How do I register for and take the Appraisal Institute comprehensive exam through Pearson VUE?
The answer depends on your state. Pick yours to see it.
In North Carolina, you take the appraiser licensing exam through Pearson VUE after the Board reviews and approves your application, at which point it emails you an exam ticket valid for 24 months. You schedule the exam with Pearson VUE and pay the exam fee directly to Pearson at reservation, since that fee is separate from the Board's $200 application fee. If you fail, you must wait at least 30 days before retaking the exam, and passing results remain valid for 24 months.
Sources: NCAB rules (21 NCAC 57); NCAB: renewal information; NCAB: experience hours.
Pearson VUE administers the three Texas appraiser licensing exams (Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General), which the Appraiser Qualifications Board develops, not the Appraisal Institute. To test, you need an exam eligibility letter from the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB). You then reserve at least 24 hours in advance at pearsonvue.com/tx/appraisers or by phone at (800) 997-1248, pay the $65 fee at reservation, and note that walk-ins are not available.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Texas Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Candidate Handbook (September 2026).