How Are Real Estate Home Appraisers Certified?

State regulations regarding licensing and certification of Real Estate Home Appraisers vary from state to state. However, licensing and certification is most often associated with many hours of coursework, tests and practical experience.

Once an appraiser is licensed, he or she is required to take continuing education courses in order to keep the appraisal license current.

In California, there are four levels of real estate appraiser licensing. They are:

• Trainee License
• Residential License
• Certified Residential License
• Certified General License
  

Each real estate level must successfully complete the specified hours of approved real estate appraisal courses for each level of licensure, including a course of at least 15 hours of on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

The specified hours are:

• 90 hours for the appraisal trainee classification.
  Must work under the technical supervision of a licensed appraiser. May assist on any appraisal within the scope of practice of the supervising appraiser.
• 90 hours for the licensed residential classification.
  The classroom hours required for the licensed residential real estate appraiser may include the classroom hours required for the appraiser trainee.
• 120 hours for the certified residential classification.
  The classroom hours required for the certified residential real estate appraiser may include the classroom hours required for the appraiser trainee or the licensed real estate appraiser.
• 180 hours for the certified general classification.
  The classroom hours required for the certified general real estate appraiser may include the classroom hours required for the appraiser trainee, the licensed residential real estate appraiser, or the certified residential real estate appraiser.