How do I become a real estate appraiser?

To become a real estate appraiser, complete 83 hours of qualifying education: Basic Appraisal Principles (30), Basic Appraisal Procedures (30), the 15-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Course, and an 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, plus a separate Supervisory/Trainee course. Then find a certified supervisory appraiser, apply for the Trainee credential, and log supervised experience. After completing the experience hours and passing the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination, the state issues the license.

Start as a Trainee Real Property Appraiser: complete the qualifying education (83 hours of courses plus a supervisory appraiser/trainee course), submit the application with the $150 fee and proof of citizenship, and pass the PSI exam within 24 months of approval. Then send your score report with the $335 license fee and a Trainee/Mentor Registration form. After logging experience under your Mentor, you can upgrade to State Registered, Licensed, Certified Residential, or Certified General; PAREA is also accepted in place of a supervisor for the Licensed and Certified Residential levels.

Alaska licenses appraisers through the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers, and the entry point is trainee registration: 83 classroom hours of qualifying education, a supervisory appraiser, and $300 in fees. To certify, you add education and supervised experience before passing a national exam. Certified Residential requires 200 classroom hours, one of four college options, and 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months; Certified General requires 300 hours, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours over at least 18 months, including 1,500 nonresidential hours.

In Arizona, you register as a trainee appraiser with the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) after completing 83 hours of qualifying education, paying a $300 application fee, and obtaining a fingerprint clearance card. You then log supervised experience under a designated supervisory appraiser, or complete an approved PAREA program in place of some or all of that experience. Finally, you apply to upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General, each with its own education, experience, and exam requirements.

In California you start as a Trainee Appraiser. You must be 18 or older, complete 83 hours of qualifying education plus California's state courses (Supervisor/Trainee, Laws and Regulations, and Cultural Competency), submit fingerprints for a background check, and pay a $930 non-refundable application fee. All coursework must be completed within the five years before you apply. Trainees then work under a supervisory appraiser to gain experience for higher-level licenses.

In Colorado, you enter at the Licensed Appraiser level because the state has no trainee credential. Complete 158 hours of qualifying education (effective January 1, 2026), log 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months, submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, apply online to the Division of Real Estate, pass the national exam, and carry errors and omissions insurance.

In Connecticut, you start as a Provisional Appraiser, the state's trainee credential. Complete the approved qualifying education, including the 3-hour CT Appraisal Law with Supervisory/Provisional Education course, and find a sponsor, because all provisional applicants must have one to apply; both you and the sponsor must complete a supervisor/provisional education course. Apply online with the Department of Consumer Protection with your course certificates and sponsor form, pay the $140 combined application and initial license fee, and be at least 18 years old.

Start as a Trainee Appraiser: complete 75 hours of qualifying education before January 1, 2026 (83 hours on or after that date), including the 15-hour USPAP course, then apply in DELPROS with Delaware and FBI background checks, a $282 fee, and a supervision form sent by a Certified Real Property Appraiser. There is no exam or experience requirement at the trainee level. To advance to Licensed, Certified Residential, or Certified General, you complete additional education and experience hours, then pass the Pearson VUE exam after Council approval.

DC issues four credentials: Appraiser Trainee, Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General. Start as a trainee by completing 83 hours of qualifying education (30 hours Appraisal Principles, 30 hours Appraisal Procedures, 15 hours Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), 8 hours Valuation Bias and Fair Housing) plus a 4-hour supervisory course from a Board-approved provider. Licensed Residential then requires 158 hours of qualifying education, 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months, and a passing exam administered by PSI.

Start as a Registered Trainee Appraiser: be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, and complete 100 hours of state-approved qualifying education covering basic appraisal principles, basic appraisal procedures, the 15-hour National USPAP course, and electives that include Florida laws and rules. Then apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation with the fee and fingerprints for a background check; no exam is required at the trainee level. You must then work under a certified supervisory appraiser to gain experience toward certification.

Start at the State Trainee level: you must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, complete 90 hours of Board-approved qualifying education plus an AQB Supervisory/Trainee course, and file a $125 application with a Georgia Crime Information Center report no more than 60 days old. You then gain supervised experience under a Supervisory Appraiser registered with the Board. Higher classifications require more education and experience, for example State Licensed requires 150 hours and 1,000 hours of experience gained over at least 6 months.

Start by registering as an appraiser trainee, which requires 83 hours of qualifying education (including the 15-hour National USPAP course and an 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course) plus Hawaii's supervisor/trainee course. Then gain experience under a supervising certified appraiser: 1,000 hours in no fewer than 6 months for the licensed level, 1,500 hours in 12 months for certified residential, or 3,000 hours in 18 months for certified general. Pass the national exam with a scaled score of 75, then apply to the state licensing division.

