How long does it take to become a certified general appraiser?

Becoming a Certified General Appraiser requires 300 hours of qualifying education plus a bachelor's degree or higher, then 3,000 hours of qualifying experience obtained in no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential appraisal work. After the state verifies education and experience, the candidate passes the national Certified General exam, which contains 125 questions with a six-hour time limit. The experience period alone takes at least 18 months, and some states set longer floors; New York requires the experience hours over not less than 24 months.

Plan on at least 18 months of supervised experience, because Alaska requires 3,000 hours of appraisal work obtained cumulatively over not less than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of nonresidential work (12 AAC 70.108(a)). Before that, you must complete 300 creditable classroom hours and hold a bachelor's degree in any field. After the board approves your application, you have 24 months to pass the Uniform State General Certification Examination.

In Arkansas, Certified General appraisers need 3,000 hours of experience earned over no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 hours of nonresidential work, plus a bachelor's degree, 304 total qualifying-education hours, and a passed exam. Experience counts only after the Registered Apprentice credential is issued, so the 18-month minimum begins after that step. Most people need several years in all to finish the education, supervised experience, and exam.

Expect the experience stage alone to take at least 18 months. Certified General requires a bachelor's degree, 300 hours of qualifying education, and a minimum of 3,000 hours of appraisal experience accrued over not less than 18 months, including 1,500 hours of non-residential work. After BREA approves the application, candidates must also pass the 6-hour national exam through PSI.

Florida requires Certified General applicants to complete 300 classroom hours of qualifying education, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and log at least 3,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained over no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work. Because the experience must span at least 18 months, that is the practical minimum, and most people take a little over 18 months from starting the education to earning the credential.

Plan on at least three years. Indiana requires Certified General applicants to complete 300 hours of qualifying education, log 3,000 hours of experience (at least 2,000 in general-category work) in no fewer than 30 months, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and pass the state exam. Most candidates first work as Trainees to build those hours, so the supervised field work alone takes at least two and a half years.

Certified General appraisers in Louisiana must log 3,000 hours of qualifying experience over no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential appraisal work, plus 300 creditable class hours of qualifying education. The 18-month experience window is the floor: the clock runs on logged hours, and most trainees take longer because they must also finish the coursework.

Maryland requires at least 18 months for the Certified General credential: you must log 3,000 hours of appraisal work acquired over at least 1 1/2 calendar years, including 1,500 hours in nonresidential real property appraisal work. You must also complete 300 classroom hours of qualifying education, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and pass the Certified General examination, which allows 6 hours.

Plan on at least 18 months of qualifying experience, plus the time needed to become a trainee first. The Certified General credential requires 3,000 hours of experience obtained in no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of nonresidential work, along with 300 hours of qualifying education and a bachelor's degree or higher. You must then pass the 6-hour licensing exam with a scaled score of at least 75.

Becoming a Certified General appraiser in Mississippi requires 300 hours of qualifying education, a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 hours in non-residential work. After the Board approves your $225 application, you have 3 months to pass the national exam, 60 days after that to pass the state exam, and 180 days from the exam date to pay the licensing fees.

Becoming a Certified General appraiser in Missouri takes at least 18 months of experience. Applicants must complete the required education, pass the Certified General examination, and log a minimum of 3,000 hours of appraisal experience over no less than 18 continuous months under a certified appraiser, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work. Most people need extra time beyond the 18-month minimum to finish coursework and schedule the exam.

A Certified General Appraiser in Montana must complete 300 hours of qualifying education, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and gain 3,000 hours of appraisal experience over no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work. Once the Board approves your education and experience, you take the 6-hour national exam administered by PSI. The 18-month experience minimum sets the floor for the total timeline.

New Hampshire requires at least 3,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained in no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work, so the credential cannot be earned in under 18 months. You must also complete 300 hours of qualifying education under the Appraiser Qualifications Board criteria effective January 1, 2026, hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and pass the national certification exam. Many candidates take longer because hours accrue only as assignments are completed.

Becoming a Certified General appraiser in New Jersey takes at least 18 months of qualifying experience: 3,000 hours including a minimum of 1,500 non-residential hours. You must also hold a bachelor's degree in any field, complete the qualifying education under the AQB criteria, and pass the 6-hour Certified General exam administered by Pearson VUE. Board processing typically runs about 6 to 13 weeks before exam authorization, and most candidates spend several years meeting the full requirement.

Becoming a Certified General appraiser in Ohio takes at least 18 months of qualifying experience: 3,000 experience hours earned over not less than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours appraising real estate other than 1-4 unit residential property. You must also hold a bachelor's degree, complete the Certified General qualifying education, pass the state exam, and clear Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and FBI background checks. The Division typically processes a complete application in about 3-4 weeks.

Oklahoma's minimum timeline comes from the experience rule: you need 3,000 hours of appraisal experience spread over no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 non-residential hours. Before that, you must complete 300 hours of qualifying education and hold a bachelor's degree. The application, work product peer review, and national examination add further time on top of the 18-month experience minimum.

South Dakota requires at least 18 months to become a State-Certified General Appraiser, because the credential needs 3,000 hours of experience spread across at least 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work. You must also complete 300 hours of qualifying education, hold a bachelor's degree, pass the AQB-approved national examination, and clear a state and federal background check. Most candidates take longer than the 18-month minimum because experience hours depend on available assignments.

Tennessee sets no fixed timeline, but the requirements pace the path: 300 hours of qualifying education, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours of experience earned over a minimum of 18 months, including 1,500 hours of non-residential appraisal work. Experience counts only after registering as a trainee, so the experience window alone takes at least a year and a half. After passing the national exam and paying the $405 application fee, the Commission also schedules an interview to discuss sample appraisal reports.

West Virginia requires at least 3,000 hours of appraisal experience gathered over no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours on nonresidential assignments, plus 300 hours of qualifying education. Because the experience must span at least 18 months and most candidates start with an apprentice permit, the process takes about two years at minimum, and often longer.