Enter the Appraisal Field

How to Become an Appraiser

This information is provided as a general overview of the requirements to become an appraiser. To ensure you meet all the requirements, please refer to the AQB Criteria and your state appraisal board.

There are four components to obtaining a license:

College Education
Appraisal Education
Experience
State licensing or certification exam

College Education

Trainee
There is no college courses or degree required

Licensed
There is no college courses or degree required.

Certified Residential

View Requirements

You must satisfy one at least one of the following criteria:

1. Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in any field of study;

2. Possession of an Associate’s Degree in a field of study related to: a. Business Administration; b. Accounting; c. Finance; d. Economics; ore. Real Estate

3. Successful completion of 30 semester hours of college-level courses that cover each of the following specific topic areas and hours: a. English Composition (3 semester hours);b. Microeconomics (3 semester hours);c. Macroeconomics (3 semester hours);d. Finance (3 semester hours);e. Algebra, Geometry, or higher mathematics (3 semester hours);f. Statistics (3 semester hours);g. Computer Science (3 semester hours);h. Business or Real Estate Law (3 semester hours); and i. Two elective courses in any of the topics listed above or in accounting, geography, agricultural economics, business management, or real estate (3 semester hours each).

4. Successful completion of at least 30 semester hours of College Level Examination Program® (CLEP®) examinations from each of the following subject matter areas: a. College Algebra (3 semester hours);b. College Composition (6 semester hours);c. College Composition Modular (3 semester hours);d. College Mathematics (6 semester hours);e. Principles of Macroeconomics (3 semester hours);f. Principles of Microeconomics (3 semester hours);g. Introductory Business Law (3 semester hours); and h. Information Systems (3 semester hours).

5. Any combination of III.B.3 and III.B.4 above that ensures coverage of all topics and hours identified in III.B.3

Certified General
Applicants for the Certified General license must have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

Appraisal Education

The ASFMRA offers Education for both the Trainee Level and the Certified General Level. ASFMRA course that correspond to each module are listed in italics under the module name.

Minimum Criteria for Appraisal Education Hours
Level	Hours
Appraisal Trainee	75 Hours
Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser	150 Hours
Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser	200 Hours
Certified General Real Property Appraiser	300 Hours

Appraisal Trainee Minimum Required Education
Basic Appraisal Principles ASFMRA BASIC APPRAISAL PRINCIPLES (A101)	30 Hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures ASFMRA BASIC APPRAISAL PROCEDURES (A102)	30 Hours
15 Hour National USPAP Course ASFMRA 15 HOUR NATIONAL USPAP COURSE (A113)	15 Hours
Total	75 Hours

Licensed Residential Appraiser Minimum Required Education
Appraisal Trainee Requirements	75 Hours
Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use	15 Hours
Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach	15 Hours
Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches	30 Hours
Residential Report Writing and Case Studies	15 Hours
Total	150 Hours

Certified Residential Appraiser Minimum Required Education
Licensed Residential Requirements	150 Hours
Statistics, Modeling and Finance	15 Hours
Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies	15 Hours
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives	120 Hours
*May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules
Total	200 Hours

Certified General Appraiser Minimum Required Education
Appraisal Trainee Requirements	75 Hours
ASFMRA Recommended Education Path:
Statistics, Modeling and Finance	15 Hours
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach ASFMRA SALES COMPARISON APPROACH FOR GENERAL APPRAISERS (A300)	30 Hours
General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach ASFMRA COST APPROACH FOR GENERAL APPRAISERS (A310)	30 Hours
General Appraiser Income Approach ASFMRA INCOME APPROACH FOR GENERAL APPRAISERS Part 1 (A320) *This class is the first 30 hours. You must take an Income Part II for 30 hours from another provider such as the Appraisal Institute to fulfill this module	60 Hours
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives ASFMRA INTEGRATED APPROACH TO VALUE (A360) *May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules	30 Hours
General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies	30 Hours
General Market Analysis and Highest & Best Use ASFMRA GENERAL MARKET ANALYSIS AND HIGHEST & BEST USE (A340)	30 hours
Total	300 Hours

Please note these are the minimum requirements, states have the option of requiring more hours than is listed. Please contact your state appraisal board for their specific education requirements.

Experience

The AQB has set the following minimum requirements for experience. States can set higher requirements for experience. Please contact your state appraisal board for their required experience hours.

License Level	Hours of Experience Required
Trainee	0 – is subject to direct supervision by a supervising appraiser who is certified and in good standing
Licensed Residential	1,000 hours in no fewer than 6 months
Certified Residential	1,500 hours in no fewer than 12 months
Certified General	3,000 hours in no fewer than 18 months

State Examination

You are required to take and pass the comprehensive examination which corresponds to the license level you are seeking. You will need to contact your state appraisal board to schedule your exam.

Navigation:

Appraisal Education Farm Management Education Ag Consulting Education Continuing Education Registration Information Education Calendar