How do I become a licensed residential appraiser?

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser, you must complete 158 hours of qualifying education and gain 1,000 hours of appraisal experience over no fewer than 6 months, then pass the national Licensed Residential exam (125 questions, 4 hours). An approved Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) module can replace up to 100% of the experience hours where your state accepts it. No college-level education is required at this level, though states may set higher requirements.

To become a Licensed Real Property Appraiser in Alabama, complete 158 hours of qualifying education and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, with no college education required. Earn 1,000 hours of appraisal experience as a Trainee over at least 6 months, or complete an approved Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program, which counts as the full 1,000 hours. Then pass the licensing exam and pay the $275 application fee, the $335 license fee, and the $40 National Registry fee.

Alaska does not issue the Licensed Residential credential. The state offers Certified General, Certified Residential, and institutional certificates, plus trainee registration. You enter as a registered trainee with 83 classroom hours and a supervisory appraiser, then qualify for Certified Residential with 200 classroom hours, a college-level education option, and 1,500 hours of experience obtained over not less than 12 months.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in Arizona, complete 158 hours of qualifying education, gain 1,000 hours of qualifying experience in no fewer than 6 months, and pass the state licensing exam. If you already hold an Arizona trainee credential, you complete 83 additional hours. You apply through the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) with a $400 application fee plus an $80 National Registry fee.

First become a Registered Apprentice: complete 83 hours of qualifying education plus a separate 4-hour Supervisor/Trainee Course, find a certified supervisor, and apply with a $200 fee. Then upgrade to State Licensed by completing 162 total qualifying-education hours, logging 1,000 experience hours in no fewer than 6 months, and passing the exam. No college education is required. You apply for a board interview to sit for the exam, upload your education certificates and signed experience logs, and pay a $100 test fee that is deducted from your credential fee when you pass.

Complete 158 hours of qualifying education, which for the Licensed Appraiser level requires no college coursework. Log 1,000 hours of appraisal experience over at least 6 months, then submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation before filing the online application with the Division of Real Estate. After the Division issues a Letter of Exam Eligibility, take the $44.95 national exam with PSI, obtain errors and omissions insurance per Board Rule 6.10, and notify the Division of the passed exam so the license can be issued.

Connecticut no longer issues a Licensed Residential credential. The legislature deleted the licensed appraiser category in 2014, and the federal Appraiser Registry shows 0 active licensed-level credentials in the state. Your path is to enter as a Provisional Appraiser and then upgrade to Certified Residential or Certified General.

You must complete 150 hours of qualifying education if you apply before January 1, 2026, or 158 hours on or after that date, including the 15-hour USPAP course, and document 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months. Unlike the certified levels, no college degree is required. You file in DELPROS with a $333 application fee, submit Delaware and FBI criminal background checks, and after the Council approves your application you take the Licensed Residential exam through Pearson VUE.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in DC, you must be at least 18, complete 158 hours of qualifying education (a 75-hour step up from the 83-hour trainee requirement), and log 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months, either under a supervisory appraiser or through PAREA, which provides full experience credit at this level. You then pass the national exam, which has 110 scored questions in 4 hours and requires a scaled score of 75. The application fee is $65 and the license fee is $170.

To become a State Licensed Appraiser in Hawaii, you must complete 158 hours of qualifying education, gain 1,000 hours of qualifying experience in no fewer than 6 months under a supervising certified appraiser, and pass the Pearson VUE exam with a scaled score of 75. No college-level education is required at this level. You start by registering as an appraiser trainee, and the state counts your experience from your trainee registration date, not your hire date.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in Idaho, complete 158 hours of qualifying education, which under the AQB criteria effective January 1, 2026 means the trainee core plus 75 hours of residential coursework. Then gain 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months, or complete a Licensed Residential PAREA program, and pass the AQB-approved Licensed Residential exam given by Pearson VUE.

