What are the requirements to become a certified appraiser?

Certified appraiser requirements depend on the level. A Certified Residential Appraiser needs 200 hours of qualifying education, college-level education (a bachelor's degree, an approved associate degree, 30 semester hours of specified courses, CLEP exams, or five years as a Licensed Residential appraiser), 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months, and the national exam. A Certified General Appraiser needs 300 hours, a bachelor's degree, 3,000 hours in no fewer than 18 months including 1,500 non-residential hours, and the exam. States may set stricter rules.

Alaska certifies appraisers at two levels through the Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers. Certified Residential requires 200 classroom hours, one of four college options (a bachelor's degree, a qualifying associate degree, 30 semester hours of specified courses, or 30 semester hours of CLEP exams), 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months, and the residential certification exam. Certified General requires a bachelor's degree, 300 classroom hours, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 18 months, including 1,500 nonresidential hours.

A Certified Residential appraiser in Arkansas needs 204 total qualifying-education hours, 1,500 experience hours in no fewer than 12 months, and college-level education (one of five options, including a bachelor's degree or 30 semester hours of specified topics). A State Licensed appraiser in good standing for at least 5 years with no disqualifying discipline needs no college coursework. A Certified General appraiser needs a bachelor's degree, 304 hours, and 3,000 experience hours in no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 nonresidential hours.

California has two certified levels. Certified Residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, college-level education (a bachelor's degree, an associate degree in a related field, or 30 semester hours of specified courses), and 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months. Certified General requires a bachelor's degree, 300 hours of qualifying education, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 18 months, including 1,500 non-residential hours. Both levels require passing the national exam plus California's Laws and Regulations and Cultural Competency courses.

In Connecticut, you start as a Provisional Appraiser under a sponsoring certified appraiser, then apply to upgrade. Certified Residential and Certified General applicants must meet the AQB 2026 criteria the state enforces, and must submit all pre-licensing course certificates, signed experience logs with hours listed and tallied on each page, and proof of required college education. Fees total $420: a $45 application fee plus a $375 initial fee.

Delaware has two certified levels. Certified residential requires 200 qualifying education hours, an Associate degree or higher (or 21 college semester hours in specified coursework in lieu), and 1,500 experience hours over at least 12 months. Certified general requires 300 qualifying education hours, a Bachelor's degree or higher (or 30 semester hours in lieu), and 3,000 experience hours over at least 18 months, including 1,500 non-residential hours. Both require passing the exam, Delaware and FBI criminal background checks, and a $333 application fee filed in DELPROS.

Certified Residential in DC requires 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months, an exam, and college-level education. The college requirement can be met with a bachelor's degree, an associate degree in a focused field, 30 semester credit hours in specified topics, CLEP exams, or a Licensed Residential credential held at least 5 years. Certified General requires 300 hours of education, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work, plus an exam.

To become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Hawaii, you need 200 hours of qualifying education, college-level education (a bachelor's degree or an approved alternative), and 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months. To become a Certified General Appraiser, you need 300 hours, a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3,000 hours in no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 nonresidential hours. Both credentials require passing the AQB-approved exam with a scaled score of 75.

Iowa offers two certifications. Certified residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 hours of experience in no less than 12 months, college-level education (bachelor's degree or listed alternatives), the examination, and a work product review of three appraisal reports. Certified general requires 300 hours of qualifying education, a bachelor's degree, 3,000 hours of experience in no less than 18 months (at least 1,500 general hours), the examination, and a work product review.

Certified residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education plus college-level coursework, though a state licensed appraiser of at least five years' standing with no adverse disciplinary action can upgrade without college coursework. You also need 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months. Certified general requires 300 hours plus a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 18 months, including 1,500 hours of nonresidential work. Both require passing the national uniform exam for the classification.

Maine offers two certified credentials. Certified residential requires 1,500 hours of experience over no fewer than 12 months, 200 hours of qualifying education, a bachelor's degree or one of six degree-equivalency options, and a passing exam. Certified general requires 3,000 hours over no fewer than 18 months (including 1,500 non-residential hours), 300 hours of qualifying education, and a bachelor's degree with no equivalency options. Both levels require fingerprints for the upgrade application and carry a $30 application fee plus a $380 license fee.

