A business that collects claims owed to others in Alabama generally needs a collection-service license from the Collection Service Board. First-party recovery of a company’s own accounts is often outside that license; third-party agencies are the core of the statute.
Apply to the Collection Service Board (housed with the Department of Revenue). This is a state-board filing, not an NMLS mortgage-style license. Designate an Alabama registered agent if you are out of state.
State licensing does not replace the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, CFPB Regulation F, or the TCPA. Those rules apply whether or not a state issues a license.
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All collection / arm states · All Alabama licenses · NMLS guide
Cornerstone on collection / arm
Agency names and filing paths are public facts from state regulator sites, the NMLS / CSBS agency directory, and published statutes. License categories and exemptions change. Confirm the current checklist on the official site before you apply. This is not legal advice and not a fee schedule.