How to Become an Appraiser in Illinois
If you’re exploring how to become an appraiser in Illinois or you want to know more about upgrading an existing credential, learn about the state requirements you’ll need to meet. No matter where you are on your appraisal career path, McKissock Learning has the appraisal courses and resources you need to achieve your goals.
Illinois Appraiser License: Associate Trainee
How to become an appraiser in Illinois
To become a real estate appraiser in Illinois, the first thing you’ll need to do is earn your Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser license. As an Associate Trainee Appraiser, you’ll work with a Supervisory Appraiser to gain hands-on experience and learn about how to perform on-site observations and inspections, analyze neighborhood data, and write appraisal reports.
To obtain your Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser license, you must:
Step 1: Complete 78 hours of Illinois appraiser education, consisting of three AQB Basic Qualifying Education courses (75 hours) and a Supervisor/Trainee orientation course (3 hours).
Step 2: Submit your application and fingerprints for background check.
Step 3: Connect with a Supervisory Appraiser who will agree to supervise your training. In Illinois, you may work with multiple supervisors.
Important: Double-check all steps and requirements with your state regulatory agency. Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Real Estate Division) at 800.560.6420 for more information.
After I become a Trainee, then what?
Once you’re a licensed Associate Trainee, you can begin working under your supervisor and earning wages. In addition to logging a specified amount of appraisal experience, you’ll need to take some licensing and certification courses and pass a national exam to become a fully certified real estate appraiser in Illinois.
Navigate to the “Certified Residential” and “Certified General” tabs at the top of this page to learn the requirements to earn each of those designations.
Illinois Associate Trainee Appraiser (78 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
78 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Illinois – 3 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
FAQs about how to become an appraiser in Illinois
Should I get my Illinois appraiser license?
Appraisers in Illinois can build a thriving career with lower start-up costs and risk than many comparable professions. Even when the market slows down, appraisers can provide non-lender services, like valuations used in estate planning, divorce settlements, and eminent domain cases. Also, appraisers often enjoy sustainable income and flexible schedules.
What does an Illinois property appraiser do?
A real estate appraiser estimates the market value of a property. Acting independently of the buyers or sellers in the transaction, they provide their objective, unbiased opinions of the market value of the property by observing and documenting square footage, quality and condition, and amenities. They also research the local market and comparable properties to determine an accurate valuation and write an appraisal report of their findings.
How long does it take to become an appraiser in Illinois?
The first step—becoming an Associate Trainee Appraiser—can be completed in as little as a few weeks or months, depending on how quickly you can complete your coursework and how long it takes for the state to approve your application and background check. The full process to become a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser in Illinois will take about 1–2 years. You will need to gain at least 12 months (Certified Residential) or 18 months (Certified General) of appraisal work experience to complete your certification.
To help you achieve your goals on a timeline that works best for you, McKissock Learning offers online appraisal courses in flexible learning formats so that you can complete your pre-licensing education when and how it’s convenient for you.
How much does a property appraiser make in Illinois?
According to Salary.com, most residential real estate appraisers in Illinois make between $52,784 and $106,349, and most commercial appraisers in Illinois make between $46,342 and $140,762.1-4 Glassdoor gives higher salary estimates, listing the average salary of Illinois home appraisers as $127,681 per year and the average salary of Illinois commercial real estate appraisers as $106,848 per year.5,6
Factors that influence a property appraiser’s 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:
- Illinois Licensing Information
- AQB Appraiser Qualification Criteria
- Guide: Is an Appraisal Career Right for You?
- FAQ: How do I find a supervisory appraiser?
Sources cited:
- Appraiser (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Illinois (Salary.com)
- Appraiser Sr. (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Illinois (Salary.com)
- Appraiser I (Commercial Real Estate) Salary in Illinois (Salary.com)
- Appraiser IV (Commercial Real Estate) Salary in Illinois (Salary.com)
- Residential Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Illinois (Glassdoor)
- Commercial Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Illinois (Glassdoor)
Illinois Appraiser License: Certified Residential
How to become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Illinois
In Illinois, a Certified Residential Appraiser can appraise any 1-4 unit residential property without regard to complexity or transaction value. This also includes appraising vacant or unimproved land used for 1-4 family purposes or for which the highest and best use is for 1-4 family purposes.
To become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Illinois, you must:
- Complete 203 hours of qualifying education (78 of which was earned to become an Associate Trainee Appraiser)
- Complete 1,500 of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months under the supervision of a certified appraiser
- 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’s 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: Double-check all steps and requirements with your state regulatory agency. Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Real Estate Division) at 800.560.6420 for more information.
Illinois Certified Residential Appraiser (203 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 Illinois – 3 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
Online Info
Required Education:
203 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Illinois – 3 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.
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
FAQs about how to become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Illinois
Why become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Illinois?
Having the Certified Residential Appraiser credential lets you take on assignments for all types of residential property below four units. This allows you to take on more assignments to increase your income and grow your business.
How much do Certified Residential Appraisers make in Illinois?
While salary depends on a variety of factors, including location and experience level, the average residential real estate appraiser in Illinois earns between $52,784 and $106,349, according to Salary.com.1,2 Glassdoor gives a higher number, estimating that Illinois home appraisers earn an average salary of $127,681 per year.3
What is the exam like?
You will be eligible for the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam once you’ve completed all coursework and logged your experience. The 4-hour exam is administered by AMP, which is owned by PSI.
In total there are 125 questions on the exam, including 15 practice questions that won’t hurt your score if you answer incorrectly. You need a score of 75 to pass the exam, but if you fail to do this, you can retake the exam as many as three times.
Helpful resources:
Sources cited:
Illinois Appraiser License: Certified General
How to become a Certified General Appraiser in Illinois
In the state of Illinois, Certified General Appraisers (also called commercial appraisers) have no limits on their license, so they can appraise all types of property—including single family homes, multi-family properties, vacant land, industrial property, and commercial buildings.
To become a Certified General Appraiser in Illinois, you must:
- Complete 303 hours of required education (this includes the 78 required hours to become an Associate Trainee Appraiser)
- Complete 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 18 months, 1,500 of which must be in non-residential appraisal work
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Certified General Appraisers
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Important: Double-check all steps and requirements with your state regulatory agency. Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Real Estate Division) at 800.560.6420 for more information.
Illinois Certified General Appraiser (303 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
303 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Supervisor/Trainee Course for Illinois – 3 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
FAQs about how to become a Certified General Appraiser in Illinois
Do I need a college degree to be a Certified General Appraiser in Illinois?
Yes, you will need a bachelor’s degree (in any field) from an accredited college or university.
How much do Certified General Appraisers earn in Illinois?
While appraisal income depends on a variety of factors, including location and experience level, most commercial real estate appraisers in Illinois make between $46,342 and $140,762, according to Salary.com.1,2 Glassdoor lists the average salary of Illinois commercial appraisers as $106,848 per year.3