How much does it cost to get a real estate appraiser license?

There is no single national cost, because every state sets its own fees and credential levels. State application fees alone range widely: a Texas trainee application is $250, New York's initial appraiser application is $355, and California's initial trainee application is $930. On top of application fees, you pay for qualifying education (costs vary by provider), an exam fee, and fingerprinting, so most aspiring appraisers invest several thousand dollars before they are licensed.

The examination portion costs $83 per attempt through PSI for every Alabama appraiser classification, and PSI registration fees are not refundable or transferable. That fee covers only the exam; the state board charges separate application and license fees on top of it.

Trainee registration in Alaska costs $300 total: a $150 nonrefundable application fee plus a $150 registration fee. Certified Residential and Certified General applications each cost $580 total ($150 application, $350 initial certification, and an $80 federal registry fee at $40 per year). Renewal costs $430 for a full two-year cycle ($350 renewal plus $80 registry). Exam fees are set by the state and shown with the approval letter.

The exam fee for Arizona's appraiser examinations is $140, and PSI registration fees are not refundable or transferable. The credential itself carries separate application fees set by the Arizona Board of Appraisal, which handles licensing once you have passed the exam and received a passing score report.

Fees depend on the credential. The Registered Apprentice application fee is $200. When you upgrade, you pay a $100 test fee that is deducted from your new credential fee if you pass; the annual credential fee for State Licensed, Certified Residential, and Certified General appraisers is $300, plus a $40 National Registry fee for those levels. Background checks add separate costs, and qualifying-education course prices vary by provider.

BREA's initial application fees are $930 for Trainee, $1,035 for Licensed Residential, and $1,110 for Certified Residential and Certified General. The $85 national exam fee is not included; you pay it separately to PSI, the examination administrator, after receiving your eligibility letter. You also pay your own fingerprinting cost, and course costs vary by education provider.

Colorado appraiser fees include a $112 application fee (non-refundable) for the Licensed Appraiser, Certified Residential, or Certified General credential, a $44.95 examination fee paid to the exam vendor PSI, and a fingerprint-based background check paid directly to the fingerprinting vendor. Active licensees must also carry errors and omissions insurance meeting Board Rule 6.10 minimums, and course prices vary by education provider. Renewal costs $263 every two years.

As of October 2026, the combined application and initial license fee is $140 for a State or Reciprocal Provisional appraiser. Certified Residential and Certified General applicants pay a $45 application fee plus a $375 initial fee under the state statute, for $420 total, while reciprocal certified applicants pay $460. You also pay the exam fee directly to the national testing service, and certified appraisers owe an annual National Registry fee set by the Appraisal Subcommittee.

The application fee is $333 for a Licensed, Certified Residential, or Certified General Real Property Appraiser and $282 for an Appraiser Trainee. Appraisers also pay a National Registry fee of $80 if the license is approved between July 1 of odd years and October 31 of even years, or $40 if approved between November 1 of even years and June 30 of odd years. No exam fee is published on the state fee schedule, and all processing fees are non-refundable and paid online through DELPROS.

The District charges a $65 new application fee and a $195 license fee for up to 2 years, plus an $80 federal National Registry fee for the 2-year cycle. You also pay an examination fee to the testing vendor, PSI, when you schedule after the Board approves your application. Application fees are not refundable, even if you withdraw or are found not qualified, under D.C. Code 47-2853.10.

For Certified Residential or Certified General, the Florida application fee is $351.00. Pearson VUE charges $42.00 for the Certified Residential national exam or $63.00 for the Certified General national exam, plus $15.75 for the Florida Supplemental Appraiser Laws and Regulations exam. Fingerprinting is done through a Livescan provider at a cost that varies by provider. The federal National Registry fee is $40 per year, collected through the state.

The State Trainee application fee in Georgia is $125. When you test for a Licensed or Certified classification, the exam fee paid to PSI is $175, and the activation fee at the test center is $135 if issued after your birth month or $175 if on or before it, which includes the federal registry fee. Annual renewals cost $100 by mail or $75 online for Trainee and Registered appraisers, and $140 by mail for Licensed and Certified appraisers.

