What continuing education do real estate appraisers need?

At the national level, practicing appraisers must complete the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course (or its equivalent) once every two calendar years. States add their own hour totals and course mandates, and many exceed the national minimum: Colorado, New York, and several others require 28 hours per two-year cycle, Georgia requires 14 hours per renewal year, and California requires 56 hours per four-year cycle. The 2026 qualification criteria also added a Fair Housing and Valuation Bias course requirement that states are adopting.

Alabama appraisers must complete 28 hours of continuing education every two years, including at least 7 hours of the National USPAP Update course taught by an AQB-certified instructor. For renewals after January 1, 2026, they must also complete a course meeting the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations outline every two calendar years: 7 hours the first time and at least 4 hours each cycle thereafter. Up to 50% of continuing education credit may be earned through teaching, program development, or authorship.

Alaska appraisers certified for 24 months or more must complete 28 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle. The hours must include the 7-Hour National USPAP Course taught by an AQB-certified instructor and a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, an 8-hour version including a 1-hour exam for the first renewal and a 4-hour course for second and later renewals. Appraisers certified at least 185 days but less than 24 months need 14 hours, and those certified fewer than 185 days need none. Keep CE records at least four years because the board audits compliance randomly.

Arizona appraisers renew their license or certificate every two years and must complete continuing education each renewal period, including the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course. The biennial renewal fee is $425 for a license or certificate, and a delinquent renewal adds $25.

Registered Apprentice and State Registered appraisers must complete 14 hours of continuing education each year and renew by December 31. State Licensed, Certified Residential, and Certified General appraisers must complete 28 hours every two years, reported in even-numbered years, and renew by June 30. All credentials require a current 7-Hour USPAP Update within the last two years, and beginning January 1, 2026, every renewal requires a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations class. The board limits CE credit to 14 hours earned in any 24-hour period.

California appraisers renew on a two-year license term inside a four-year continuing education cycle. The cycle requires 56 hours total, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update Course every two years. Beginning January 1, 2026, licensees must also complete a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course every two years: 7 hours the first time, then 4 hours. The cycle also includes a 4-hour federal and California law course, a 1-hour cultural competency course, and a 2-hour elimination of bias course, which the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course satisfies.

Colorado appraisers must complete 28 hours of Board-approved continuing education during the two-year period preceding license expiration. Every renewing appraiser must complete the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course, which covers the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and counts within the 28 hours. Beginning January 1, 2026, renewing appraisers must also complete the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course: 7 hours the first time and at least 4 hours every two calendar years thereafter, both credited toward the 28.

Connecticut real estate appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education every two-year cycle. Each cycle must include a 7-hour USPAP course taught by a Certified USPAP Instructor, a 3-hour Connecticut Real Estate Appraisal Law with Supervisory/Provisional Education course, a 7-hour National Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, and 11 hours of commission-approved electives. For the current cycle, all CE must be completed between February 1, 2026 and January 31, 2028.

Delaware appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education each two-year cycle, which runs to October 31 of odd-numbered years. Each renewal requires the 7-hour National USPAP update, a 2-hour Delaware Law, Rules and Regulations course, and Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations (7 or more hours for renewals between January 1, 2026 and October 31, 2027; 4 or more hours on or after November 1, 2027). Renewal is completed in DELPROS, and a percentage of licensees are randomly selected for CE audit.

DC appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education per two-year cycle, and all credential types expire February 28 of even years, February 28, 2026 in the current cycle. Effective January 1, 2026, every cycle must include a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course: 7 hours the first time (an 8-hour course with a 1-hour exam completed in qualifying education also satisfies it), then at least 4 hours every two calendar years, counted within rather than added to the 28 hours. Licensees must retain CE completion certificates because the Board audits compliance.

Georgia appraisers must complete 14 hours of Board-approved continuing education during each one-year renewal period, and classifications renew annually by the last day of the appraiser's birth month. In every two consecutive renewal periods, every appraiser must complete the AQB-approved 7-hour National USPAP Update course, and the 15-hour USPAP course does not substitute for it. The same course cannot be repeated for credit within a renewal period.

Hawaii requires 28 classroom hours of continuing education each two-year renewal cycle, including a 7-hour National USPAP update course. Licensees first licensed in the second year of the biennium need 14 hours. Excess hours do not carry over, courses must be at least 2 hours long and approved by Hawaii, another state, or the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB), and the 15-hour USPAP course does not satisfy the update requirement.

