How to Earn or Upgrade Your Florida Appraiser License
Property appraisers often have a flexible schedule and the potential for greater income control while enjoying the benefits that come from owning their own business. Are you interested in learning how to become an appraiser in Florida or advancing your current license? McKissock Learning provides the necessary qualifying education coursework to help you reach your objectives.

Florida Appraiser License: Registered Trainee
How to become an appraiser in Florida
The first step to earn your Florida appraiser license is to become a Registered Trainee Appraiser. As a Trainee, you’ll work directly under a Certified Supervisory Appraiser who will make sure you get hands-on experience evaluating properties, researching real estate market information, and writing appraisal reports.
Steps to become a Registered Trainee Appraiser in Florida
Step 1: Complete the required education
You’ll need to pass 104 hours of Florida appraisal pre-licensing education, including three AQB Basic Qualifying Education courses, a Supervisor/Trainee orientation course, a Florida Laws and rules course, and additional elective courses:
- Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours)
- Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours)
- 15-Hour National USPAP Course (15 hours)
- Supervisor/Trainee Course for Florida (4 hours)
- Florida Laws and Rules course (6 hours)
- Appraisal subject matter electives
Step 2: Connect with a Supervisory Appraiser
Before you apply for your license, you need to have a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser agree to act as your Supervisory Appraiser. They must also take the Supervisory/Trainee Appraiser Course for Florida.
Step 3: Apply for your Trainee registration
Apply to become a Registered Trainee Appraiser with the Florida Appraisal Board. You’ll need to complete the initial application, undergo fingerprinting and a background check, and provide proof of completing the required Florida appraisal courses. You’ll also need to pay any licensing and application fees.
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Florida licensing board. For more information, contact the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board at 850.487.1395.
Florida Trainee Appraiser (104 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Effective July 30, 2014, The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board permits Qualifying Education to be completed online.
*Note the examination must be proctored in person or remotely. Bio-metric proctoring is acceptable.
Required Education:
104 Hours:
Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours)
Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours)
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Florida – 4 hours
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (25 hours which shall include 6 hours of the Florida Laws and Rules).
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.
61J1-4.001 Qualifying Education (5): students failing the Board approved end-of-course examination must wait at least 30 days from the date of the original examination to take the alternate end-of-course examination. Within one year of the original end-of-course examination, a student may retake the prescribed end-of-course exam a maximum of one time.
Experience: N/A
College Education: N/A
Online Limitations
Roster
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
FAQs about how to become an appraiser in Florida
What does a Florida property appraiser do?
Appraisers estimate a property’s market value. Typically, they complete a comprehensive physical inspection to note the square footage, quality and condition, and amenities of the property. They also research the local real estate market, including tax records and recently sold comparable properties to determine an accurate valuation. They also write detailed appraisal reports of their findings.
Should I get my Florida appraiser license?
If you’re looking for a flexible, profitable, and challenging career in real estate, consider becoming a licensed appraiser. Lenders, property owners, government agencies, and even legal professionals need property appraisals at any given point. Regardless of fluctuations in the Florida housing market, real estate appraisal can be a very stable, lucrative career—especially with its lower start-up costs compared to other professions.
How long does it take to become a certified appraiser in Florida?
Most people can complete the process to become a Registered Trainee Appraiser in just a few weeks or months—especially with McKissock’s self-guided, on-demand qualifying education (QE) packages.
Our flexible QE packages let you complete your appraisal courses when and where it’s convenient for you. We also offer livestream courses that let you engage with the instructor, ask questions, and stay on track without getting overwhelmed.
After you become a Registered Trainee, the next steps to become a certified appraiser in Florida will take an additional 1 to 2 years, depending on which license level you choose to pursue. The process to become a Certified Residential Appraiser can be done in a little over 12 months. The process to become a Certified General Appraiser can be completed in a little over 18 months.
Go to the “Certified Residential” and “Certified General” tabs at the top of this page to learn the specific requirements for each designation.
How much does a property appraiser make in Florida?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of Florida property appraisers and assessors is $72,540.1 Salary.com states that most residential real estate appraisers in Florida make between $49,017 and $98,760, and most commercial appraisers in Florida make between $43,036 and $130,718.2-5 Glassdoor gives higher salary estimates for Florida property appraisers, listing the average salary of Florida home appraisers as $121,231 per year and the average salary of Florida commercial real estate appraisers as $112,220 per year.6,7
Factors that impact appraisal income include: license level, location, years of experience, number of hours worked per week, area of specialization, and advanced skills or professional certifications.
