Pennsylvania Appraiser License Requirements
Property appraisers often enjoy the benefits of owning their own business, which include having a flexible schedule and greater control over their income. Do you want to know how to become a real estate appraiser in PA or how to upgrade your Pennsylvania appraiser license? McKissock Learning offers the appraisal classes and professional development resources you need to launch and grow your career.
Pennsylvania Appraiser License: Trainee
How to become a real estate appraiser in Pennsylvania
Your path to becoming an appraiser in Pennsylvania begins by earning your Appraiser Trainee license. As a Trainee, you’ll work under a Certified Supervisory Appraiser to gain hands-on experience evaluating properties, researching local market conditions, and developing appraisal reports. You do not need any prior experience or college education to get started.
Complete the following steps to become an Appraiser Trainee in Pennsylvania:
Step 1: Complete the required education.
You’ll need to pass 79 hours of Pennsylvania appraisal pre-licensing education, including three AQB Basic Qualifying Education courses and a Supervisor/Trainee orientation course:
- Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours)
- Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours)
- 15-Hour National USPAP Course (15 hours)
- Supervisor/Trainee Course for Pennsylvania (4 hours)
Step 2: Connect with a Supervisory Appraiser.
While you’re completing your required education, you will also need to find a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser who will agree to act as your Supervisory Appraiser during your stint as a Trainee.
Step 3: Apply for your Trainee license.
Submit your Appraiser Trainee application, licensing fee, and education completion certificates to the Pennsylvania Board of Appraisers.
Once your application is approved and you receive your Trainee license, you can begin working and earning money under your Supervisory Appraiser while gaining the on-the-job experience required to become a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser in Pennsylvania.
Important: Confirm all steps and requirements with the Pennsylvania licensing board. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers at 833.367.2762.
Pennsylvania Trainee Appraiser (79 hours) – AQB recommended course order
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 Pennsylvania – 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. This requirement was retained in the 2018 Criteria.
Experience: N/A
College Education: N/A
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
FAQs about how to become a real estate appraiser in Pennsylvania
Should I get my PA appraiser license?
Becoming a real estate appraiser in Pennsylvania offers a great opportunity to build a successful career in real estate with lower start-up costs and less risk compared to many other professions. Even when there is a downturn in the real estate market, appraisers are still needed to provide property valuations during estate planning, divorce settlements, or tax assessments. Plus, there’s a general demand for appraisers across the United States right now, because a large portion of licensed appraisers are nearing retirement age.
How long does it take to become a real estate appraiser in PA?
There’s not a set amount of time it takes to become a Trainee Appraiser. You don’t need college credits or prior experience, but you will need to complete 79 hours of required appraisal courses. This can be done in as little as a few weeks.
To help you complete your goals on a timeline that works best for you, McKissock offers on-demand, self-paced courses that you can complete when and where it’s convenient for you. We also offer livestream courses that let you engage with the instructor, ask questions in real time, and stay on track without getting overwhelmed.
While you compete your pre-licensing courses, we also recommend you use this time to find a Supervisory Appraiser. Once these steps are done, you can submit your application and background check. While times vary, getting your PA appraiser license from the state board usually takes a few weeks.
So, it’s possible to become a licensed Trainee Appraiser in just a few weeks or a couple of months. At that point, you can start working and making money under your supervisor. Then, the process to become a fully certified appraiser in Pennsylvania will take at least another 12 or 18 months, depending on which license level you choose to pursue.
Go to the “Certified Residential” and “Certified General” tabs at the top of this page to learn the requirements for each license level.
Do I need a degree to become an appraiser in Pennsylvania?
You do not need any college education or prior experience to get started as a Trainee Appraiser. However, you will need at least some college-level education to become a fully certified real estate appraiser in Pennsylvania. To obtain the Certified Residential credential, you will need at least 30 hours of college credit or CLEP exams in specified topics. To obtain the Certified General credential, you must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in any field.
Helpful resources:
Pennsylvania Appraiser License: Certified Residential
How to become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Pennsylvania
In the state of Pennsylvania, a Certified Residential Appraiser (or home appraiser) can appraise any 1-4 unit residential property without limits. Once you have your Certified Residential license, you can begin to work independently and even start your own business if you like! Alternatively, you may choose to seek full-time employment at a bank, government agency, or large appraisal firm.
