A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming an Appraiser in Georgia
Understanding the Role of an Appraiser
Career as a Real Estate Appraiser in Georgia
Be it commercial or residential, appraisals are an integral part of the real estate industry.
Real estate appraisers play the important part of estimating and evaluating the worth of a property, land or a building in an unbiased and fair way.
There are many reasons why a real estate property or a land needs to be appraised - from taxation and mortgage lending to selling, buying and settlements.
Due to the steady demand for housing in Georgia, the demand for skilled real estate appraisers is also growing.
Did you know that you can earn around $145K in Atlanta, Georgia as annual base salary while getting the chance to make another $25K in additional earning opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. has forecasted a positive outlook in the number of job opportunities for real estate appraisers in the coming decade.
If you are looking for a career where you can earn a six figure income while escaping the traditional nine-to-five job routine, working as a real estate appraiser in Georgia can be a good professional path. You will work closely with real estate professionals and other related fields.
Briefly then, let us check how to get a Georgia real estate license. You must complete the Georgia real estate license course and pass the licensing course. This real estate course in Georgia is available in both online and classroom environments.
The best part about becoming a real estate appraiser in Georgia is the fact that you do not need a bachelor's degree as a mandatory requirement.
However, you still need to acquire specific skills and knowledge related to working in the real estate industry. Most importantly, you need to earn an appraisal license in Georgia to legally assess and appraise properties.
If you are excited to start a new career path as a real estate appraisal in Georgia, now is the time to start preparing for an exciting and rewarding career path.
To help you achieve your professional goal, we have put together this in-depth guide which covers important aspects related to earning an appraiser’s license.
From the licensing process to the educational requirements, this guide covers all the hows and whats of becoming a real estate appraiser.
Major Types of Appraisal Jobs
As a professional appraiser in Georgia, your work opportunities will vary depending on the specific field or niche in the real estate industry.
However, your job role will largely remain the same i.e. you will be responsible for providing an accurate, objective and unbiased financial estimate of a property’s value.
Before we discuss in detail the Georgia real estate appraiser requirements, let’s give you an overview of some of the major appraisal jobs you can choose to pursue:
- Residential property appraiser: As a residential real estate appraiser, you will be dealing with clients who own single and multi family homes, condominiums, townhouses and other examples of residential real estate.
In some cases, you will have to work with real estate developers as your client to provide your insights on the future value of a residential project,
- Commercial property appraiser: Commercial property appraisers in Georgia involve evaluation, data collection and evaluation of commercial assets specific to commercial properties.
In comparison to residential appraisals, commercial appraisals generally involve more data points for comparison and a deeper analysis requiring more time.
- Industrial property appraiser: As an industrial real estate appraiser, you will primarily be responsible for evaluating the value of a land for industrial development.
Generally, industrial appraisers are called in the event of mergers and acquisitions, land feasibility studies and litigation purposes.
- Real property appraisers: Real property appraisers can also work with or for local government and state authorities, especially in the planning and research stages.
Also known as real estate assessors, these professionals are often called for conducting evaluation of streets, districts, neighborhoods, clusters and high density residential regions.
So far we have discussed the main industries where real estate appraisers find employment opportunities.
Let’s move on to discuss the various types of appraiser careers you can pursue in Georgia.
- Appraiser Trainee:
This is where most applicants will start their appraisal career.
Trainee appraisers are licensed individuals who work under the supervision of a senior, certified appraiser.
To become a trainee, you need to complete basic pre licensing education and gain the minimum amount of work experience.
- Residential Appraiser:
After you have completed mandatory training, you can move up to become a licensed residential appraiser.
To do so, you will have to complete additional education and complete additional work hours.
As a residential appraiser, you will be legally allowed to appraise properties under the transaction value of $1M.
- Certified Residential Appraiser:
A certified residential appraiser can appraise properties of any value or complexity without any restrictions.
If you have a bachelor's degree from any state accredited college or university, you can complete pre licensing education along with additional working hours. Finally, you will have to clear the Georgia state exam.
Once you have obtained additional qualifications and licensure, you will get your notice of eligibility to apply for a certified residential appraiser license. To do so, you must clear the Georgia licensing exam.
- Certified General Appraiser:
As a certified general appraiser, you will be legally able to appraise both commercial as well as residential real estate in Georgia.
Certified general appraisers can conduct property appraisals of any transaction value without any restrictions.
To become a certified general appraiser in Georgia, you must have a bachelor's degree, pre licensing education and additional working hours in experience.