You cannot apply for it anymore. Illinois does not issue new Licensed Residential appraiser credentials; the license survives only as a legacy credential with the 154 or 554 prefix. New applicants choose among Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser, Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, and Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. Holding an active legacy Licensed Residential credential for at least 5 years without adverse enforcement action can still substitute for the college-level education requirement on a Certified Residential application.

Indiana does not offer the Licensed Residential credential. The state's appraiser credentials are Trainee, Certified Residential, and Certified General. To work as an Indiana appraiser, you enter as a Trainee and then upgrade to Certified Residential or Certified General; candidates may move directly from Trainee to Certified General without an intermediate level.

Iowa does not issue the licensed residential appraiser credential recognized under federal law. The state's residential credential is the certified residential real estate appraiser, which requires 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 hours of experience accumulated in no less than 12 months, college-level education (a bachelor's degree or listed alternatives such as 30 semester hours of college coursework or CLEP exams), and the certified residential examination.

Kansas calls this credential the state licensed classification. You must complete 158 hours of qualifying education, including the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, and accrue 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months while working under a certified supervising appraiser. You then pass the national uniform exam and apply to the Kansas Real Estate Appraisal Board with a $50 application fee.

First obtain the Associate Real Property Appraiser credential (105 hours of qualifying education, a supervisor, fingerprints, and a $200 licensing fee). The Licensed Residential upgrade then requires 1,000 hours of supervised 1-4 unit residential appraisal experience in no less than 6 months, plus additional qualifying education that brings your total to 158 hours under the criteria effective January 1, 2026; no college degree is required. You submit your experience log, the board inspects 2 or 4 sample reports, and after passing the exam you pay the $240 fee for the upgraded license.

Complete 158 creditable class hours of qualifying education, log 1,000 hours of qualifying experience under a supervisory appraiser over no fewer than 6 months, and pass the AQB-approved Licensed Residential exam administered by Pearson VUE. Submit the Application for Appraiser Testing with the $245 fee, which is not refundable once the Board accepts the application. Most applicants start as registered trainees, which requires 83 hours of qualifying education plus a supervisory/trainee course.

To become a licensed residential appraiser in Maine, you must hold a valid appraiser license (typically trainee), complete 1,000 hours of Board-satisfactory experience over no fewer than 6 months, finish 158 hours of AQB-approved qualifying education, and pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination. No college degree is required at this level. You must also submit fingerprints, pay a $30 application fee and a $380 license fee, and renew annually by December 31.

To become a Licensed Real Estate Appraiser in Maryland, hold a valid trainee license, complete 150 hours of Commission-approved courses, and gain at least 1,000 hours of appraisal experience over at least 6 months under a supervising certified appraiser. Maryland also accepts the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program in place of supervised experience at this level. You must be at least 18 years old, pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination given by PSI, and pay the $250 license fee plus the $120 National Registry fee for the three-year term.

To become a State Licensed appraiser in Massachusetts, complete 150 hours of qualifying education, gain 1,000 hours of appraiser experience in no fewer than 6 months, and pass the licensing exam. No college degree is required. Apply online through the eLIPSE portal with a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form and a photo; the application fee is $338, and the $390 original license fee is paid after you pass the exam.

You must be at least 18 and complete 158 hours of qualifying education (effective January 1, 2026), with all courses finished within 5 years of applying. Document 1,000 hours of licensed appraisal experience obtained in no fewer than 6 months, or complete a PAREA program, which Minnesota accepts as an alternative. Submit fingerprints and apply online through Pulse Portal before the exam date, then pass the licensing exam administered by PSI Services.

