Should I become a licensed appraiser?

Whether the license suits you depends on your goals, but the federal data offer context. Employment of property appraisers and assessors is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings projected each year, and the median wage was $67,960 in May 2025. The path requires qualifying education, supervised experience of 6 to 18 months depending on the credential, and a state exam, and a bachelor's degree is typical for entry. Most appraisers work full time, and self-employed fee appraisers may work more than 40 hours per week.

Becoming a licensed appraiser in Arkansas does not require a college degree: the State Licensed credential requires 162 total qualifying-education hours, 1,000 hours of supervised experience in no fewer than 6 months, and a passing score on the licensing exam. A State Licensed appraiser may appraise non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction values under $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit properties under $400,000. Nationally, the median annual wage for property appraisers and assessors was $67,960 in May 2025.

Colorado's entry credential is the Licensed Appraiser, and the state has no trainee level, so the Licensed Appraiser is the first step on the appraisal ladder. It requires 158 hours of qualifying education effective January 1, 2026, 1,000 hours of logged experience gained over at least 6 months, and a passing score on the national exam after all education and experience are complete. No college-level education is required at this level.

The outlook is stable. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth for property appraisers and assessors from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings each year, and the median wage was $67,960 in May 2025. Most workers enter the field with a bachelor's degree, and on-the-job training is long term.

That depends on your goals, but the facts are these: a Licensed Real Property Appraiser (RPA) in Delaware may appraise non-complex 1-to-4 unit residential properties with transaction values under $1,000,000 and complex 1-to-4 unit properties under $400,000. The credential requires 150 hours of qualifying education (158 for applications filed on or after January 1, 2026), 1,000 experience hours over at least 6 months, and no college degree. Nationally, the median wage for property appraisers and assessors was $67,960 in May 2025.

Florida has no "licensed" appraiser tier; the path runs from Registered Trainee to Certified Residential (200 education hours and 1,500 experience hours over at least 12 months) or Certified General (300 education hours and 3,000 experience hours, including 1,500 non-residential). Earnings vary by credential level, property type, and assignment volume, with Certified General appraisers generally earning the most.

That depends on your career goals, but the requirements and scope are clear. Georgia's State Licensed classification requires 150 hours of qualifying education and 1,000 hours of experience gained over at least 6 months. It permits appraisals of non-complex one-to-four-unit residential property with a transaction value under $1,000,000, other real estate under $250,000, and appraisals approved by federal financial institutions regulatory agencies. Passing the PSI-administered examination and completing the experience log are also required.

Whether to pursue licensure depends on your circumstances, but federal occupational data provides context. Property appraisers and assessors earned a median annual wage of $67,960 in May 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 5,200 openings per year through 2035, and most positions require a bachelor's degree plus state licensure or certification.

A career in real estate appraisal can offer flexibility, long term earning potential, and lower startup costs compared to many other professions. Real estate appraisers provide objective, unbiased opinions of a property’s market value by evaluating factors such as square footage, condition, quality, amenities, and comparable market data. Appraisers inspect properties, research local market trends, and prepare detailed valuation reports used in mortgage lending, estate planning, tax appeals, divorce proceedings, and other real estate related matters.

Many Illinois appraisers enjoy the ability to build an independent career with flexible schedules and opportunities for growth as they gain experience and advance their license level.

Indiana does not offer the Licensed Residential credential, so the choice in that state is between Certified Residential and Certified General. Certified Residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education and 2,500 hours of experience, and covers 1-to-4 unit residential property without regard to value or complexity. Certified General requires 300 hours of education and 3,000 hours of experience, at least 2,000 of them in the general category, and covers all types of real property. Both paths start with the Trainee credential.

That depends on your circumstances, but federal labor data offers context. Property appraisers and assessors earned a median of $67,960 a year in May 2025, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings a year. Entry typically requires a bachelor's degree plus state licensure, though some qualify with a high school diploma.

That depends on the credential level and the time involved: Maryland requires 75 hours of qualifying education to start as an appraiser trainee, then 150 to 300 classroom hours and 1,000 to 3,000 experience hours for the licensed and certified levels. On the income side, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $67,960 for property appraisers and assessors in May 2025, and projects 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings per year.

A license is necessary if you want to appraise federally related transactions, such as loans made by federally insured banks and financial institutions, since federal law requires a state license or certification for that work. For market context, property appraisers and assessors earned a median annual wage of $67,960 nationally in May 2025, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings per year.

Whether to become a licensed appraiser depends on your career goals, but the Missouri entry facts can inform the choice. The Licensed Residential credential requires no college degree, 1,000 hours of experience over no less than 6 months under a certified appraiser, and a passed state exam. Trainees can earn income while logging supervised hours. One limit to weigh: this credential alone does not qualify you for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Appraiser Roster, which accepts only state-certified appraisers.

Employment of appraisers and assessors of real estate is projected to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, an average rate, with about 6,300 annual openings nationally. The median annual wage was $67,960 in May 2025. Typical entry requires a bachelor's degree plus more than one year of on-the-job training.

