New York appraisal courses, 100% online

Yes. New York approves appraiser education in both classroom and distance-learning formats, and Executive Law 160-t allows computer-based and distance learning courses. Completing a qualifying course requires 100% attendance and a minimum final exam score of 70%. Course approvals are issued on an annual basis.

It depends on the category. No degree is required for the Appraiser Assistant or State Licensed categories. Certified General requires a bachelor's degree or higher. Certified Residential requires a bachelor's degree or an approved alternative: an associate's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or real estate; 30 semester hours of specified college courses; 30 semester hours of CLEP exams; a combination; or a Licensed Residential credential held for at least five years without disqualifying disciplinary action.

The New York Department of State publishes a list of approved appraiser qualifying schools and course providers on its real estate appraiser education page, covering qualifying education, continuing education, and the Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser course. Education must be completed through these approved providers, and complaints against an approved school go to the Department's Bureau of Educational Standards.

To become a certified appraiser in New York, complete the qualifying education, gain qualifying experience, pass the state examination, and apply to the Department of State with the $355 fee. Certified Residential requires 203 hours of qualifying education plus a college degree or an approved alternative, and 1,500 hours of experience over at least 24 months. Certified General requires 308 hours of education plus a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 24 months, including 1,500 hours of non-residential work. Experience must be no more than 5 years old at application.

To become a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser in New York, complete 308 hours of qualifying education and hold a bachelor's degree or higher (the requirements effective January 1, 2026), gain 3,000 hours of appraisal experience over at least 24 months with a minimum of 1,500 hours in non-residential work, and pass the certified general examination. The initial application fee is $355 for a two-year term.

To become certified, complete qualifying education, gain the required experience, pass the examination, and submit an application with the $355 fee to the Department of State. Certified Residential requires 203 hours of qualifying education plus a college degree or an approved alternative, and 1,500 hours of experience over at least 24 months. Certified General requires 308 hours plus a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 hours of experience over at least 24 months, including at least 1,500 non-residential hours.

To become a State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, you must complete 203 hours of qualifying education (effective January 1, 2026), meet a college-level requirement, gain 1,500 hours of experience over at least 24 months within the 5 years before applying, and pass the Certified Residential examination. The college requirement can be met with a bachelor's degree in any field, a qualifying associate's degree, 30 semester hours of specified courses or CLEP exams, or a Licensed Residential credential held at least 5 years without disqualifying discipline.

To appraise commercial property in New York, you need the State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser credential. Effective January 1, 2026, you must complete 308 hours of qualifying education plus hold a bachelor's degree, gain 3,000 hours of experience over at least 24 months (including a minimum of 1,500 hours of non-residential work), pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination, and submit the application with the $355 fee for a 2-year term.

New York has no separate land appraiser license; land is appraised under the standard appraiser categories. A State Licensed appraiser may appraise vacant or unimproved land for 1-4 family use with a transaction value under $1,000,000, while a Certified General appraiser may appraise all types of real property, including commercial land. To qualify, you must complete the qualifying education for your category (158 hours for State Licensed, effective January 1, 2026), gain the required experience (1,000 hours over at least 24 months for State Licensed), and pass the licensing examination.

Start with the Appraiser Assistant credential, which New York issues with no experience requirement. You must complete 87 hours of qualifying education (effective January 1, 2026), file an application with the $250 fee, and work under a Department of State-approved supervisory appraiser who cosigns your reports. New York also accepts an AQB-approved Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program as an alternative to the supervisor-trainee experience model for later credentials.