How to Become an Appraiser in Georgia
Step-wise Process to Become an Appraiser
Like most states, Georgia requires applicants to earn their state license after fulfilling the Georgia real estate appraiser requirements.
To legally work as a real estate appraiser in Georgia, you must first earn your license and become eligible for appraising properties on behalf of banks, financial institutions, clients and employers.
Here are the key steps involved in becoming a licensed appraiser in Georgia:
Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirements
The first step in your licensing journey is to meet the Georgia state trainee appraiser requirements. To obtain an appraiser’s license, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Be a high school graduate or have a GED equivalent
- Be a legal resident of the U.S.
If you meet the above statutory requirements, you can proceed further to the next step in the licensing process.
Step 2: Fulfill the educational requirements
Completing education is an important part of starting a career and like most fields, real estate also requires applicants to gain necessary knowledge and skills to do their best work.
In Georgia, all applicants are required to complete 75 hours of AQB (Appraiser Qualifications Board) approved education from a real estate college, school or online course provider.
Of the 75 hours of prelicensing education, you must complete the following courses:
- Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours)
- Basic Appraisal Practices (30 hours)
- USPAP Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (15 hours)
In addition, you must also complete 4 hours of supervisory/trainee courses from a state approved education provider.
Step 3: Find a supervisor appraiser
The Georgia state and AQB licensing requirements have made it mandatory for all applicants to work and learn under the supervision of a certified supervisory appraiser.
Working under the guidance of an experienced, certified real estate appraiser in Georgia will help you tick off an important requirement of the licensing process.
Plus, it will also give you hands-on experience and practical knowledge of the appraisal process, its rules, regulations and methods.
Step 4: Apply for a trainee license
After completing the mandatory education and supervisory appraiser requirements, you will be eligible to apply for a trainee appraiser license in Georgia.
To become a trainee real estate appraiser, you simply need to clear the end of course examinations of all the mandatory courses during your 75 hours of pre licensing education.
Step 5: Gain additional work experience
If you want to progress in your career as an appraiser, you need to continue learning and expanding your knowledge.
To move to the next licensing level of appraisers, you will need to complete additional work hours under the supervision of a certified supervisor.
The total number of experience hours vary depending on the type of appraiser license you are applying for.
Here’s a quick summary of the different appraiser licenses and their specific qualifying requirements:
- Licensed Residential Appraiser: 150 education hours and 1000 working hours
- Certified Residential Appraiser: 200 education hours and 1500 working hours
- Certified General Appraiser: 300 education hours and 3000 working hours
Step 6: Pass the appraiser licensing exam
Congratulations on completing the mandatory education and getting the required work hours under your belt. You’re now just a step away from earning your appraiser’s license.
As the last step, you must take and clear the National Uniform Licensing and Certification exam.
It is the test of your knowledge, skills and understanding of the principles and practices of real estate appraisals.
Based on the level of license you are applying for (Licensed, Residential or General), your exam will differ.
The exam is administered by the Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) and you can learn more about the course curriculum and other details from the AMP website.
These are all the steps you must complete to earn your appraisers license in Georgia.
Navigating the Georgia Appraiser Trainee Courses
Real estate is a dynamic, ever-evolving and competitive industry which includes a range of laws, rules and regulations.
To ensure you are prepared for the challenges and tasks of your new career, you must invest in choosing the right education provider.
Georgia has some of the most reputed and experienced real estate education providers to choose from.
There are a plethora of Georgia appraiser trainee courses which you can pick to boost your preparation and improve your odds of becoming a licensed real estate appraiser.
Students have the flexibility to pick their preferred medium of learning to fit their learning style.
You can choose to join an in-person, classroom environment or enroll in an online, self-paced course. Many schools offer hybrid courses which offer the best of both worlds.
Georgia Real Estate Appraiser Requirements
Understanding Georgia’s Specific Real Estate Appraiser Criteria
Becoming a real estate appraiser starts with earning a license, and to do so, you must follow and fulfill the Georgia real estate appraiser requirements.
Here’s a quick overview of the steps involved in the licensing process:
- Meet the eligibility and educational requirements
- Find a certified supervisory appraiser
- Apply for a trainee appraiser license
- Gain additional work experience and complete educational hours
- Apply for advanced appraiser license level by taking the exam
Key Skills Needed for a Georgia Real Estate Appraiser
If you are ready to start your career as an appraiser, here are some essential skills you must cultivate for success:
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to Detail
- Time management
- Critical thinking