Real estate appraiser: trainee, licensed or certified — education hours, experience and the national exam
Appraisers typically need a bachelor's degree, though requirements vary by state and credential. Appraisers of real estate must hold a state license or certification for federally related transactions: qualifying education, supervised experience and the AQB national exam.
For: Independent, observant people who like site visits, data and writing careful reports.
Route 1: Trainee under a supervisor → licensed or certified appraiser Supervisor-trainee
Not every state offers the trainee or licensed residential level; certified residential and certified general exist in every state.
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Start here
Qualifying education for a trainee
For example 83 hours plus a 4-hour supervisor/trainee course in Texas.
TALCB
Become an Appraiser TraineeTexas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
talcb.texas.gov does not answer from India (connection timed out); read from the Internet Archive capture of 19 May 2026.
View source -
Experience
Work under a credentialed supervisory appraiser
Log hours following USPAP.
Appraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Education
Remaining qualifying education
California: 150 hours for licensed residential, 200 for certified residential, 300 for certified general (Texas lists 158 for licensed residential).
BREA
Real Estate Appraiser License LevelsCalifornia Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
AQB National Uniform exam for your credential
After education and experience are verified by the state.
Appraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Goal
State-licensed or certified appraiser
Appraiser license stepsAppraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Route 2: PAREA or practicum instead of a supervisor No supervisor needed
PAREA is a mastery-based virtual training program; a practicum is a structured real-world simulation course.
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Start here
Qualifying education
Appraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Experience
PAREA or an approved practicum
PAREA may cover 100% of the experience for licensed and certified residential, 50% for certified general. Your state decides which options it accepts.
Appraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Exam gate
AQB National Uniform exam
Appraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
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Goal
Licensed or certified residential appraiser
Appraisal Foundation
How to Become an Appraiser: Real Property AppraisalThe Appraisal Foundation (Appraiser Qualifications Board)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Licenses, registrations and certifications
Each one is marked: a state or federal license is the law, a registration through an employer comes with the job, and a voluntary certification is one employers may ask for.
- Licensed residential, certified residential or certified general appraiser
State appraiser regulatory agency (AQB sets the minimum) · State license - Required for federally related transactions.
BLS
Property Appraisers and Assessors — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Assessor certification
Some states or localities · State license - No federal requirement for assessors; most states set education and experience requirements, and in a few states each locality sets them.
BLS
Property Appraisers and Assessors — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
State licensing matrix
Federal law requires appraisers of real estate to have a state license or certification for federally related transactions, such as appraisals for loans made by federally insured banks. There is no such federal requirement for appraisers of personal and business property or for assessors, although some states require certification. BLS
View source
| State or city | What you need |
|---|---|
| Texas Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) |
Trainee: 83 hours of qualifying education plus the 4-hour trainee/supervisor course and a supervisor. Licensed residential: 158 hours and 1,000 hours over at least 6 months (or Licensed Residential PAREA). Certified residential: 200 hours, college-level education (6 options) and 1,500 hours over at least 12 months. Certified general: 300 hours, a bachelor's degree and 3,000 hours over at least 18 months with 1,500 non-residential. Exams through Pearson VUE; a pass is valid 24 months. TALCBBecome an Appraiser TraineeTexas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB)
talcb.texas.gov does not answer from India (connection timed out); read from the Internet Archive capture of 19 May 2026. View sourceTALCBBecome a Licensed Residential AppraiserTexas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB)
talcb.texas.gov does not answer from India (connection timed out); read from the Internet Archive capture of 13 May 2026. View sourceTALCBBecome a Certified Residential AppraiserTexas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB)
talcb.texas.gov does not answer from India (connection timed out); read from the Internet Archive capture of 10 Apr 2026. View sourceTALCBBecome a Certified General AppraiserTexas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB)
talcb.texas.gov does not answer from India (connection timed out); read from the Internet Archive capture of 13 May 2026. View source |
| California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) |
Trainee: 75 hours, no experience. Residential (AL): 150 hours and 1,000 hours over at least 6 months. Certified residential (AR): college-level education, 200 hours and 1,500 hours over 12 months. Certified general (AG): bachelor's degree, 300 hours and 3,000 hours over 18 months with 1,500 non-residential. Licensed residential applicants also take a 1-hour cultural competency and a 4-hour California laws course. BREAReal Estate Appraiser License LevelsCalifornia Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)
BREABecome a Licensed Residential AppraiserCalifornia Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)
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Where to go next
Every career page in this cluster: entry, license, BLS pay and outlook.
What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and how to become one.