How to Become a Real Property Appraiser

Real Property Appraisal is the valuation of real estate. Real property appraisers can choose specialty practices such as residential, commercial, or agricultural. To learn more about real property appraisal, you may want to contact one of our sponsors. Scroll to view a chart of pathways to gaining a real estate appraisal credential.

Step 1: Read the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria). This booklet contains the minimum requirements to become a real property appraiser in the United States.  

Step 2: Contact your state regulatory agency to determine if your state's requirements are more stringent than the minimum requirements. A list of state contact information can be found on our State Appraiser Regulatory Agencies page.

Step 3: Find qualifying education in the Required Core Curriculum of the Criteria (see Guide Note-1 for more guidance). You can review approved courses through the Appraiser Qualification Board's Course Approval Program and approved degrees through the Real Estate Degree Review Program; however, ultimately, state regulatory agencies are responsible for approving education, and many have approval lists on their websites. Confirm that a course is approved for credit in your state by contacting your state regulatory agency. 

Step 4: Find a Supervisory Appraiser, enroll into a Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program, or take a practicum course. The Appraisal Foundation does not have lists of available Supervisors, but you may be able to find one by networking at a local professional appraiser membership organization meeting. A list of membership organizations can be found here. 

Step 5: After you've completed all of the education and experience requirements, contact your state regulatory agency to determine the process for obtaining approval to take the National Appraiser Licensing and Certification Exam. 

Below is a summary of the education, experience, and examination requirements to become a real property appraiser. It is important that applicants review this information carefully in the Criteria as this is only a summary. As stated above, it is also important that applicants check with their state regulatory agency to determine if their state has additional requirements.

A Student Tracking Form is available for those who would like to track their progress toward obtaining an appraiser credential.

Pathways to Licensing

Trainee Appraiser

Trainee Appraisers may appraise those properties which the state-certified Supervisory Appraiser is permitted by his/her current credential and is competent to appraise.

		Education						75 Hours of qualifying education in the last five (5) years and Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Course. Contact your state for a list of approved courses.
		Experience						None
		Examination						None

Certified Residential Appraiser

Certified Residential Appraisers may appraise one-to-four residential units without regard to value or complexity.

		Education						200 hours of qualifying education. Contact your state for a list of approved courses. College-level education or requisite experience is also required. See below for six options.
		Experience						1500 hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than (12) months. A Practicum course (or courses) can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours. PAREA can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours.
		Examination						You must successfully complete your education and experience prior to taking the exam. Contact your state to register for the exam and visit our exam webpage for more details.

Licensed Residential Appraiser

Licensed Residential Appraisers may appraise non-complex one-to-four residential units having a transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex one-to-four residential units having a transaction value less than $400,000.

		Education						150 hours of qualifying education. Contact your state for a list of approved courses.
		Experience						1000 hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than (6) months. A Practicum course (or courses) can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours. PAREA can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours.
		Examination						You must successfully complete your education and experience prior to taking the exam. Contact your state to register for the exam and visit our exam webpage for more details.

Certified General Appraiser

Certified General Appraisers may appraise all types of real property.

		Education						300 hours of qualifying education. Contact your state for a list of approved courses.  A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any field of study is also required.
		Experience						3000 hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than (18) months (1,500 of which must be in non-residential appraisal work). A Practicum course (or courses) can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours. PAREA can replace residential experience hours.
		Examination						You must successfully complete your education and experience prior to taking the exam. Contact your state to register for the exam and visit our exam webpage for more details.

Certified Residential Appraiser College-Level Education or Requisite Experience Requirements: Six Options

In addition to the requirements to become a Certified Residential Appraiser as noted above, applicants must also satisfy one of the six options listed below.

Certified Residential Appraiser College-Level Education: Option #1

Certified Residential Appraiser College-Level Education: Option #2

Certified Residential Appraiser College-Level Education: Option #3 

Certified Residential Appraiser College-Level Education: Option #4

Certified Residential Appraiser College-Level Education: Option #5

Certified Residential Appraiser Requisite Experience: Option #6