Helpful resources:
- Florida Licensing Information
- Guide: Is an Appraisal Career Right for You?
- FAQ: How do I find a supervisory appraiser?
Sources cited:
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Property Appraisers and Assessors (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Appraiser (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Florida (Salary.com)
- Appraiser Sr. (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Florida (Salary.com)
- Appraiser I (Commercial Real Estate) Salary in Florida (Salary.com)
- Appraiser IV (Commercial Real Estate) Salary in Florida (Salary.com)
- Residential Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Florida (Glassdoor)
- Commercial Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Florida (Glassdoor)
Florida Appraiser License: Certified Residential
How to become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Florida
In the state of Florida, Certified Residential Appraisers (also called home appraisers) can appraise any 1-4 unit residential property, without limit to value or complexity.
To earn this designation, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete 204 hours of required education (this includes the 104 required hours to become a Registered Trainee Appraiser)
- Complete 1,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Certified Residential Appraisers
- Meet one of the following college education criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in any field of study
- Associate degree from an accredited college or university in a focused field of study, such as Economics or Real Estate
- Successfully complete 30 hours of college credit in specified topics
- Complete at least 30 semester units of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations that cover specified topics
- Any combination of college credit or CLEP credit in specified topics
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Florida licensing board. For more information, contact the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board at 850.487.1395.
Florida Certified Residential Appraiser (204 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Effective July 30, 2014, The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board permits Qualifying Education to be completed online.
*Note the examination must be proctored in person or remotely. Bio-metric proctoring is acceptable.
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 Florida – 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 which shall include 6 hours of the Florida Laws and Rules.
61J1-4.001 Qualifying Education (5): students failing the Board approved end-of-course examination must wait at least 30 days from the date of the original examination to take the alternate end-of-course examination. Within one year of the original end-of-course examination, a student may retake the prescribed end-of-course exam a maximum of one time.
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.
Online Limitations
Roster
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
FAQs about how to become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Florida
Why become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Florida?
Earning a Certified Residential Appraiser designation opens the door to appraising all types of residential property with four units or less. You can take on a wider variety of assignments to grow your business and don’t need a college degree to do so. See above for information on college-level education requirements.
How much do residential appraisers earn in Florida?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of Florida property appraisers and assessors is $72,540.1 Salary.com states that most residential real estate appraisers in Florida make between $49,017 and $98,760.2,3 Glassdoor gives a higher estimate, listing the average salary of Florida residential appraisers as $121,231 per year.4
Helpful resources:
Sources cited:
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Property Appraisers and Assessors (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Appraiser (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Florida (Salary.com)
- Appraiser Sr. (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Florida (Salary.com)
- Residential Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Florida (Glassdoor)
Florida Appraiser License: Certified General
How to become a Certified General Appraiser in Florida
In Florida, Certified General Appraisers (also called commercial appraisers) don’t have any limits on their license and can appraise any property, including single-family homes, multi-family properties, vacant land, industrial property, and commercial businesses.
To become a Certified General Appraiser, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete 304 hours of required education (this includes the 104 required hours to become a Registered Trainee Appraiser)
- Log 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 18 months, 1,500 hours of which must dedicated to non-residential property
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Certified General Appraisers
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Florida licensing board. For more information, contact the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board at 850.487.1395.
Florida Certified General Appraiser (304 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Effective July 30, 2014, The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board permits Qualifying Education to be completed online.
*Note the examination must be proctored in person or remotely. Bio-metric proctoring is acceptable.
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 Florida – 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 which shall include 6 hours of the Florida Laws and Rules).
61J1-4.001 Qualifying Education (5): students failing the Board approved end-of-course examination must wait at least 30 days from the date of the original examination to take the alternate end-of-course examination. Within one year of the original end-of-course examination, a student may retake the prescribed end-of-course exam a maximum of one time.
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
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
FAQs about becoming a commercial appraiser in Florida
Do I need a college degree to be a Certified General Appraiser?
Yes, you will need a bachelor’s degree (in any field) from an accredited college or university.
How much do Certified General Appraisers make in Florida?
Most commercial real estate appraisers in Florida make a yearly salary between $43,036 and $130,718, according to Salary.com.1,2 Glassdoor lists the average salary of Florida commercial real estate appraisers as $112,289 per year.3
A commercial appraiser’s income can vary widely based on experience level, location, number of hours worked per week, and area of specialization (e.g., hospitality, commercial/industrial, agricultural).