You must complete qualifying education, supervised experience, and exams at either the Certified Residential or Certified General level. Certified Residential requires 200 education hours, 1,500 hours in no fewer than 12 months with at least 50% residential work, and college-level education, or a Licensed Residential credential held for 5 years. Certified General requires 300 hours, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours in no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 non-residential hours. Both require the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course and a $225 application fee.

A Certified Residential Appraiser in Montana needs 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 hours of experience over no fewer than 12 months, and one of the AQB college alternatives, such as a bachelor's degree or 30 semester credit hours in specified topics. A Certified General Appraiser needs 300 hours, 3,000 hours of experience in at least 18 months including 1,500 non-residential hours, and a bachelor's degree or higher. Both paths require a fingerprint background check and a passing scaled score of 75 on the PSI national exam.

Nebraska offers two certified credentials. Certified Residential requires 200 class hours of qualifying education, a college-level education option, and 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months. Certified General requires 300 class hours, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 18 months, including 1,500 non-residential hours. Both require a passing score on the state exam through PSI.

Nevada offers Certified Residential and Certified General credentials, and both require a national exam, an application to the Nevada Real Estate Division, and a background check with fingerprints. Nationally, Certified Residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, college-level education, and 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months. Certified General requires 300 hours, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours in no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 non-residential hours. Nevada sets requirements above these national minimums.

New Hampshire offers two certified credentials. Certified Residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, a bachelor's degree or an allowed alternative (such as an associate degree in a related field), 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months, and a passing exam score. Certified General requires 300 hours, a bachelor's degree or higher, 3,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 18 months including 1,500 non-residential hours, and a passing exam score. All applicants submit a criminal history check and a paper application to the board.

New Mexico certifies appraisers at two levels. Certified Residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 appraisal hours in no fewer than 12 months, and college-level education such as a bachelor's degree or an approved alternative. Certified General requires 300 hours of qualifying education, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 appraisal hours in no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 non-residential hours. Both levels also require the state Jurisprudence Examination, a background check, and the national exam through Pearson VUE.

North Dakota offers two certified credentials. Certified residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, college-level education, 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months, and the Uniform State Certified Residential Appraiser Examination; a licensed appraiser with at least five years of licensure and no adverse disciplinary action can qualify without the college requirement. Certified general requires a bachelor's degree, 300 hours of education, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 18 months, at least half non-residential.

Certified Residential in Rhode Island requires 200 hours of qualifying education plus college-level education (a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree in business or a similar field, 30 semester hours of specified courses, or CLEP exams), 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months, and a passing exam score. Certified General requires 300 hours, a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3,000 hours in no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential work.

South Dakota offers two certified levels. State-Certified Residential requires 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 hours of experience over at least 12 months (including at least 750 residential hours), a degree or an approved alternative, the national exam, and a background check. State-Certified General requires 300 hours, 3,000 hours of experience over at least 18 months (including at least 1,500 non-residential hours), and a bachelor's degree. A Certified Residential Appraiser may appraise any 1-4 family home; a Certified General Appraiser may appraise any type of property.

Vermont requires certified appraiser applicants to complete qualifying education, documented experience, and the national exam, with a $315 application fee and a fingerprint background check. Certified Residential requires 200 qualifying education hours, 1,500 experience hours over at least 12 months, and college-level education. Certified General requires 300 hours, 3,000 experience hours over at least 18 months, and a bachelor's degree.

Certified residential in West Virginia requires 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 experience hours over at least 12 months, and a college prerequisite: a bachelor's degree, a related associate's degree, 30 specified semester hours, CLEP exams, or 5 years as a licensed residential appraiser with no discipline plus added coursework. Certified general requires 300 hours, 3,000 experience hours over at least 18 months including 1,500 nonresidential hours, and a bachelor's degree. Both require the national exam, a 3-hour West Virginia law course, and a background check.