How to Become an Appraiser in Minnesota
Becoming a real estate appraiser offers you a great opportunity to start your own business, create a flexible schedule, and gain control over your earning potential. If you’re already an appraiser, upgrading your license can help you build your existing business and significantly increase your income.
Whether you want to learn how to become an appraiser in Minnesota or advance to a higher license level, McKissock has the appraisal courses you need to reach your goals.
Minnesota Appraiser License: Trainee
How to become an appraiser in Minnesota
The first step on an appraiser’s career journey is becoming a Trainee. As a Trainee Appraiser, you’ll work directly under a Supervisory Appraiser to learn how to complete property valuations and write appraisal reports. To get your Trainee Appraiser license in Minnesota, you will need to meet the state requirements listed below.
To become a Trainee Appraiser in Minnesota, you must:
- Complete 81 hours of required education, including three AQB Basic Qualifying Education courses (75 hours) and the Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee orientation course (6 hours)
- Find a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser willing to act as your Supervisory Appraiser
- Pass a criminal background check
- Apply for your Trainee Appraiser license with the state board
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Minnesota appraisal licensing board. For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Licensing Department at 651.539.1599.
Once I have my Trainee license, then what?
Once your Minnesota Appraiser Trainee license has been issued, you can begin working and earning money under your supervisor while logging your required appraisal experience. Meanwhile, you will also need to complete some additional licensing and certification courses and pass the national exam to become a Licensed, Certified Residential, or Certified General Appraiser in Minnesota.
Go to the “Licensed Appraiser,” “Certified Residential,” and “Certified General” tabs at the top of this page to learn the specific requirements for each license level.
Minnesota Trainee Appraiser (81 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
81 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course – 6 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
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
FAQs about how to become an appraiser in Minnesota
What does a Minnesota real estate appraiser do?
A real estate appraiser determines the fair market value of a property. Usually a lender will request this information for a potential buyer or for a homeowner seeking to refinance their mortgage, though appraisers are also needed to provide valuations for things like estate planning, divorce settlement, and tax assessment.
An appraiser completes a valuation by performing a comprehensive assessment of the property, observing the condition of the interior and exterior, noting amenities, lot size, square footage, and other property-specific details. However, the on-site portion is just part of the project. An appraiser also conducts research on the current real estate market and looks at comparable properties in the neighborhood to offer a clear, informed opinion on the value. Once they have their on-site assessment and off-site research complete, they’ll use the information to draft their appraisal report.
How long does it take to become an appraiser in Minnesota?
The first step, becoming a Trainee Appraiser, can be done in as little as a few weeks or a couple of months. At that point, you can begin working and earning money under your supervisor while completing the process to become a fully licensed or certified real estate appraiser. This will take at least an additional 6 months, 12 months, or 18 months to complete—depending on which license level you decide to pursue.
Go to the “Licensed Appraise,” “Certified Residential,” and “Certified General” tabs at the top of this page to learn the specific requirements for each license level.
To help expedite the process, McKissock offers both livestream courses for interactive learning and self-paced courses that you can access whenever your schedule allows.
Helpful resources:
Minnesota Appraiser License: Licensed
How to become a Licensed Appraiser in Minnesota
In Minnesota, a Licensed Appraiser (sometimes called a home appraiser or Licensed Residential Appraiser) is permitted 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 $400,000
- Vacant or unimproved land for which the highest and best use is for 1-4 family purposes
You’ll need an additional 75 hours of qualifying education and 1,000 hours of verified supervised experience completed in no fewer than six months. After you submit this information and your license application to the state board, you will then need to pass the National Uniformed Licensing and Certification Examination for Licensed Residential Appraisers.
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Minnesota appraisal licensing board. For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Licensing Department at 651.539.1599.
Minnesota Licensed Appraiser (156 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
156 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course – 6 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
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
FAQs about becoming a Licensed Appraiser in Minnesota
Once I have my Minnesota appraiser license, then what?
Once you have your license, whether you are a Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General Appraiser, you need to renew it every two years. To do this, you must complete 30 hours of Continuing Education, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update Course within each two-year renewal period.
How much do appraisers make in Minnesota?
The average salary range for a residential appraiser in Minnesota is between $52,521 and $71,2991. However, an appraiser’s income is dependent on a variety of factors, including:
- License level: Trainee Appraisers, Licensed Residential Appraisers, Certified Residential Appraisers, and Certified General Appraisers all have different average salaries, increasing with higher licensing levels.
- Location: Appraisers in the Minneapolis metro will likely have a higher income than appraisers in rural or lower cost-of-living areas in the state.
- Experience: Even with the same license level, an appraiser who has been on the job longer tends to make more than one just starting out as the experienced appraiser may have more connections and has had time to build their business.
- Self-employment or working more closely with appraisal management companies (AMCs)
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Minnesota Appraiser License: Certified Residential
Minnesota appraiser credential: Certified Residential
A Certified Residential Appraiser in Minnesota is permitted to appraise 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to transaction value or complexity as well as vacant or unimproved land for which the highest and best use is for 1-4 family purposes. This opens the door to appraising more complex luxury homes and historic homes.
To become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Minnesota, you will need to:
Step 1: Complete 206 total hours of Qualifying Education (this includes what you earned to become a Trainee and/or a Licensed Residential Appraiser)
Step 2: Provide verification of 1,500 hours of experience in no fewer than 12 months
Step 3: Fulfill one of the following college education options (unlike Trainee or Licensed Residential Appraiser), unless you have held a Licensed Residential credential for five years or more:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university
- 30 semester hours that include:
- English composition
- Microeconomics and macroeconomics
- Finance
- Algebra, geometry, or higher math
- Statistics
- Computer science
- Business law or real estate law
- Six hours of electives in any of the above topics or accounting, geography, agricultural economics, business management, or real estate
- 30 semester hours of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) in the courses listed above
- Any combination of CLEP and college courses in the list above
Step 4: Submit your application for Certified Residential Apprasier
Step 5: Pass the National Uniformed Licensing and Certification Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Minnesota appraisal licensing board. For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Licensing Department at 651.539.1599.
Minnesota Certified Residential Appraiser (206 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
206 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course – 6 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 in no fewer 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
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
Good To Know
Why become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Minnesota?
Earning the Certified Residential credential allows you to appraise all residential properties, including single family homes, duplexes, and triplexes of any value. You can broaden your practice to include luxury properties, rural properties, and multi-family properties below four units.
Minnesota Appraiser License: Certified General
How to become a Certified General Appraiser in Minnesota
Certified General Appraisers in Minnesota are permitted to appraise all types of property, including residential, multi-family, vacant land, and commercial property. To become Certified General, you need:
- Total of 306 hours of qualifying education
- 3,000 hours of verified experience, 1,500 hours of which must be non-residential property
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
After you submit your license application, you must pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination for Certified General Appraisers within 24 months.
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Minnesota appraisal licensing board. For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce Licensing Department at 651.539.1599.
Minnesota Certified General Appraiser (306 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
306 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours
Minnesota Supervisor/Trainee Appraiser Course – 6 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
Rosters are sent electronically each business day.
Governing Agency
Good To Know
Why become a Certified General Appraiser?
Certified General Appraisers have no limits on their credential, so they can appraise all types of properties. Again, the more types of property you can appraise, the larger you can grow your business and the higher your earning potential. In fact, Certified General Appraisers in Minnesota have an average income around $117,071. Again, there are a variety of factors that determine salary, so it’s important to consider that.
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