To become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Pennsylvania, you must:
- Complete 204 total hours of required education (this includes the 79 hours required to become a Trainee)
- Gain 1,500 of approved appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months, including at least 750 hours dedicated to preparing appraisal reports in which an interior and exterior property inspection was made
- Submit your application, licensing fee, and proof of education and experience to the Pennsylvania Board of Appraisers
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Certified Residential Appraisers
You must also meet one of the following college education criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university
- Associate degree from an accredited community college, college, or university in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Real Estate
- 30 semester hours of college credit in specified topics
- 30 semester hours of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations in specified topics
- Any combination of college credit or CLEP credit that includes all the specified topics
Important: Confirm all steps and requirements with the Pennsylvania licensing board. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers at 833.367.2762.
Pennsylvania Certified Residential Appraiser (204 hours) – AQB recommended course order
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 Pennsylvania – 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 in no fewer than 12 months. At least 750 hours of the experience acquired by an applicant must be in the actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports in which an interior and exterior property inspection was made.
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 becoming a Certified Residential Appraiser in Pennsylvania
How much do home appraisers make in PA?
According to Salary.com, residential real estate appraisers in Pennsylvania typically earn between $52,498 and $103,992 per year, depending on experience level.1,2 The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the mean annual wage of Pennsylvania property appraisers and assessors as $64,630.3 Glassdoor gives a much higher number, listing the average salary of Pennsylvania home appraisers as $135,436 per year.4
An appraiser’s income can vary widely due to factors like license level, location, years of experience, advanced skills or professional certifications, and number of hours worked per week.
What are the continuing education requirements for PA appraisers?
Pennsylvania real estate appraisers are required to take 28 continuing education (CE) hours every 24 months. This includes the 7-Hour National USPAP Update course (or equivalent) and 2 hours of mandatory education focusing on the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act and the Board’s regulations and policies. All CE courses may be completed online.
Helpful resources:
- Pennsylvania Licensing Information
- Real Estate Appraiser Exam Prep
- Your Guide to an Appraisal License Upgrade
Sources cited:
- Appraiser (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Pennsylvania (Salary.com)
- Appraiser Sr. (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Pennsylvania (Salary.com)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Property Appraisers and Assessors (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Residential Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Pennsylvania (Glassdoor)
Pennsylvania Appraiser License: Certified General
How to become a Certified General Appraiser in Pennsylvania
Certified General Appraisers in Pennsylvania have no limits on their license. Also called commercial appraisers, Certified General Appraisers are permitted to evaluate all types of property, including single-family homes, multi-family properties, vacant land, industrial property, and all types of commercial property—from strip malls to airports!
To become a Certified General Appraiser in Pennsylvania, you must:
- Complete 304 total hours of required education (this includes the 79 hours required to become a Trainee)
- Gain 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 18 months, including 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work and 1,500 hours in preparing real estate appraisal reports where you made an internal and external inspection
- Submit your application, licensing fee, and proof of education and experience to the Pennsylvania Board of Appraisers
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Certified General Appraisers
You must also hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Important: Confirm all steps and requirements with the Pennsylvania licensing board. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers at 833.367.2762.
Pennsylvania Certified General Appraiser (304 hours) – AQB recommended course order
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 Pennsylvania – 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. At least 1,500 hours of the experience acquired by an applicant shall be in the actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports in which an interior and exterior property inspection was made.
College Education: Must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Online Limitations
Roster
Governing Agency
FAQs about becoming a Certified General Appraiser in Pennsylvania
Do I need a college degree to be a Certified General Appraiser in PA?
Yes, you will need a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The degree does not need to be in any particular field of study.
How much do commercial appraisers make in PA?
According to Salary.com, Pennsylvania commercial real estate appraisers typically earn between $45,328 and $137,657, depending on job level.1,2 Glassdoor estimates that commercial appraisers in Pennsylvania make an average salary of $116,243 per year.3
A Certified General Appraiser’s salary can vary widely due to factors like experience level, location, number of hours worked per week, and specialization (e.g., hospitality, commercial/industrial, agricultural).