Hawaii charges a $25 non-refundable application fee, plus $444 in license fees if the license is issued in the first year of the biennium ($293 in the second year). The $444 total covers the $190 license or certificate fee, the $126 compliance resolution fund fee, the $80 annual registry fee, and half the renewal fee. Trainee registration costs $85 or $65 depending on the year, and fingerprint and examination fees are paid separately to the vendor and testing service.

Idaho charges a $200 application fee plus a $100 license fee for appraiser licensure, and trainee registration totals $250 ($200 application plus $50 registration). The fingerprint-based background check adds $65, and the state exam carries its own fee, which the Board shows on its approval form. Annual renewal costs $275.

The IDFPR application fee is $225 for the Associate Trainee credential and $315 for Certified Residential or Certified General, all non-refundable, and an application expires 3 years from receipt. Certified applicants also pay a $62 exam fee to PSI. Other costs include fingerprinting for the required background check and the qualifying education courses, whose prices vary by provider.

The Indiana Appraiser Trainee path involves a $100 application fee, a $65 exam fee paid to Pearson VUE, a $110 issuance fee after you pass, and a $38.20 criminal background check. Certified Residential and Certified General applications also cost $100, with a $190 issuance fee if issued in the first year of the two-year cycle or $150 in the second year. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Iowa's fixed fees include a $150 initial examination application fee, a $51 background check fee, and a $200 biennial active registration fee for credentials covering more than one year ($100 for credentials covering less than one year). The board's work product review adds $300 for certified residential applicants and $650 for certified general applicants, and the exam fee itself is set at the examination provider's current rate rather than a fixed dollar amount.

Plan on a $50 non-refundable application fee plus the exam fee, which by statute equals the actual cost of the exam and its administration and is paid directly to the testing service (Pearson VUE); the amount appears on the board's approval letter. The board also collects a $40 federal National Registry fee, and no license is issued until all fees are paid. Kansas statute caps the original or renewal credential fee at $300.

Budget for a $200 application fee for the Associate credential, $200 for each exam attempt (paid before testing, with no limit on attempts), and a $240 fee for the upgraded license after you pass the exam. Course costs vary by education provider, so your total out-of-pocket depends on which board-approved courses you choose.

The exam portion costs $130 for a first attempt and $145 for each repeat attempt for the Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General exams, paid by credit or debit card at the time of reservation. Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. You also pay a separate application fee to the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board.

A Maine appraiser license costs a $30.00 application fee plus a $380.00 license fee, for a $410 total, at every credential level from trainee through certified general. The examination fee is set by the exam vendor, Pearson VUE. Annual renewal costs $380.00, with a $50.00 late fee for renewals submitted after the license expiration date.

Each examination sitting costs $100, and the fee covers one exam only; it is not refundable and not transferable. The Maryland Real Estate Appraisers Commission also collects a Federal Appraisal Fee Fund charge of $40 per year, or $120 for a three-year license or certificate. Qualifying education course costs vary by education provider.

Applicants pay an application fee and an original license fee. For Certified General, Certified Residential, and State Licensed credentials, the application fee is $338 and the original license fee is $390, paid to the vendor after passing the exam. Trainees pay $113 for the application and $113 for the original license, both due when submitting the application.

Fees vary by credential level. The Limited (trainee) application plus 2-year license fee is $285, while the State Licensed, Certified Residential, and Certified General application plus 2-year license fee is $385. Exam-based credentials also carry a $126 examination fee administered by PSI, and course costs vary by education provider.

The statutory initial appraiser license fee is $150 and the renewal fee is $100, plus a $10 technology surcharge (the statutory cap is $40). The exam fee through PSI is $45, and electronic fingerprinting at a PSI test center costs $66.75; manual fingerprinting by mail costs $35. Course costs vary by provider and are not set by the state.