That depends on your goals, but the occupation's outlook is steady. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth for property appraisers and assessors from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 5,200 openings per year. The median annual wage was $67,960 in May 2025, though earnings vary widely by credential level, with the lowest 10% earning under $40,030 and the highest 10% over $122,660.

Only licensed or certified appraisers may appraise real estate in New Jersey, so practicing requires a credential. The Licensed Residential credential requires qualifying education, 1,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months, and a passing score on the national exam, with no college education required. Whether to pursue it depends on your goals, your market, and your willingness to complete the experience hours under a supervising appraiser.

Appraisal offers a path to an independent, flexible career with real earning growth as you move up license levels. Appraisers deliver unbiased opinions of property value by weighing factors like condition, location, comparable sales, and market trends, then document their findings in reports used for mortgage lending, tax appeals, estate settlements, divorce proceedings, and more. New York's diverse real estate market — from dense urban properties to suburban and rural areas — creates steady demand for qualified appraisers statewide

Becoming a licensed appraiser in North Dakota requires 158 hours of qualifying education and 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months, with no college education required. The credential covers noncomplex 1-4 family residential property up to $1,000,000 transaction value, complex 1-4 family property up to $250,000, and noncomplex nonresidential property up to $250,000. Nationally, real estate appraisers earned a median of $102,200 per year in 2022, per the National Association of Realtors. Whether the credential suits you depends on whether that scope fits your goals.

National data can inform the decision. Property appraisers and assessors earned a median of $67,960 per year as of May 2025, with the top 10% earning more than $122,660. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 5,200 openings each year, mostly from workers leaving the field. Earning potential generally increases at the Certified Residential and Certified General levels.

Whether to pursue it depends on your goals, but the state's requirements for the Licensed appraiser credential are modest: 158 hours of Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) Core Curriculum, at least 1,000 hours of experience over no fewer than 6 months, and a passed exam. In South Carolina a Licensed appraiser may appraise noncomplex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value under $1 million, and complex residential and nonresidential properties under $500,000. Note that FHA Roster eligibility requires a certified credential, not the Licensed one.

A state-licensed appraiser credential requires 158 hours of qualifying education, 1,000 hours of experience over at least 6 months, a passing score on the national exam, and a background check. The credential lets you appraise noncomplex 1-4 family residential properties up to $1,000,000 and complex ones up to $400,000. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth for property appraisers and assessors from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Appraisal offers a path to an independent, flexible career with real earning growth as you move up license levels. Appraisers deliver unbiased opinions of property value by weighing factors like condition, location, comparable sales, and market trends, then document their findings in reports used for mortgage lending, tax appeals, estate settlements, divorce proceedings, and more. Texas's large and active real estate market means steady demand for qualified appraisers in both residential and commercial work.

That depends on your goals, but federal labor data offers context. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth for property appraisers and assessors from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with roughly 5,200 openings each year, mostly from replacement needs. The median annual wage was $67,960 in May 2025.

For new applicants in Vermont, the achievable credentials are Certified Residential and Certified General, since the state no longer issues the Licensed Real Estate Appraiser credential to new applicants. Employment of property appraisers and assessors is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 5,200 openings per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median pay was $67,960 per year as of May 2025.

Appraisal offers a path to an independent, flexible career with opportunities for increased responsibility and earning potential as you advance through the license levels. Appraisers provide opinions of property value by considering factors such as property condition, location, comparable sales, and market trends, then document their findings in reports used for mortgage lending, tax appeals, estate settlements, divorce proceedings, and more. Virginia's diverse real estate market — from urban and suburban properties to rural communities — offers opportunities for qualified appraisers across the state.

The state-licensed credential is Washington's entry-level appraiser license above trainee, and it is the first tier that lets you appraise without working under a supervisor. To qualify, you must complete 158 hours of qualifying education, log 2,000 hours of experience gained over at least 12 months while registered as a trainee, and pass the national exam. The exam fee is $105, and the credential fee totals $1,160 ($740 application plus $420 certification).

Whether it fits depends on your goals. A licensed residential credential in West Virginia requires 158 hours of qualifying education, at least 1,000 hours of experience over no fewer than 6 months, a passed national exam plus a 3-hour state law course, and a $120 application fee plus the $210 annual license fee. It allows appraisals of noncomplex 1-4 unit homes under $1 million and complex ones under $250,000. Higher classifications generally earn more and can appraise without those value limits.

The Licensed Appraiser credential is Wisconsin's entry-level appraiser credential, and it lets you appraise complex 1-to-4 family residential property up to $400,000, non-complex 1-to-4 family residential property up to $1,000,000, and commercial property up to $500,000. To earn it, you must complete 150 hours of core curriculum courses and 1,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months, with no college degree required. You must also pass a national exam and a Wisconsin state exam on statutes and rules.

Wyoming does not offer a Licensed Residential credential, so the licensed appraiser level is not an option in the state. The Board's application paths are Certified Residential, Certified General, the Certified Residential to Certified General conversion, reciprocity, temporary practice, and trainee. The ASC registry showed no Licensed credentials in Wyoming as of October 2026, against 233 Certified General and 113 Certified Residential credentials.