Actions) is the heaviest State topic at 12 items.
- You need a scaled score of 70 overall - not 70% of questions correct - to pass.
How the 17 Domains Fit Into the AL-REB Exam
The Alabama Real Estate Broker Exam, administered through Pearson VUE on behalf of the Alabama Real Estate Commission, is built from 120 scored items spread across 17 content domains, plus 10-15 unscored pretest items mixed in for a total of 130-135 questions. Those 17 domains aren't random - they split cleanly into two testing blocks with their own timing and their own outline effective dates.
The first block, General Real Estate, covers Domains 1 through 8 and contributes 80 scored items. You get 2 hours 30 minutes to work through it. The second block, Alabama-specific law, covers Domains 9 through 17 and contributes 40 scored items in 1 hour. Combined, candidates have 3 hours 30 minutes to complete both sections. The General outline took effect April 1, 2025, while the Alabama outline updates February 1, 2026, so make sure whatever materials you study reflect the correct version for your test date.
For a full walkthrough of how these domains translate into a week-by-week prep plan, see the AL-REB Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
The 8 General Real Estate Domains (80 Scored Items)
General domains test foundational real estate knowledge that isn't unique to Alabama - property characteristics, ownership, valuation, contracts, and math. Together they make up two-thirds of the scored exam, so mastering this block matters more than any single State topic.
Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use (10 items)
Covers the physical and legal nature of real property, how land is described, and how zoning and land-use rules shape what an owner can do with a parcel.
- Metes and bounds, lot-and-block, and government survey descriptions
- Fixtures versus personal property distinctions
- Zoning classifications and nonconforming use
Domain 2: Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title (8 items)
Focuses on how title is held, transferred between parties, and made part of the public record.
- Tenancy in common, joint tenancy, and other co-ownership forms
- Deeds, conveyance requirements, and recording priority
- Title insurance and chain-of-title concepts
Domain 3: Property Value and Appraisal (10 items)
Tests understanding of how value is estimated and what factors drive appraised value.
- Sales comparison, cost, and income approaches
- Highest and best use analysis
- Economic and physical influences on value
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (15 items)
The single largest General domain, covering agency relationships and the contracts that move transactions forward.
- Listing agreements, buyer representation, and dual agency scenarios
- Contract elements, contingencies, and remedies for breach
- Fiduciary duties owed to clients versus customers
Domain 5: Real Estate Practice (12 items)
Applies day-to-day brokerage operations, from advertising to fair housing compliance.
- Fair housing protected classes and prohibited practices
- Advertising rules and truthful representation
- Property management and leasing basics
Domain 6: Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues (9 items)
Covers what must be disclosed to buyers and how environmental hazards affect a transaction.
- Material fact disclosure obligations
- Common environmental hazards affecting property value or habitability
- Seller and licensee disclosure duties
Domain 7: Financing and Settlement (8 items)
Tests knowledge of loan types, underwriting basics, and the closing process.
- Conventional versus government-backed financing
- Loan qualification concepts and mortgage terms
- The settlement process and closing documentation
Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations (8 items)
Applies formulas rather than definitions - commissions, prorations, area, and loan-to-value math.
- Commission splits and net-to-seller calculations
- Proration of taxes, rent, and insurance
- Area, square footage, and percentage-based problems
Key Takeaway
Since Domains 4 and 5 together account for 27 of the 80 General items, prioritize contracts, agency, and day-to-day brokerage practice before spending equal time on lighter domains.
The 9 Alabama State Law Domains (40 Scored Items)
The State block is where Alabama-specific licensing law lives. It's shorter than the General block but disproportionately dense with rules that don't appear anywhere else - meaning you can't rely on general real estate intuition here.
Domain 9: Licensing Requirements (6 items)
Covers who must be licensed, education prerequisites, and application procedures under Alabama law.
- Salesperson-to-broker eligibility pathways
- Prelicense education and grade requirements
- Application and background requirements
Domain 10: License Status (2 items)
Addresses how a license moves between active, inactive, and other statuses.
- Requirements to activate or reactivate a license
- Consequences of allowing a license to lapse
Domain 11: Broker Licenses, Company Licenses, and Place of Business (6 items)
Focuses on the structural requirements for operating a brokerage in Alabama.
- Qualifying broker responsibilities
- Branch office and place-of-business rules
- Company license requirements
Domain 12: Recovery Fund (1 item)
A narrow but tested topic covering the purpose and mechanics of Alabama's real estate recovery fund.
- What the fund covers and who may claim against it
Domain 13: Disciplinary Actions and Process (3 items)
Covers how complaints move through the Commission's disciplinary process.
- Investigation and hearing procedures
- Possible sanctions against a license
Domain 14: Estimated Closing Statement (2 items)
Tests the ability to read and construct a closing statement specific to Alabama practice.
- Debits and credits allocation between parties
- Reconciling an estimated versus final statement
Domain 15: Trust Funds (3 items)
Covers the handling of client money held by a broker.
- Deposit timing and recordkeeping rules
- Prohibited commingling of trust and operating funds
Domain 16: RECAD (5 items)
Covers Alabama's real estate consumer agency disclosure framework and how agency relationships must be presented to consumers.