The Appraiser Trainee application fee is $50.00, and the application fee for any license or certification (Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General) is $225.00, which covers the state exam. After passing both exams, you pay credential issuance fees of $325.00 for a two-year term, and each renewal costs $325.00 plus an $80.00 National Registry fee. Course fees vary by education provider.

State fees are fixed: Missouri charges a $300 application fee, the licensing exam costs $140 through the exam vendor PSI, and trainee renewals cost $25 every two years. The fingerprint background check fee is set by the Missouri State Highway Patrol or its approved vendor. Pre-license education costs vary by provider, and all state fees are non-refundable.

The licensing exam costs $99, paid to PSI after the Board of Real Estate Appraisers confirms you are eligible to test; the fee is not refundable or transferable and is valid for one year from payment. A Licensed Appraiser reciprocity application costs $515, and a temporary out-of-state registration costs $130 ($125 application fee plus a $5 litigation fee). States may also collect an annual National Registry fee of up to $40.

Getting credentialed in Nebraska costs $130 for the licensing exam, paid to the exam administrator PSI, plus a $40 annual National Registry fee. Qualifying education is the largest expense, and total start-up costs for a new appraiser commonly run several thousand dollars depending on the credential level pursued.

For a Nevada appraiser license, the application fee is $100 and is nonrefundable, and issuance of a residential certificate or license is $320, or $420 for a Certified General certificate, under Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 645C.057. The Division itemizes a Licensed or Certified Residential application as a $100 application fee, a $240 license fee, an $80 national registry fee, and a technology fee, totaling $435. The licensing exam adds $100, plus $51.25 for fingerprint processing if you are not fingerprinted at a Pearson VUE test center.

As of October 2026, the New Hampshire application fee is $275 for each appraiser credential: Apprentice, Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General. The licensed and certified levels also pay a $40 annual federal registry fee. The licensing exam costs $100 through PSI, the state's examination vendor, and registration fees are not refundable or transferable.

Expect several separate fees. The application fee is $75 for Licensed Residential, $100 for Certified Residential, and $125 for Certified General. After passing the exam, issuance costs $755 for a two-year license if issued in the first year of the biennial period, or $440 if issued in the second year. You also pay a fingerprint vendor fee for the criminal history background check, and the exam fee appears on the Board's approval card.

The trainee application fee is $200. For higher credentials, the total charged at application is $380 for Licensed Residential, $380 for Certified Residential, and $480 for Certified General, each including the current $80 Appraisal Subcommittee Federal Registry fee. You also pay the exam vendor directly for the licensing exam, and credit card payments through the portal carry a 2.5% bank transaction fee that e-checks avoid.

The initial application fee for New York's licensed and certified appraiser categories is $355, which covers a $250 application fee, an $80 federal registry fee, and a $25 examination application fee. The written exam costs an additional $125, paid directly to the test vendor. The Appraiser Assistant application fee is $250.

The application fee for any appraiser credential in North Carolina is $200, and the annual renewal fee is $200. Add $60 for the National Registry if you want to perform appraisals for federally related transactions. You also pay a criminal background check vendor directly, and the exam fee is set and paid to the testing service, Pearson Professional Assessments, at scheduling. Course costs vary by provider and license level.

State fees for a North Dakota appraiser permit include a $300 application fee for the apprentice level or $400 for licensed, certified residential, or certified general, a $40 criminal history background check payable to the ND Attorney General, and a $130 fee for the national exam given through PSI. Renewal costs $350 for licensed and certified appraisers plus the annual $40 national registry fee. Qualifying education costs vary by provider.

The initial registration fee for a state-registered appraiser assistant is $100 plus a $50 recovery fund fee. The initial application fee for a licensed or certified credential is $175, and each licensing exam costs $88, paid directly to PSI. Fingerprinting fees are separate and are paid to the WebCheck vendor, which sets that price.

