How to Get an Appraiser License in Montana

License levels recognized in Montana

Click HERE to view state requirements.

  1. Trainee Appraiser
  2. Licensed Residential Appraiser
  3. Certified Residential Appraiser
  4. Certified General Appraiser
Montana Appraisal License

Steps to becoming an appraiser in the state of Montana

STEP 1: Find a supervisor/mentor to work with to log your experience hours. (Suggestions for finding a supervisor/mentor)

STEP 2: Successfully complete 75 hours of qualifying education courses  approved by the Board.  In addition, successfully complete the AQB approved Supervisory/Trainee Course. Successful completion requires passing the course final examinations for each course with a proctor. Proctoring requirement only applies to qualifying education and does not include the Supervisory course. (Course Online Proctoring Policy and Requirements)

  1. Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
  2. Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30-hours
  3. National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
  4. Supervisor/Trainee Course – 4 hours

STEP 3: Submit the Application and fee to MT BREA which includes:

  1. Forms (Application) (Checklist)
  2. Fees (included on application)
  3. Education – completion certificates and/or official college transcripts
  4. Experience (Experience Log)

STEP 4: Fingerprint and background check is required. 

Additional Helpful Links and Resource Downloads:

Ready to get started? Click the button below to view class options and enroll.

VIEW PACKAGES AND SUBSCRIPTION

McKissock courses and online delivery method are approved by the Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers and International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC).

McKissock is the exclusive provider of The Appraisal Foundation‘s national online USPAP course for the past 10 years.

Montana Appraiser License

Next steps after getting or upgrading your Montana appraiser license

As an Appraisal licensee, you must renew your license every year. Montana appraisal licenses expire annually on 3/31.  Education is required every 24 months and due on 3/31 odd numbered years.

Education Requirements

  • Montana Appraisers are required to obtain 28 hours of continuing education every 2 years including 7 hours of the National USPAP Update course.
  • Effective October 15, 2016 the Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers accepts the National USPAP Update course or its AQB-approved equivalent online.  
  • Licenses expire annually on 3/31.
  • Renewal fees application are required every year, education every other year by 3/31 odd numbered years.

License Renewal

Tips Before You Begin Your Online Renewal:

  • To renew online, you must have an existing EBiz account. Click here for instructions to create your EBiz account.
  • If you are having issues logging into your existing EBiz account, contact Customer Service at (406) 444-6880 or [email protected]. DO NOT CREATE ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
  • If you are going to change your license status, please contact Customer Service before beginning the renewal process.

Online Renewal Instructions:

  • Navigate your browser to EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL. We recommend using Google Chrome as your
    browser.
  • Login to your EBiz account.
  • Click the blue “Renew License” button in your license record.
  • Answer all renewal questions for your license.
  • Click the “Continue Application” button to proceed.
  • Upload any documentation needed for your renewal, as needed.
  • Click the “Continue Application” button to proceed.
  • Review your information.
  • Click the “Continue Application” button to proceed.
  • Review your fee information.
  • Enter your payment information.

If you need to speak with someone during this process, please contact our Customer Service team at (406) 444-6880. You can also email the Customer Service team at [email protected].

Uploading Documents for Renewal

Follow the How-To Checklist below for uploading documents to your professional or occupational license record.

  • Navigate your browser to EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL. We recommend using Google Chrome for your
    browser.
  • Login into your account.
  • If you have more than one license, select the record where you’d like to update your document.
  • Select the blue “Browse” button.
  • Select the blue “Browse” button again from the dialogue box.
  • Choose the record you’d like to upload from your computer. Only upload black and white
    documents.
  • Click the “Continue” button.
  • Select the type of document from the drop-down menu.
  • Fill in the “Description” box with details about your document.
  • Select “Save” to keep your uploaded documents. Select “Remove All” to remove your documents.
  • Verify your uploaded document(s) have been added to your licensing record.

If you need to speak with someone during this process, please contact our Customer Service team at (406) 444-6880. You can also email the Customer Service team at [email protected]

Click HERE to begin your online renewal.

Need to take classes for renewal? Click the button below to view class options and enroll.

VIEW MEMBERSHIP AND PACKAGES

Steps to upgrade your appraiser license in the state of Montana

STEP 1: Hold a valid appriasal license and successfully complete the additional required qualifying education courses (see course requirements below by license level). Successful completion of qualifying education courses requires passing the course final examination for each course with a proctor. (Course Online Proctoring Policy and Requirements)

STEP 2: Complete and document all required experience hours for your upgrade level.

  • Licensed Residential Appraiser – Provide 1,000 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 6 months
  • Certified Residential Appraiser – Provide 1,500 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 12 months
  • Certified General Appraiser – Provide 3,000 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 18 months of which a minimum of 1,500 hours must be non-residential real property appraisal experience

STEP 3: Complete courses and maintain copies of transcripts for all college level requirements.

  • Certified Residential Appraiser – (See table at top of page or view requirements HERE)
  • Certified General Appraiser – You must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

*Continuing education requirements and process for license upgrade displayed in above renewal section.

STEP 4: Submit the Application package which includes:

  1. Forms (Licensed Residential Application) (Checklist) (Certified Resiential Application) (Checklist) (Certified General Application) (Checklist)
  2. Fees (on application) 
  3. Education – completion certificates and/or official college transcripts
  4. Experience (Experience Log)
  5. Fingerprint and background check is required. (Instructions for Fingerprint/Background Check)

STEP 5: Examination Process Must pass the national examination approved by AQB and MT BREA. Montana national exam provider is AMP.

Additional Helpful Links and Resource Dowloads:

Ready to upgrade your license? Click the button below to view class options and enroll.

VIEW PACKAGES AND SUBSCRIPTION

Qualifying education requirements by license level

Trainee Appraiser (75 hours) – AQB recommended course order

 

  • Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
  • Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
  • National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
  • Supervisor/Trainee Course – 4 hours

 

 

Certified Residential Appraiser (200 hours) – AQB recommended course order
  • Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
  • Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
  • National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
  • Supervisor/Trainee Course – 4 hours
  • Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use – 15 hours
  • Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach – 15 hours
  • Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches – 30 hours
  • Residential Report Writing and Case Studies – 15 hours
  • Statistics, Modeling or Finance – 15 hours
  • Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 hours
  • Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 20 hours
Licensed Residential Appraiser (150 hours) – AQB recommended course order
  • Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
  • Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
  • National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
  • Supervisor/Trainee Course – 4 hours
  • Residential Market Analysis and Highest And Best Use – 15 hours
  • Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach – 15 hours
  • Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches – 30 hours
  • Residential Report Writing and Case Studies – 15 hours
Certified General Appraiser (300 hours) – AQB recommended course order
  • Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
  • Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
  • National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
  • Supervisor/Trainee Course – 4 hours
  • General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use – 30 hours
  • Statistics, Modeling and Finance – 15 hours
  • General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach – 30 hours
  • General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach – 30 hours
  • General Appraiser Income Approach – 60 hours
  • General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies – 30 hours
  • Appraisal Subject Matter Electives – 30 hours

*These pages were updated on November, 2020.  Please review the state board/commission page to determine if any changes have been made to the process since then.