How to Get an Appraiser License in Washington

License levels recognized in Washington

Click HERE to view state requirements.

State Registered Real Estate Appraiser Trainee
State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser
State Certified Residential Appraiser
State Certified General Appraiser

Steps to becoming an appraiser in the state of Washington

STEP 1: Find a supervisor/mentor to work with to log your experience hours. (Suggestions for finding a supervisor/mentor) To gain your required experience hours you must train under an appraiser that meets all the following requirements:

Be certified as a general or residential appraiser for a minimum of 3 years..
Be in good standing for the 3 years immediately preceding their supervisor registration
Have no more than 3 trainees with less than 1 year experience
Have successfully completed a 4-hour Supervisory/Trainee course

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)

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

STEP 3: Submit the Application and fee to WASDOL which includes:

Forms (Trainee Application)
Fees (Fee chart)
Education – completion certificates and/or official college transcripts
Experience (Experience Log Instructions) (Experience Log)

STEP 4: Fingerprint and background check is required. Be prepared to answer the (Fingerprinting and background checks information)

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 Washington State Department of Licensing 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.

Next steps after getting or upgrading your Wastington appraiser license

Appraisal licenses expire every two years on your birthday. You can renew 120 days before your license expires.

Renewal Process

Education Requirements

Complete 28 hours of approved appraiser continuing education (ACE) courses during the two year license period, which must include a 7 hour National USPAP Update course.
You will need to have your certificate of completion documents ready to upload.

Before you renew:

if this is your first time using the online system you will need to set up an account. Once complete you can complete the remaining steps and update online.
Update your contact information online before you renew.

Have your required continuing education completed: 28 hours including 7-hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). You’ll need to provide your certificates of completion.
Be ready to answer legal backgroun questions and provide documents if needed.

Click HERE to start your renewal.

What you’ll need:

Your license number.
Documents ready to upload, if needed.
Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit or debit card, or bank account information to pay renewal fee.

Want to renew by mail?

Submit a Real Estate Appraiser/Appraiser Trainee Renewal Affidavit.

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 Washington

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 2,000 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 12 months
Certified Residential Appraiser – Provide 2,500 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 24 months
Certified General Appraiser – Provide 3,000 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 30 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:

Forms (Licensed Residential Application) (Certified Residential Application) (Certified General Application)
Fees (on application)
Education – completion certificates and/or official college transcripts
Experience (Real Estate Appraiser Applicant/Trainee Experience Log)
Background information for criminal records check. (Fingerprinting and backgrou check information)

STEP 5: Examination Process Must pass the national examination approved by AQB and WASDOL. Washington 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 10, 2020. Please review the state board/commission page to determine if any changes have been made to the process since then.