To become an Idaho real estate appraiser, complete the trainee qualifying education, 83 hours as of January 1, 2026, and register as a trainee with the Idaho Real Estate Appraiser Board for a $250 total fee. Trainees work under a supervisory appraiser, who may supervise up to 3 trainees, and log experience on a Board-approved form. To reach the Licensed Residential credential, complete 158 hours of qualifying education and 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months, then pass the state exam, which Pearson VUE administers.

You begin as an Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser: a high school diploma or GED, age 18, 83 classroom hours of qualifying education, the 3-hour AQB Supervisor-Trainee Course, a background check, and a $225 non-refundable fee. No exam is required at the trainee level, but you must secure a supervisor cleared by the Division and file the SUP-2015 form for your experience to count. You then upgrade to Certified Residential (1,500 hours over 12 or more months) or Certified General (3,000 hours over 18 or more months), pass the national exam, and meet college-level education requirements.

In Indiana, you start as an Appraiser Trainee, because the state does not offer a Licensed Residential credential. Complete the required Appraisal Qualification Board (AQB)-approved qualifying education, submit an online application to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) with a $100 fee, complete a criminal background check, and pass the trainee exam through Pearson VUE. After you pay the $110 issuance fee, the license is issued within 24 business hours. From there, you log supervised experience hours to upgrade to Certified Residential or Certified General.

Begin by registering as an associate real estate appraiser: complete 83 hours of qualifying education, pass a state and national criminal history check, and identify an approved certified supervisor through the board's online system. To advance, certified residential requires 200 education hours and 1,500 experience hours in no less than 12 months, while certified general requires 300 hours and 3,000 hours in no less than 18 months. You must then pass the exam, complete Iowa's work product review, and apply through the board's online portal.

In Kansas you can begin as an unlicensed trainee under a certified supervising appraiser; both of you must complete the supervisory appraiser/trainee course before supervised experience begins. State Licensed requires 158 education hours and 1,000 experience hours over at least 6 months; Certified Residential requires 200 hours plus college-level education and 1,500 hours over 12 months; Certified General requires 300 hours plus a bachelor's degree and 3,000 hours over 18 months. The board must approve your education and experience before you sit for the national exam.

Start by obtaining Kentucky's trainee credential, the Associate Real Property Appraiser. You must secure a Kentucky-licensed supervisor, complete 105 hours of qualifying education, complete a fingerprint background check through Identogo, and submit the Associate application, Supervisor application, education certificates, and a $200 licensing fee. You then log supervised experience hours and complete additional education to upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General.

In Louisiana, you start by registering as an Appraiser Trainee with the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board (LREAB). You must complete 83 hours of qualifying education, including the 15-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Course, within the 5 years before you apply, plus a separate 4-hour supervisor/trainee course that both you and your supervisor complete. Your registration must be signed by a supervisory appraiser, and the fee is $245. Trainees then log supervised experience hours before upgrading to a licensed or certified credential.

Start at the trainee level. Complete 83 hours of qualifying education (basic appraisal principles, basic appraisal procedures, the 15-hour national USPAP course, and the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course), plus a separate AQB-approved Supervisory/Trainee Appraiser course. Then arrange to work under a certified residential or certified general supervisor and submit your application to the Board with $410 in fees and your course certificates. Fingerprints are required for new applications.

In Maryland, you start as an Appraiser Trainee by completing 75 hours of qualifying education within the 5 years before applying: 30 hours of appraisal principles, 30 hours of appraisal procedures, the 15-hour National USPAP course, and a trainee-oriented course. You then log supervised experience under a certified appraiser, such as 1,000 hours over at least 6 months for the Licensed level, or take the PAREA program, which Maryland accepts for the Licensed and Certified Residential levels. You must pass the national exam through PSI to obtain your credential.

In Massachusetts, you start as a Trainee appraiser. Complete 75 hours of Board-approved primary education, including at least 15 hours of USPAP coursework, then apply online through the state's eLIPSE portal with a notarized CORI form, your education certificates, and a Supervisor Trainee Report Form. Trainees pay a $113 application fee and a $113 license fee at submission. Trainee experience then counts toward higher credentials, such as State Licensed, which requires 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months.

You start with Michigan's trainee credential, the Limited Appraiser license. You need approved qualifying education covering Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures, the 15-hour National USPAP Course, and a 4-hour Supervisor/Trainee course. No licensing exam or experience hours are required at this level. The application plus 2-year license fee is $285, and the credential lets you appraise only under a state-certified supervisory appraiser.