To become a Licensed Residential Appraiser, you must complete 158 hours of Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB)-approved qualifying education, gain 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months under a certified supervisor, and pass the national and Mississippi state exams. You submit the application, experience log, course certificates, and a $225 fee together. The 8-hour National Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course and the 15-hour USPAP course (taken within 5 years) must be complete before applying. After passing both exams, you have 180 days to pay the licensing fees.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in Missouri, complete the qualifying education, pass the State License examination administered by PSI ($140), and log at least 1,000 hours of real estate appraisal experience in no less than 6 months under a certified appraiser. No college education is required at this level. Submit the written application with the $300 fee to the Missouri Real Estate Appraisers Commission, along with fingerprints for the required criminal background check.

Montana's Licensed Appraiser credential requires 158 hours of qualifying education under the criteria effective January 1, 2026, plus 1,000 hours of appraisal experience gained over no fewer than 6 months. There is no college education requirement at this level. Once the Board approves your education and experience and confirms your eligibility in writing, you may schedule the 4-hour PSI exam, which requires a passing scaled score of 75.

For applications submitted after December 31, 2025, Nebraska requires 158 class hours of Board-approved qualifying education to become a Licensed Residential appraiser, along with at least 1,000 hours of appraisal experience completed in no fewer than 6 months. You must also pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination through PSI, be at least 19 years old, and have no felony conviction unless your civil rights were restored.

In Nevada, you first register as a Registered Intern and gain experience under a supervisory appraiser, then apply to the Nevada Real Estate Division for the Licensed Residential credential. Nevada sets requirements above the national minimums of 158 qualifying hours and 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months. You must pass the national exam, submit an original passing score report from within the last 12 months, and provide fingerprints processed within the last year. The application fee is $100 and is nonrefundable; the residential issuance fee is $320.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in New Hampshire, complete 158 hours of qualifying education under the criteria effective January 1, 2026, accrue at least 1,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months, and pass the national licensing exam; no college degree is required at this level. Then mail a paper Universal Application for Initial Licensure with the appraiser addendum, provider documentation of passing course grades, your experience log, a criminal history check, and the non-refundable application fee to the board in Concord.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in New Jersey, complete the qualifying education, including the 15-hour National USPAP course. Then obtain 1,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months; no college education is required. Submit the $75 application with your Board logs and course certificates, complete the criminal history background check, and pass the AQB-approved Licensed Residential exam.

To become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in New Mexico, complete 158 hours of qualifying education, gain 1,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months, and pass two exams. You apply through the board's NM-PLUS online portal, pass the open-book New Mexico Jurisprudence Examination (70% required), and clear a fingerprint-based background check. The board then reviews three properties from your experience log and issues the approval card that lets you schedule the national exam with Pearson VUE.

To become a licensed appraiser in North Dakota, you must complete 158 hours of Board-approved qualifying education (effective January 1, 2026), gain 1,000 hours of appraisal experience over at least 6 months, and pass the Uniform State Licensed Appraiser Examination, which PSI administers. The application fee is $400 and the exam fee is $130. You must also submit to statewide and nationwide criminal history record checks, with all background-check costs paid by you.

In Ohio, you first register as a state-registered appraiser assistant by completing the qualifying education, paying a $100 registration fee plus a $50 recovery fund fee, and clearing Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and FBI background checks. You then log 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months under a supervisory appraiser, an Ohio certified appraiser in good standing for at least 3 years who may supervise no more than three assistants at once. Finally, you pass the state exam: 125 questions, 4 hours, minimum scaled score of 75, and an $88 fee.

Oklahoma's entry credential for independent residential work is the State Licensed Appraiser. You must complete 158 hours of qualifying education and 1,000 hours of appraisal experience accumulated over at least 6 months; no college degree is required. You submit the application with a $150 fee plus $55 for the OSBI/FBI background check, pass a work product peer review, and then take the national examination through PSI using a Board-issued Test Card valid for two years.

In Oregon, you must first register as an Appraiser Assistant and gain experience under a supervising appraiser. The State Licensed Appraiser credential requires 1,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months, plus added qualifying education: Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours), Residential Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours), Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches (30 hours), and Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours). You must also pass the national licensing exam.