Idaho appraisers must complete 28 classroom hours of continuing education during the 24 months before renewal, including an approved 7-hour USPAP update course every 24 months. Effective January 1, 2026, a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course is also required every two calendar years, 7 hours the first time and at least 4 hours in later cycles. All hours may be taken online, and the Board conducts random audits, so licensees must keep documentation.

Illinois appraiser licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years on a two-year cycle. For the 2027 renewal, credentials issued before October 1, 2026 require 28 hours of continuing education, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update and a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, plus a separate 1-hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, for 29 hours total. The 15-Hour National USPAP Course cannot substitute for the 7-hour update, and CE must come through an IDFPR-approved appraiser education provider.

Indiana requires 28 classroom hours of continuing education within each two-year reporting period, and at least 7 of those hours must be in the current 2024/2026 Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Indiana accepts all courses approved by the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB). A licensee first licensed within the last 185 days of a two-year renewal period does not need any CE hours for that renewal.

Iowa real estate appraisers renewing to active status must complete 28 hours of approved continuing education during each two-year renewal period. The hours must include the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course and the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course. Iowa accepts programs approved by the state board, the Appraisal Qualifications Board, or another state's appraiser regulator; carryover hours are not allowed, and each course counts only once per cycle.

Kansas appraisers complete 28 hours of board-approved continuing education in each two-year cycle running from July 1 of an odd-numbered year through June 30 of the next odd-numbered year. Anyone required to take at least 14 hours must include the 7-hour National USPAP Update course; beginning January 1, 2026, a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course is also required each cycle (7 hours the first time, at least 4 hours thereafter). A credential in force less than one year but more than 184 days requires 14 hours, and 184 days or less requires none.

Kentucky appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, including the 7-hour National USPAP Course and a 4-hour Kentucky Valuation Bias & Fair Housing Laws & Regulations course. Proof of completion must be submitted to the board by May 31 of each odd-numbered calendar year. Missing that date triggers a $400 late fee, on top of the $200 late renewal fee for failing to renew by July 1.

Louisiana appraisers must complete 28 hours of Board-approved continuing education in each two-year renewal cycle. Two courses are mandatory within the 28 hours: the 7-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update Course and the 7-Hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations Course. After you first complete the Valuation Bias course, its requirement drops to 4 hours in each later renewal cycle. Courses shorter than 2 hours earn no continuing education credit, and real estate salesperson or broker credit does not count.

Maine appraisers must complete 14 hours of continuing education each license term. In even-numbered years, the 7-hour National USPAP Update course is required. For the 2026 renewal, you must also complete the 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course; the first completion must be 7 hours, and every two years after that at least 4 hours. Courses must be Board- or Appraisal Foundation-approved, and you must finish the hours before submitting your renewal.

Maryland requires 42 hours of appraisal continuing education for each 3-year renewal cycle, including trainee licenses. The requirement includes the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course at least once every 2 calendar years and, effective November 1, 2023, at least 3 hours on racial discrimination and implicit bias. Effective January 1, 2026, credentialed appraisers must also complete a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course. No more than 8 hours of continuing education may be completed in one calendar day.

Massachusetts appraisers renewing a two-year license complete 28 hours of Board-approved continuing education, 7 of which must be a USPAP update course. A license running more than two years and 185 days requires 42 hours total. Certified Residential licensees may count no more than 7 elective hours, and Certified General licensees must complete at least 14 hours of non-residential coursework. Trainees also complete the 28 hours, including the USPAP update, at renewal.

Michigan appraisers must complete 28 hours of continuing education every 2 years, including a 7-hour National USPAP update course. Beginning January 1, 2026, a valuation bias and fair housing course is also required: 7 hours the first time and at least 4 hours every 2 years after. Licenses expire biennially on July 31, and the renewal fee is $250 for Limited Appraisers or $350 for the other credentials.

Minnesota appraisers must complete approved continuing education each two-year renewal cycle, including the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course or its equivalent. Effective January 1, 2026, you must also complete a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course: 7 hours the first time and at least 4 hours every two calendar years thereafter. The renewal window runs July 1 to August 31 with no grace period, so the Minnesota Department of Commerce recommends finishing all continuing education by August 15.

Licensed and certified appraisers in Mississippi must complete 28 hours of Board-approved continuing education every 2 years, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update. As of January 1, 2026, renewal also requires the 7-hour National Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulation Course. Trainees renew annually with 14 hours, including a 7-hour USPAP Update every second renewal.