In Mississippi, you start as an Appraiser Trainee: complete 87 hours of Qualifying Education, then submit the MAB Appraiser Licensing Application with a $50 fee, the MAB Supervisory Appraiser Affidavit, and your course certificates. There is no exam for trainees. You then gain supervised experience and upgrade to Licensed Residential (1,000 hours), Certified Residential (1,500 hours), or Certified General (3,000 hours).

In Missouri you start as a state-licensed appraiser trainee: complete 87 hours of qualifying education (for applications on or after January 1, 2026), pay a $300 application fee, and pass the fingerprint background check. You then log experience under a certified supervisory appraiser and pass the national exam to earn a credential. Licensed Residential requires 1,000 hours of experience in no less than 6 months, Certified Residential requires 1,500 hours over 12 continuous months, and Certified General requires 3,000 hours over 18 continuous months.

Start with the Trainee Appraiser credential: complete 83 hours of qualifying education under the Appraiser Qualifications Board criteria Montana incorporates, pass a fingerprint background check, and file an online application at ebiz.mt.gov/pol. You then gain experience under a board-approved Mentor Appraiser and can upgrade to Licensed (158 education hours, 1,000 experience hours), Certified Residential (200 hours, 1,500 hours), or Certified General (300 hours, 3,000 hours). Each upgrade requires passing the PSI exam, scheduled only after the Board confirms eligibility.

Nebraska requires qualifying education, supervised experience, and a passing score on the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination. Start with 83 hours of trainee qualifying education, work under a state-certified supervisory appraiser, then upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General. Applicants must be at least 19 years old with no felony conviction unless civil rights are restored, and the exam fee is $130 through PSI Services LLC.

First complete the qualifying education: 30 hours of basic appraisal principles, 30 hours of basic appraisal procedures, the 15-hour National USPAP Course, 3 hours on Nevada appraisal law, and the Nevada Supervisor/Trainee Course. Then register as an intern with the Nevada Real Estate Division, which requires a fingerprint background check. After gaining supervised experience, you can upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General, each requiring a national exam administered by Pearson VUE.

Start as an Apprentice Appraiser: complete at least 75 classroom hours of qualifying education, name a New Hampshire certified supervising appraiser on your application with a signed acknowledgement letter, pass a criminal history check, and pay the $275 fee. Then accrue supervised experience: 1,000 hours in no fewer than 6 months for Licensed Residential, 1,500 hours in no fewer than 12 months for Certified Residential, or 3,000 hours for Certified General. Finally, pass the national licensing exam, which PSI administers for $100.

New Jersey appraiser applicants must be at least 18, show good moral character, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete the qualifying education, document qualifying experience, and pass a criminal history background check. The trainee program for gaining supervised experience is voluntary, though trainees who join it must hold a permit. After the board approves your application and sample appraisal reports, it sends an exam authorization valid for 2 years; once you pass the national exam and pay the licensing fees, the credential is issued.

New Mexico appraisers start as registered trainees. You complete 83 hours of qualifying education, pass the state's open-book Jurisprudence Exam, submit a fingerprint-based background check, and declare a supervising appraiser or enroll in a Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program. The trainee application fee is $200. Supervised experience then qualifies you for the licensed residential, certified residential, and certified general credentials.

Start as an Appraiser Assistant: complete 87 hours of qualifying education (effective January 1, 2026), including the 4-hour Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Course, and file a $250 application with the New York Department of State to work under a certified supervisory appraiser. To move up to State Licensed, Certified Residential, or Certified General, you must complete 158 to 308 hours of qualifying education, gain 1,000 to 3,000 hours of supervised experience over at least 24 months, and pass the licensing exam with a $355 application fee.

In North Dakota, you start as an apprentice appraiser: be at least 18, hold a high school education or equivalent, complete 83 hours of Board-approved qualifying education, pass an open-book exam on state appraiser law, register a supervisory appraiser, and pay the $300 application fee. From there you can upgrade to the licensed, certified residential, or certified general level, each requiring additional education, supervised experience, and a national examination administered by PSI.

You start by registering as an Ohio Registered Appraiser Assistant. For applications received on or after January 1, 2026, you must complete 83 specified hours of qualifying education (30 hours Basic Appraisal Principles, 30 hours Basic Appraisal Procedures, 15 hours USPAP, and 8 hours Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws & Regulations) plus a Supervisor/Trainee course. No experience or exam is required at this level. You pay a $100 registration fee plus a $50 recovery fund fee, and you must begin Ohio BCI and FBI fingerprinting within 10 days of filing.

In Oklahoma you begin as a Trainee Appraiser: complete 83 hours of qualifying education, including the 15-hour National USPAP course, plus the 4-hour Supervising Appraisal Trainees course, and file the application with a Report of Supervisory Relationship from a qualifying supervisor. New applicants pay a $300 credentialing fee and $55 for the OSBI/FBI fingerprint background check. To upgrade to State Licensed, complete 158 hours of education, log 1,000 hours of experience in at least 6 months, and pass the exam with a scaled score of 75.

