Arizona Appraiser License Requirements
If you want to know how to become an appraiser in Arizona or how to upgrade your current license, we’re outlining Arizona’s specific requirements for each credential. Once you know the requirements, McKissock has the state-required qualifying education appraiser classes to help you reach your goals.
Arizona Appraiser License: Trainee
How to become an appraiser in Arizona
The first step to become an appraiser in Arizona is to be a Registered Trainee Appraiser. During this stage, you’re learning how to evaluate properties, conduct research, and write reports. The requirements to receive your trainee license are:
- Complete 75 hours of qualifying education
- Complete a 4-hour Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course
- Choose a supervisory appraiser who will provide diligent supervision over all appraisal work
Once you’ve completed those three steps, you can apply with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) for your Registered Trainee Appraiser license and begin gaining experience and earning income.
What does an real estate appraiser do?
An appraiser informs their client, such as a lender or property owner, of the current fair market value of a property. This information is primarily used by lenders to ensure the mortgage they issued isn’t more than the house is determined to be worth. Appraisers are also needed to determine a property’s value during estate planning, a divorce settlement, or a tax assessment.
An appraiser performs a comprehensive assessment of the property, considering lot size, square footage, amenities, and the quality and condition of the building materials. In addition to property details, the appraiser will also research sales of comparable properties, tax information, and location to complete the valuation. Once they have their on-site observations and off-site research complete, they’ll use the information to draft their appraisal report.
Arizona Trainee Appraiser (79 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 for Arizona – 4 hours
Online Info
Required Education:
79 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Arizona – 4 hours
2015 AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course Requirement: Both the Trainee Appraiser and Supervisory Appraiser shall be required to complete a course that, at minimum, complies with the specifications for course content established by the AQB. The course must be completed by the Trainee Appraiser prior to obtaining a Trainee Appraiser credential, and completed by the Supervisory Appraiser prior to supervising a Trainee Appraiser.
Experience: N/A
College Education: N/A
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
Good to know – FAQs about becoming an appraiser in Arizona
Should I earn my Arizona appraisal license?
As an Arizona appraiser, you can build a thriving career that offers a flexible schedule and scalable growth while giving you more control over your earning potential. You can choose to work with appraisal management companies (AMCs) or connect with clients independently. Even during periods when the market slows down, appraisers are in demand for tasks like estate planning, divorce settlements, and tax assessments.
How long does it take to become an appraiser in Arizona?
All you need to get started is the 79 hours of qualifying education outlined above, connect with a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser to act as your supervisor, and apply with the state board. With McKissock’s livestreaming and on-demand appraisal classes, you can complete your required education on the timeline that works best for you. Then, the application can be processed typically in a few weeks.
Helpful links and resources:
Arizona Appraiser License: Licensed Residential
Becoming a licensed residential appraiser in Arizona
A Licensed Residential Appraiser in Arizona can to appraise:
- Non-complex 1-4 residential units with a transactional value of less than $1 million
- Complex 1-4 residential units with a transaction value less than $250,000
- Vacant or unimproved land for which the highest and best use is for 1-4 family purposes
To earn this credential, you will need to have 154 total hours of qualifying education, which will include the 79 hours you needed to earn your Trainee license. You will also need to provide 1,000 hours of appraisal experience, verified by your supervisory appraiser. After you submit your information to the state board, you will need to apply to sit for the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Licensed Residential Appraisers.
Arizona Licensed Residential Appraiser (154 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 for Arizona* – 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
*Courses required to obtain Trainee license
Online Info
Qualifying Education:
154 QE Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Arizona – 4 hours
Residential Market Analysis & 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.
Experience: 1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in not less than 6 months.
College Education: No college-level education required.
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
Good to know:
Once I have my Arizona appraiser license, then what?
All appraisers must renew their license every two years. Part of this process includes submitting proof of 28 hours of Continuing Education, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update Course within each two-year renewal period.
How much do appraisers make in Arizona?
While the average salary for a residential appraiser in Texas is around $58,000 per year¹, a real estate appraiser’s income is dependent on a variety of factors, including:
- License level: A higher credential tends to lead to a higher salary because you can charge more for services and take on more challenging projects.