Missouri appraisers must complete 28 hours of commission-approved continuing education every two years, including the 7-hour USPAP Update Course or its equivalent. Licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years, and renewal applications must be filed between 120 and 30 days before expiration. The standard renewal fee is $300, and an expired license can be renewed within two years with a $50-per-month delinquent fee, capped at $600.

Montana appraisers must complete 28 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years, including the 7-hour National USPAP update course, and renew annually by March 31. Effective January 1, 2026, all apprentice, licensed, and certified appraisers must also complete a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course that meets the 2026 Real Property Appraiser Qualifications Criteria: 7 hours the first time, then 4 hours each two-year cycle thereafter.

Nebraska follows the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) baseline of 14 class hours per year, or 28 hours across a two-year cycle. The 7-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update Course must be completed once every two calendar years, and a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course (7 hours the first time, at least 4 hours every two calendar years thereafter) is required. Nebraska appraiser credentials expire December 31 each year.

Nevada requires 30 hours of approved continuing education within the 2 years before each renewal, including at least 7 hours in the National USPAP Update Course. The same 30-hour, 7-hour USPAP rule applies to Registered Intern renewals. Nevada offers no grace period for late renewal. To reinstate a credential inactive for 2 years or less, you must show 30 CE hours; if inactive longer, 15 hours for each year of inactive status.

New Hampshire appraisers must complete at least 14 class hours of continuing education for each year of practice, or 28 hours per two-year renewal cycle. The 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course, or an approved equivalent, must be completed every 2 calendar years, and no repeat credit is given for a program completed within the same cycle. Effective January 1, 2026, appraisers must also complete a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course every two calendar years: 7 hours the first time and at least 4 hours in each later cycle.

Licensed and certified New Jersey appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education in each two-year renewal period, including the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course and a 2-hour New Jersey law and rules course. The remaining hours can be any Board-approved appraisal courses, and carryover of credits between renewal periods is prohibited. Trainee appraisers instead complete 14 hours for each annual permit renewal.

New Mexico appraisers complete 28 hours of board-approved continuing education in each two-year renewal period, which ends April 30 of every second year. The 28 hours must include the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course and a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course. First renewal cycles are prorated: 14 hours for cycles of 185 to 365 days, and no hours for cycles under 185 days. Keep provider certificates for 4 years, because the board audits a share of renewal applications.

New York appraisers and appraiser assistants must complete 28 hours of approved continuing education within each two-year renewal period, including the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course. Effective January 1, 2026, they must also complete a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course: 7 hours for a first renewal and at least 4 hours for subsequent renewals.

North Carolina appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education each two-year cycle, due by May 31 of every odd-numbered year. The hours include the 7-Hour National USPAP course, the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course (7 hours the first time, 4 hours each cycle thereafter), and electives. For the current cycle, June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2027, the USPAP course must be completed by May 31, 2026. No hours carry over between cycles.

North Dakota appraisers must complete continuing education to renew their permits. The national anchor is the 7-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update Course, which must be taken once every two calendar years or satisfied with an approved equivalent. A permittee reactivating from inactive status must document all continuing education that would have been required, including the most recent edition of that update course.

Ohio appraisers renew on a two-year term. For the 2027 renewal, licensees must submit 28 hours of continuing education: 7 hours of USPAP Update, 7 hours of the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws & Regulations course, and 14 hours of other Ohio-approved CE. For the 2029 renewal and after, the requirement stays at 28 hours, with 4 hours of Valuation Bias and 17 hours of other approved CE. Hours in excess of 14 classroom hours earned during a one-year interval cannot be carried forward to a future reporting period.

Oklahoma requires all appraisers, including Trainees, to complete 42 hours of continuing education every three years, due on the license expiration date. This equals the 14 hours per year in the Appraiser Qualifications Board criteria, and duplicate courses in the same three-year cycle receive no credit. Appraisers must also complete the 7-Hour National USPAP Update in each two-year period ending December 31 of even-numbered years, and a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course by December 31, 2026, then a 4-hour version every two years starting with the 2027 to 2028 cycle.

Oregon appraisers renew every 2 years, by the last day of their birth month, and must complete 28 hours of continuing education each cycle, including the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course. Effective January 1, 2026, renewal applicants must also complete a one-time 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, then at least 4 hours on the topic each cycle after that. Hours cannot be carried over between cycles.