- Required disclosure timing and content
- Distinguishing designated agency scenarios
Domain 17: Violations Which May Result in Disciplinary Actions (12 items)
The heaviest State domain, covering the specific acts that trigger license discipline in Alabama.
- Common license law violations tied to real-world scenarios
- Distinguishing minor infractions from serious violations
Notice that Purpose of License Law/Rules and Regulation and Role of Commission carries zero broker-level items on Pearson's shared State outline, which is why it's left out of this breakdown entirely - don't waste study hours chasing content that isn't tested at the broker level.
Domain Weight Comparison Table
| Domain | Block | Scored Items |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use | General | 10 |
| 2. Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title | General | 8 |
| 3. Property Value and Appraisal | General | 10 |
| 4. Real Estate Contracts and Agency | General | 15 |
| 5. Real Estate Practice | General | 12 |
| 6. Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues | General | 9 |
| 7. Financing and Settlement | General | 8 |
| 8. Real Estate Math Calculations | General | 8 |
| 9. Licensing Requirements | State | 6 |
| 10. License Status | State | 2 |
| 11. Broker Licenses, Company Licenses, and Place of Business | State | 6 |
| 12. Recovery Fund | State | 1 |
| 13. Disciplinary Actions and Process | State | 3 |
| 14. Estimated Closing Statement | State | 2 |
| 15. Trust Funds | State | 3 |
| 16. RECAD | State | 5 |
| 17. Violations Which May Result in Disciplinary Actions | State | 12 |
For a deeper look at how these weights translate into pass difficulty, read How Hard Is the AL-REB Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and AL-REB Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
Registration, Fees, and Timing Mechanics
Domain knowledge alone won't get you through the door - you also need to satisfy the eligibility and logistics rules that govern the exam itself.
- The test-center exam costs $73 and is delivered through Pearson VUE.
- Candidates must be at least 19 years old, meet Alabama's general eligibility requirements, and complete an approved 60-clock-hour broker prelicense course with a minimum course grade of 70.
- You must have held an active real estate salesperson license in any state for at least 24 of the 36 months immediately preceding your application.
- Once approved, your testing authorization is valid for six months and allows unlimited attempts within that window.
- Passing requires an overall scaled score of 70 - this is not the same as answering 70% of questions correctly.
- Failing the overall exam means retaking the entire exam, not just the weaker section, and a passing result is only valid for 90 days once earned.
- No reference materials or personal calculators are permitted; Pearson provides an on-screen calculator for the math items in Domain 8 and elsewhere.
For the exact eligibility checklist, see AL-REB Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, and for a full cost breakdown including prelicense course expenses, visit AL-REB Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. Scheduling logistics are covered in AL-REB Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Sequencing Your Study by Domain Weight
With 17 domains competing for your attention, the smartest approach is to allocate study time proportional to item counts rather than treating every domain equally. Spending a week on Domain 12 (Recovery Fund, worth 1 item) at the expense of Domain 4 (worth 15 items) is a losing trade.
Heaviest General Domains
- Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (15 items)
- Domain 5: Real Estate Practice (12 items)
Mid-Weight General Domains
- Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics (10 items)
- Domain 3: Property Value and Appraisal (10 items)
- Domain 6: Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues (9 items)
Remaining General + Math
- Domain 2: Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title (8 items)
- Domain 7: Financing and Settlement (8 items)
- Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations (8 items)
Heaviest State Domains
- Domain 17: Violations Which May Result in Disciplinary Actions (12 items)
- Domain 9: Licensing Requirements (6 items)
- Domain 11: Broker Licenses, Company Licenses, and Place of Business (6 items)
Lighter State Domains + Full Review
- Domain 16: RECAD (5 items)
- Domain 13, 15, 14, 10, 12 combined (11 items)
- Timed practice under real Pearson VUE conditions
Run full-length timed sessions on our AL-REB practice test platform during your final week so you experience the split 2 hour 30 minute / 1 hour structure before test day. For a condensed reference you can review the night before, bookmark the AL-REB Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
Who This Credential Prepares You For
Passing the AL-REB exam and completing licensure moves a salesperson into broker status, which opens the door to running a brokerage, supervising agents as a qualifying broker, or operating independently under Alabama's company license rules covered in Domain 11. Because active qualifying and associate brokers must complete 15 continuing-education hours per license period - two specified 3-hour mandatory courses plus 9 elective hours - the exam is really the entry point into an ongoing compliance relationship with the Alabama Real Estate Commission, not a one-time hurdle.
If you're still deciding whether the broker path is the right next step, Is the AL-REB Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and AL-REB Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis walk through the career trade-offs. To see how the broader job market treats this license, browse AL-REB Jobs.
Key Takeaway
Treat the 90-day validity window on a passing score seriously - coordinate your exam date with your license application timeline so you don't let a passed exam expire before you act on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Domains 1-8 make up the General section (80 scored items across 2 hours 30 minutes), and Domains 9-17 make up the Alabama State section (40 scored items in 1 hour).
Domain 4, Real Estate Contracts and Agency, has the most General items at 15. On the State side, Domain 17, Violations Which May Result in Disciplinary Actions, is heaviest at 12 items.
No personal calculator is permitted. Pearson V
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