How to become a Real Estate Appraiser?
Real Property Appraiser Classifications
Per Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria), there are four types of classifications you can acquire:
A
Trainee Appraiser
may appraise those properties that the Supervisory Appraiser is permitted by their current credential and is competent to appraise.
- Education: 75 Hours of qualifying education in the last five (5) years and Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Course.
- Experience: None
- Examination: None
A
Licensed Residential Appraiser may appraise non-complex one-to-four residential units having a transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex one-to-four residential units having a transaction value less than $400,000.
- Education: 150 hours of qualifying education.
- Experience: 1,000 hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than (6) months. A Practicum course (or courses) can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours. PAREA can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours.
- Examination: You must successfully complete your education and experience prior to taking the exam.
A
Certified Residential
Appraiser may appraise one-to-four residential units without regard to value or complexity.
- Education: 200 hours of qualifying education. College-level education or requisite experience is also required. See below for six options.
- Experience: 1,500 hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than (12) months. A Practicum course (or courses) can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours. PAREA can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours.
- Examination: You must successfully complete your education and experience prior to taking the exam.
A
Certified General Appraiser may appraise all types of real property.
- Education: 300 hours of qualifying education. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any field of study is also required.
- Experience: 3,000 hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than (18) months (1,500 of which must be in non-residential appraisal work). A Practicum course (or courses) can replace up to 100% of the required experience hours. PAREA can replace residential experience hours.
- Examination: You must successfully complete your education and experience prior to taking the exam.
Each U.S. state or territory has a State Appraiser Regulatory Agency that is responsible for certifying and licensing real estate appraisers and supervising their appraisal-related activities, as required by federal law. Your state may require additional coursework, so it’s important that you consult with your state's appraiser regulatory agency. A list of state contact information can be found on The Appraisal Foundation’s
State Appraiser Regulatory Agencies
page.
CAREER PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS
The Career Pathways to Success 2026 at Savannah State University will introduce participants to careers in residential and commercial real estate appraisal, business valuation, fine art and antiques, personal property, and equipment valuation. The event also welcomes members of the military community transitioning out of active service, providing a professional on-ramp into the valuation industry for those seeking meaningful post-military careers.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The National Society of Real Estate Appraisers (NSREA) welcomes members of any race, color, ethnic origin, sex, and gender to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to the membership. No person, based on race, color, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, disability, age, religion, veteran’s status, or any other characteristic protected by state, local, or federal law, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of membership, or be subjected to discrimination of any activity, educational program, or function under the direction of NSREA.
Further, NSREA will not retaliate (or tolerate retaliation) against persons bringing forward allegations of harassment or discrimination. The NSREA Grievance Committee has been designated to handle inquiries and coordinate the organization’s compliance efforts regarding non-discrimination policy.