Pennsylvania appraisers must complete 28 hours of continuing education every 24-month renewal period. The 28 hours must include the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course, 2 hours on the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act and Board regulations and policies, and 7 hours on Valuation Bias and Fair Housing (required by June 30, 2027; at least 4 hours for renewals beginning June 30, 2029). Certificates and trainee licenses expire June 30 of every odd-numbered year.

Rhode Island requires 28 hours of continuing education per two-year licensing term, per state regulation 230-RICR-30-20-1. The 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course must be taken once every two calendar years as part of continuing education. Qualifying education for a higher classification can count toward both CE and upgrade requirements, and attending one public Real Estate Appraisers Board meeting of at least 2 hours can earn up to 7 credit hours per cycle.

South Carolina appraisers complete 28 hours of continuing education every 2 years, with licenses expiring on June 30 of even-numbered years. The 28 hours must include the current 7-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update and a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course for the 2026 renewal; the Valuation Bias requirement drops to 4 hours for later renewals. Providers report course completions to the Board electronically within 14 days.

South Dakota appraisers document 28 class hours of approved continuing education at each renewal in an odd-numbered year, covering the preceding two-year reporting period. Seven of the 28 hours must be the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course, completed by July 1 of each even-numbered year, or a $100 late fee applies (maximum $200). CE courses must be at least 2 class hours, and up to half of the credit may come from teaching or authorship instead of attending as a student.

Tennessee appraisers must complete 28 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle, and 7 of those hours must be the 7-hour USPAP Update course. The 15-hour USPAP course is not approved for continuing education and cannot substitute for the update course. A course may be counted for continuing education credit only once every 5 years, with the USPAP Update required each renewal period. Renewal fees are $125 for a Registered Trainee and $405 for appraiser credentials.

Texas appraisers renewing an active license must complete 28 hours of acceptable appraiser continuing education during the term of the license being renewed, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update course. Hours cannot carry over between renewal terms, and no credit is awarded for repeating the same course within a cycle. Supervisory appraisers must also complete a Board-approved Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course within 4 years before their current expiration date to continue supervising trainees.

Real estate appraisers must complete the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course (or its equivalent) once every two calendar years to maintain their credential. Utah appraisers must also complete additional state-required continuing education to renew; Utah credentials expire on a rolling monthly schedule rather than on a single statewide renewal date.

Vermont adopts the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) continuing-education minimums by statute: 28 hours per two-year cycle, including the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course every two calendar years and a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course every two years. Certified licenses renew May 31 of even years, while trainee registrations renew annually on October 31. Under H.305 (2023), synchronous virtual courses count as live training.

Virginia appraisers must complete 28 hours of Board- or AQB-approved continuing education during each two-year licensing term. Seven hours must be the National USPAP update course, and seven hours must be a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course the first time it is taken on or after January 1, 2026, with at least 4 hours required each time after that. Appraiser trainees must meet the same continuing education requirements as credentialed appraisers.

Washington appraisers must complete 28 hours of state-approved continuing education every 2 years, including the 7-hour National USPAP Update course and a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course. The first Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course must be 7 hours; every 2 calendar years after that, a course of at least 4 hours satisfies the rule. Licenses expire every 2 years on the appraiser's birthday, and renewal opens up to 120 days before expiration.

West Virginia requires 14 hours of board-approved continuing education in each annual renewal term. For the 2026-2027 renewal, the 14 hours must be the 7-Hour 2026 USPAP Update Course plus the 7-Hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course (an 8-hour course with exam is also accepted); prior 3-hour or 4-hour courses on that topic do not satisfy the requirement. The USPAP Update Course must be taken every two years, within 8 months of a newly adopted USPAP version.

Wisconsin licensed and certified appraisers must complete 28 hours of approved continuing education each two-year renewal period, including the most recent 7-Hour National USPAP Update course. In the biennium when the credential is first issued, 14 hours including 7 hours of USPAP are required for each full or partial year. Credentials renew by December 14 of each odd-numbered year through the LicensE portal, which opens about 4 weeks before expiration.

Effective January 1, 2026, Wyoming requires a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course as part of continuing education, and it must be completed by December 31, 2027. The Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board accepts continuing education from its approved course list and from courses approved through the Appraiser Qualifications Board's Course Approval Program. You email course certificates to the Board to have the credits added to your account.