In Rhode Island, you need 158 hours of qualifying education, 1,000 hours of qualifying experience gained in no fewer than 6 months, and a passing score on the national exam. You must be at least 18, submit a Criminal History Record from the Rhode Island Attorney General, and pay the $200 application fee. Most candidates first obtain a Trainee License and log their experience under a supervisory appraiser before applying for the upgrade.

Complete 158 hours of qualifying education effective January 1, 2026, which builds on the 83 apprentice hours with Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use, Site Valuation and Cost Approach, Sales Comparison and Income Approaches, and Report Writing courses. Then log at least 1,000 hours of appraisal experience over no fewer than 6 months, or complete a Board-approved PAREA (Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal) or State Practicum program instead. No college education is required. Finally, pass the AQB-approved licensing exam, which costs $79.

To become a State-Licensed Appraiser in South Dakota, complete 158 hours of qualifying education, including the 15-hour USPAP course and the 8-hour valuation bias and fair housing course added in 2026. You must then document 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months on the state's Appraisal Experience Log, pass the national exam, and clear a background check. Most candidates enter through the trainee credential and work under a supervisory appraiser. State-Licensed Appraisers may appraise noncomplex 1-4 family homes up to $1,000,000 and complex ones up to $400,000.

In Tennessee, you first register as a Registered Trainee, then upgrade to the Real Estate Appraiser (Licensed) credential. The upgrade requires 158 hours of qualifying education, 1,000 hours of experience earned over at least six months under your supervising appraiser, and a passing score on the national exam. The application fee is $405, and the Commission schedules an interview to discuss sample appraisal reports after receiving a complete application. Experience gained before trainee registration does not count.

To become a Licensed Residential appraiser in Utah, complete 158 hours of qualifying education under the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) criteria effective January 1, 2026, and log 1,000 hours of qualifying experience over no fewer than 6 months. You then pass the state licensing exam, which Pearson VUE administers; Utah requires a Green Card approval form from the state Appraisal Board and fingerprinting before you can test. After passing, you send the original passing score report and application to the Utah Division of Real Estate.

Vermont no longer issues the Licensed Residential appraiser credential to new applicants, so you cannot apply for it in the state. Only a small number of legacy Licensed credentials remain active, and existing licensees may renew at $275 every two years, due May 31 of even years. New applicants must pursue the Certified Residential or Certified General credential instead.

To become a state-licensed real estate appraiser in Washington, complete 158 hours of qualifying education, including the core modules and the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course. Gain 2,000 hours of appraisal experience over at least 12 months while registered as a trainee under a certified supervisor. Then pass the PSI-administered licensing exam with a scaled score of at least 75. The credential costs $1,160 total: a $740 application fee plus $420 for certification after you pass.

To become a state licensed residential appraiser in West Virginia, complete 158 hours of qualifying education (150 classroom hours plus an 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course), gain at least 1,000 hours of experience over no fewer than 6 months under a certified supervisor, pass the national exam and a 3-hour West Virginia law course, and clear a state and national background check. Most people start with an apprentice permit, though an approved PAREA or practicum program can substitute for the apprenticeship. The application fee is $120 and the annual license fee is $210.

Complete 150 hours of qualifying education, then 1,000 hours of appraisal experience over at least 6 months. Wisconsin does not require a trainee license first, and a PAREA (Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal) program can substitute for all experience hours. Apply through the LicensE portal with a fingerprint-based FBI background check and experience forms; DSPS randomly selects three appraisal reports for review. You must pass both the national exam and Wisconsin's state exam on statutes and rules.

Wyoming does not issue a Licensed Residential appraiser credential. The Board's application paths are Certified Appraiser Trainee, Certified Residential, Certified General, Certified Residential to Certified General conversion, reciprocity, and temporary practice. To start an appraisal career in Wyoming, you apply for the trainee permit and log experience toward the Certified Residential credential.