If you’re looking for a new career that doesn’t require a college degree, getting your appraiser license may be the right step. To help you figure out if you have the necessary prerequisites to become a property appraiser, as well as the education and experience you’ll need along the career path, we’re breaking down the appraiser education requirements by licensing level and answering some other questions you may have, too.
Do You Need a College Degree to Become an Appraiser?
The short answer is, probably not. But it depends on two factors: where you live and what level of licensing you want to obtain. The Appraisal Qualifying Board (AQB) sets minimum education prerequisites for each license:
- Trainee Appraiser: No college degree is required.
- Licensed Residential Appraiser: No college degree is required.
- Certified Residential Appraiser: The AQB requires a bachelor’s degree, associate degree in an approved field, or 30 college semester credit hours in specific topics or completion of CLEP exams.
- Certified General Appraiser (or commercial appraiser): A bachelor’s degree or higher in any field is required.
States are allowed to set their own appraiser education requirements. For example, Alabama follows the AQB prerequisites, but Indiana has stricter requirements—Certified Residential Appraisers in Indiana must have a bachelor’s degree.
Want to see your state’s education requirements? Check out the appraisal licensing guidelines by state.
Appraisal Education Requirements
In addition to the general education prerequisites, there are also specific amounts of appraisal education hours required at each stage of the licensing process.
- Trainee Appraiser: Complete 83 hours of qualifying education, including Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures, a National USPAP Course, and a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Course. (The Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Course is now required in most states, effective January 1, 2026.)
- Licensed Residential Appraiser: Obtain your state’s appraisal trainee license, complete 75 additional hours (158 total hours) of qualifying education, and pass the applicable section of the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam.
- Certified Residential Appraiser: Complete 200 total hours of qualifying education and pass the applicable section of the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam.
- Certified General Appraiser: Complete 300 total hours of qualifying education and pass the applicable section of the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam.
Appraiser Experience Requirements
In addition to the appraisal education requirements, you’ll also need to get on-the-job appraisal experience. After you become a trainee, you’ll need to work with a supervisory appraiser and gain at least 1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months.
Certified Residential Appraisers will need to obtain 1,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months. To become a certified general appraiser, you’ll need 3,000 hours of acceptable experience in no less than 18 months, and at least 1,500 hours must be devoted to commercial or non-residential property.
Check out the chart below for a clear breakdown of the appraiser education requirements and experience needs.
Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria*
| Classification | Education Hours | College Degree Requirements | Experience Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee Appraiser | 83 | None | None |
| Licensed Residential Appraiser | 158 | None | 1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months |
| Certified Residential Appraiser | 200 | Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree in a focused field of study, successful completion of 30 college semester credit hours in specified topics or successful completion of CLEP exams | 1,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months |
| Certified General Appraiser | 300 | Bachelor’s degree or higher (in any field) from an accredited college or university | 3,000 hours of experience in no fewer than 18 months (of which 1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work) |
* Hours required include specific curriculum courses and hours — please see the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria for details. Individual states may have stricter requirements.
Download Our Free Appraiser Salary Guide
Learn about real estate appraiser income and earning potential with our 2025 Appraisal Salary Guide. In this free guide, you’ll learn the average salary depending on licensing level, experience, and even geography, as well as how many hours a week on average appraisers work and more.