- Location: Appraisers in Phoenix or other higher population and cost-of-living areas tend to have a higher income than appraisers in rural or lower COL areas in the state.
- Experience: Even with the same license level, an appraiser who has been working longer tends to make more than a new appraiser as the experienced appraiser may have more connections and has had time to build their business.
Arizona Appraiser License: Certified Residential
Arizona Appraiser License: Certified Residential
A Certified Residential Appraiser in Texas is permitted to appraise all 1-4 unit residential properties regardless of transaction value or complexity. You can also appraise vacant or unimproved land for which the highest and best use is for 1-4 family purposes.
To earn this credential, you will need 204 total qualifying education hours, 1,500 hours of practical appraisal experience, and, unless you have been a Licensed Residential Appraiser for over five years, you will need to meet one of the following:
1) Bachelor’s Degree in any field of study
2) Associates Degree in a field of study related to: Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics; or Real Estate
3) Successful completion of 30 semester hours of college-level courses that cover each of the following specified topics
4) Successful completion of at least 30 semester hours of College Level Examination Program® (CLEP®) examinations
5) Any combination of Option #3 and Option #4 that includes all of the topics specified in Option #3
You must also apply with the state board to sit for the National Uniformed Licensing and Certification Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers.
Arizona Certified Residential Appraiser (204 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
*Courses required to become a Trainee Appraiser
Online Info
Required Education:
204 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Arizona – 4 hours
Residential Market Analysis & 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 and Finance – 15 hours.
Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies – 15 hours.
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives – 20 hours.
Experience: 1,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in not less than 12 months.
College Education:
1) Bachelor’s Degree in any field of study;
2) Associate’s Degree in a focused field of study, such as business, economics, or real estate;
3) Successful completion of 30 college semester credit hours in specified topics;
4) Successful completion of College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)1 exams equivalent to a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in specified subject matter areas; or
5) Any combination of #3 and #4 above that includes all of the topics identified.
6) A LICENSED RESIDENTIAL appraiser who has been licensed for a minimum of 5 years and in good standing for at least 5 years with no disciplinary actions that would affect the individual’s ability to appraise may upgrade to CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL without completing any college coursework.
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
Good To Know
Why become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Arizona?
As a Certified Residential Appraiser, you have fewer limitations on your license, so you can take on more complex properties, including luxury homes, vacant land, sustainable homes, and historical dwellings. This expands your earning potential and builds your career.
Arizona Appraiser License: Certified General
Certified General Appraisers in Arizona have no limits on their license and can appraise all types of property, including residential, multi-family, vacant land, and commercial property.
To become a Certified General Appraiser, you will need 304 total hours of qualifying education, a bachelor’s degree or higher, and at least 3,000 hours of practical appraisal experience, with at least half of those hours appraising non-residential property. You will also need to pass the National Uniformed Licensing and Certification Examination for Certified General Appraisers.
Arizona Certified General Appraiser (304 hours) – AQB recommended course order
- Basic Appraisal Principles* – 30 hours
- Basic Appraisal Procedures* – 30 hours
- National USPAP Course or Equivalent* – 15 hour
- 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
Online Info
Required Education:
304 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Arizona – 4 hours
General Appraiser Market Analysis & Highest and Best Use – 30 hours.
General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach – 30 hours.
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach – 30 hours.
General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies – 30 hours.
Statistics, Modeling and Finance – 15 hours.
General Appraiser Income Approach – 60 hours.
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives – 30 hours.
Experience: 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no less than 18 months. A minimum of 1,500 hours of the required experience must be in non-residential appraisal work.
College Education: Must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
Good To Know – FAQs about becoming a Certified General Appraiser in Arizona
Why become a Certified General Appraiser?
Certified General Appraisers can appraise all types of real property, and this offers you more opportunities to grow your business, diversify your revenue through different services, and increase your income.
How much do Certified General Appraisers earn in Arizona? Sources:
The average salary for a commercial real estate appraiser is around $111,0001. As we’ve mentioned, it’s important to factor in variables like location, experience, and the number of hours you work to get a more realistic look at salary.
Sources: