A method and apparatus for uplink power alignment estimation in a communication system includes a step 600 of defining an upper threshold and a lower threshold for a transmit power correction (TPC) level. A next step 602 includes keeping a total of accumulated TPC commands. A next step 604 includes determining that a power correction is needed. A next step 608 includes generating a TPC command to be sent to a user equipment per the needed power correction. A next step 610 includes adjusting the total according to one of the following conditions: if the total is between the upper and lower thresholds then the total is changed per the needed power correction, if the total is at either of the thresholds and the needed power correction would not exceed either of the thresholds then the total is changed per the needed power correction, and if the total is at either of the thresholds and the needed power correction would exceed either of the thresholds then total is kept the same.