For a Trainee Appraiser credential, you pay a $300 credentialing fee plus $55 for the OSBI/FBI background check. Original licensure by examination costs $150 for State Licensed or Certified Residential, and $225 for Certified General, plus the $55 background check for new applicants. Each examination costs $150. Certificate holders then pay annual fees of up to $300 per year, which include the National Registry fee.

For licensure or certification, the Oregon application fee is $125 and the two-year certificate or license issuance fee is $600; renewal costs $640, and a late renewal adds $500. Registering as an Appraiser Assistant carries a separate registration fee, and exam fees are set by the testing vendor. Fingerprint-based background check fees are charged separately.

The trainee application costs $75. For certified credentials, the application fee is $235, the initial certification fee is $45 or $90 depending on your certification date, and the National Registry fee is $40 per year paid to the Appraisal Subcommittee. The certification exam costs $145, paid to Pearson VUE at scheduling; education course costs are additional.

Rhode Island charges a $200 application fee for any credential, a license or certification fee of $200 per year on a two-year term, and a National Registry fee of $40 per year. The exam fee is set by the state's pre-approved testing service, and each education submission carries a $25 fee. You must also submit a criminal history record from the Rhode Island Attorney General. Course costs vary by provider, and exam fees are paid at the time of reservation.

The state exam fee is $79, charged by PSI, the vendor that administers South Carolina's appraiser exams, and it is not refundable or transferable. Other costs vary: qualifying education prices differ by provider, and the state also collects application and background-check fees. Nationally, new appraisers' total start-up costs typically run from a few thousand dollars upward, plus first-year business expenses such as software, insurance, and multiple listing service access.

South Dakota appraiser application fees run from $210 for a registered trainee to $400 for a certified general credential. The national licensing exam through the exam vendor PSI costs $130, and the state collects a $40 National Registry fee with the application. State-licensed applicants pay $350, certified residential applicants pay $375, and all fees are nonrefundable.

Tennessee charges a $125 application fee to register as a trainee, a $150 exam fee per attempt through the testing vendor, and a $405 application fee when you upgrade to a licensed or certified credential. Application fees are non-refundable. Course costs vary by provider, and trainee registration also requires electronic fingerprinting for a background check.

Under the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) fee schedule effective September 1, 2026, application totals are $258 for Appraiser Trainee, $490 for Licensed Residential, $550 for Certified Residential, and $650 for Certified General. The licensing exam costs $65 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. Education course fees vary by provider and are additional.

Vermont's statutory fees are $115 for a trainee registration, $315 for a certified appraiser application, and $275 for each biennial renewal. You must also pay an exam fee set through PSI, the state's exam vendor, and an annual National Registry fee that federal law caps at $40. A fingerprint-supported criminal background check is also required for licensure.

An Appraiser Trainee application costs $132, which is the $117.50 statutory fee plus a $7.25-per-year technology fee for the two-year license. For Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General, the application fee is $252.50 per credential, and permanent-license applicants also pay an $80 National Registry fee. The exam costs $125 paid directly to PSI, and the required fingerprint-based background check costs $52.

Trainee registration costs $400. The state-licensed, certified residential, and certified general credentials each cost $1,160 ($740 application fee plus $420 certification after passing the exam), plus a $105 exam fee paid to the testing vendor PSI. A credential by reciprocity costs $1,080, and a temporary practice permit costs $250. All fees are nonrefundable.

Under the West Virginia board's fee rule effective May 20, 2025, a license or certification application costs $120, plus annual fees of $210 for Licensed Residential, $250 for Certified Residential, and $375 for Certified General; the annual fees include a $40 per year National Registry fee. The apprentice route costs a $120 application fee plus a $150 permit fee upon approval. The exam fee is set by the board and shown on its exam authorization. All licensure and certification fees are non-refundable.

Wisconsin charges a $16 initial credential fee for each appraiser credential. The exam fee is not published on the state fee schedule; it appears on DSPS's exam-authorization ("green card") materials. Course costs vary by provider, and a national registry fee also applies, capped by federal law at $40 per year.