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

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.