Oregon issues four credentials, and everyone starts as a Registered Appraiser Assistant. First find an Oregon Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser with a supervising appraiser endorsement to supervise you, then complete 87 hours of qualifying education (including the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course required since January 1, 2026) and register with the Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board. Experience hours only count after you register.

You start as a licensed appraiser trainee: complete 87 classroom hours, pass a criminal background check, and pay the $75 application fee; there is no exam or experience requirement. Then you log experience under a supervisory appraiser while completing additional education toward Certified Residential (203 hours, 1,500 experience hours in at least 12 months) or Certified General (300 hours, 3,000 experience hours in at least 18 months). Each certification also requires a degree and the national exam through Pearson VUE.

You first complete 83 hours of trainee qualifying education and secure a state-certified supervisory appraiser before applying for a Trainee License, which carries a $200 application fee and requires a criminal history record. You then log supervised experience, document completed core education, and pass the national exam; you must be at least 18 years old and take the exam within 2 years of receiving your test authorization. You can then upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General as you meet each level's requirements.

You start as an apprentice: complete 83 hours of Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) Core Curriculum plus a 4-hour South Carolina Supervisor/Trainee course, and work under a certified supervisor. To move up to Licensed, you need 158 hours of education, at least 1,000 hours of experience over 6 months or more, and a passed exam; a Board-approved Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program or State Practicum can substitute for the experience. The Certified Residential and Certified General credentials add more education, experience, and college-level requirements.

Start by applying to the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program for the State-Registered Trainee credential: complete 83 hours of qualifying education, submit to fingerprint-based state and federal background checks, and pay the $210 application fee. No experience or exam is required at the trainee level. Then build supervised experience and pass the national exam to earn the state-licensed or certified credential you want.

Start at the Appraiser Trainee level: find a Texas Certified General or Certified Residential Appraiser to act as your supervisor, complete 83 hours of qualifying education plus a 4-hour Board-approved Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser course, pass a fingerprint background check, and apply to the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB). You must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien. After gaining supervised experience (or completing a PAREA module), you can upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General.

Utah's path starts with a Trainee Appraiser registration: 83 hours of qualifying education completed within the five years before you apply, plus work under a supervisory appraiser. You can then advance to Licensed Residential (158 hours of education and 1,000 experience hours in no fewer than 6 months), Certified Residential (200 hours, college-level education, and 1,500 hours), or Certified General (300 hours plus a bachelor's degree and 3,000 hours). Each credential requires passing the state exam through Pearson VUE.

To become a real estate appraiser in Virginia, complete 83 hours of qualifying education, obtain an Appraiser Trainee license under a certified supervising appraiser, gain the required experience, and pass the licensing exam. Trainee applicants must be at least 18 years old and submit a Trainee Supervisor Verification Form; the supervisor must be a Virginia Certified Real Estate Appraiser in good standing. For Licensed Residential, you need 1,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 6 months, all within the 5 years before applying.

In Washington you start by registering as a state-registered real estate appraiser trainee. Complete 87 classroom hours of qualifying education (30 basic appraisal principles, 30 basic appraisal procedures, 8 valuation bias and fair housing laws and regulations, 15 National USPAP course, and a 4-hour supervisory/trainee course), pay the $400 trainee registration fee, and gain experience hours under a state-approved certified supervisor. You can then upgrade to a state-licensed or certified credential by passing the licensing exam and meeting the higher education and experience requirements.

Start with the apprentice permit: complete 75 hours of qualifying education, pass the 3-hour West Virginia law class and the 4-hour supervisor-trainee course, pass a state and national background check, and secure a board-approved supervisor. Log supervised experience, or complete a board-approved PAREA program instead, then pass the national exam for your credential. Experience minimums run from 1,000 hours over at least 6 months for licensed residential to 3,000 hours over 18 months for certified general.

Wisconsin's path has four steps: complete qualifying education, gain experience, apply through the state's LicensE portal, and pass both the national exam and a Wisconsin state exam on statutes and rules. For the Licensed Appraiser credential you need 150 hours of core curriculum courses and 1,000 hours of experience in no less than 6 months. An FBI fingerprint background check is required, and DSPS randomly selects three appraisal reports for review. Initial application review takes approximately 10 days.

You start with a Wyoming Certified Appraiser Trainee permit, then log supervised experience and qualify for certification. The Certified Residential permit requires proof of a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree in a focused field, 30 semester credit hours, or CLEP exam equivalents; 1,500 hours of logged experience; and passing scores on both the National and State exams for Certified Residential Appraisers. The state exam is a Wyoming requirement in addition to the national exam.