Pre-License Education

• Entering the appraisal profession requires successful completion of 75 hours of coursework to become a trainee. You can choose from a number of course providers, but your state must approve of the courses you choose. Most states publish a list of approved providers and courses. AQB requires 60 hours' study of basic appraisal principles and basic appraisal techniques. In addition, trainee candidates must take a 15-hour course that covers the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, or USPAP. You can become an appraisal trainee with no college experience, but state licensing requires an associate degree equivalency for the certified residential license, and a bachelor's degree for the certified general license.
  
  

Supervised Education

• A trainee status allows you to work under direct supervision of a certified appraiser to gain field experience. You must gain a minimum of 2,000 hours of appraisal experience during a minimum of 12 months. The AQB guidelines allow you to log experience under more than one mentor, and up to half of your supervised experience can consist of practicum courses that meet AQB guidelines.
  
  

Certification Levels

• The licensed residential appraiser exam requires you to complete an additional 75 hours of coursework, for a total of 150 hours. Appraisal coursework covers residential market analysis, site valuation and cost approach, sales comparisons and income approach and report writing. To test for the certified residential certification you need an associate-level degree, a total of 200 hours of appraisal education and 2,500 hours of experience over at least 24 months. Certified general candidates must earn a bachelor's degree or higher, take a total of 300 hours in appraisal coursework and log at least 3,000 hours of experience over a minimum of 30 months. With each level of certification, appraisal education hours dig deeper into appraisal procedures, ethics, case studies and report writing.
  
  

Continuing Education

• Once you become a licensed real estate appraiser, you must keep up with continuing education requirements. The AQB calls for 14 hours per year and a Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice update every two years. Continuing education courses allow you to explore a broader range of appraisal topics than the certification coursework. You can also join professional appraisal organizations and pursue appraisal designations. Each organization specifies the education achievements that qualify for its designations.