How to Become an Appraiser in Texas
Whether you want to own your own business, have more control over your income, or enjoy a flexible schedule, obtaining your Texas appraiser license is a great option. And if you’re already an appraiser, upgrading your license can provide you with more opportunities to diversify your income, take on more challenging projects, and grow your existing business.
No matter where you are in your career journey, whether you’re just starting out or well on your way, McKissock Learning will help you meet your education requirements.
Texas Appraiser License: Trainee
How to earn your Texas appraisal license
To become a real estate appraiser in Texas, the first thing you’ll need to do is become an Appraiser Trainee. During your stint as a Trainee, you’ll work under a supervisor as you learn how to evaluate properties, conduct market research, and write appraisal reports.
Steps to become an Appraiser Trainee in Texas
Step 1: Complete the required education, which includes:
- 75 hours of Basic Qualifying Education
- 4-hour Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course
Step 2: Pass a background check by submitting your fingerprints to the Texas Department of Security (DPS). If a background investigation is required, there could be a delay in processing the application.
Step 3: Choose a supervisory appraiser who will provide diligent supervision over all appraisal work. You can start seeking a supervisory appraiser while you are completing your qualifying education to ensure you have one lined up.
Step 4: Once you’ve met these requirements, you can submit your application to become an Appraiser Trainee either online or through the mail to the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB). This usually only takes about a week, but it can vary. You will also need to pay a licensing fee.
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Texas licensing board. For more information, contact the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) at 512.936.3001.
After I become a Trainee, what’s next?
Once you receive your Appraiser Trainee license from the TALCB, you can begin working with your supervisor and earning an income as a Trainee Appraiser. You will need to log a certain amount of appraisal work experience, take additional licensing and certification courses, and pass a national exam to become a fully licensed or certified Texas appraiser.
Go to the “Licensed Appraiser,” “Certified Residential,” and “Certified General” tabs at the top of this page to read the specific requirements for each license level.
Texas 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
AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course – 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
FAQs about becoming an appraiser in Texas
Is now a good time to get my Texas appraisal license?
In short, yes. Texas real estate appraisers have a distinct advantage over appraisers in other states because the housing market is stronger and more stable than it is in most other locations, which means there’s a continued demand. While this is especially true in cities like Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, even areas with lower populations have a need for real estate appraisers.
What does a Texas real estate appraiser do?
An appraiser determines the current fair market value of a property. This is primarily used for a potential buyer or for a homeowner seeking to refinance their mortgage, though appraisers are also needed to determine a property’s value during estate planning, a divorce settlement, or a tax assessment.
An appraiser determines the value of the property by performing a comprehensive on-site inspection, including the condition of the interior and exterior, amenities, lot size, property square footage, and other property-specific details. However, the on-site inspection is only a portion of the project. An appraiser also conducts research into the current real estate market and comparable local properties to provide the most accurate value. Once they have their on-site inspection and off-site research complete, they’ll use the information to draft their appraisal report.
Helpful resources
Texas Appraiser License: Licensed Residential
How to become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Texas
A Licensed Residential Appraiser in Texas 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
To become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Texas, you must:
- Complete 154 hours of appraisal qualifying education (includes 79 hours of Trainee courses, plus an additional 75 hours of QE courses)
- Complete 1,000 hours of acceptable work experience in no fewer than 6 months
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Licensed Residential Appraisers
- No college education is required
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Texas licensing board. For more information, contact the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) at 512.936.3001.
Texas Licensed Residential Appraiser (154 hours) – AQB recommended course order
Online Info
Required Education:
154 Hours.
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours.
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours.
National USPAP Course or Equivalent – 15 hours.
AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course – 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
FAQs about becoming a Licensed Appraiser in Texas
Do I have to take an exam to become a Licensed Appraiser in Texas?
Yes. To complete your licensure, you must pass the 4-hour long National Uniformed Licensing and Certification Examination for Licensed Residential Appraisers. The exam is made up of 125 questions, with 15 practice questions that do not affect your score.
You are allowed to take the test multiple times—as many as three times, according to The Appraisal Foundation. If you fail to pass the exam after your third attempt, you will need to take another 15 hours of appraiser QE before you can take the exam again.
Once I have my Texas appraiser license, then what?
Whether you are a Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General Appraiser, you will need to renew your license every two years. To do this, you must complete 28 hours of continuing education, including a 7-hour National USPAP Update Course within each two-year renewal period.
How much do home appraisers make in Texas?
According to Salary.com, the average salary for residential real estate appraisers in Texas ranges from $50,513 to $101,775.1,2 The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the mean annual wage of Texas property appraisers and assessors as $71,130.3 Glassdoor gives a much higher estimate, listing the average yearly salary for Texas home appraisers as $134,933.4
A real estate 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 Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and other higher 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 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.
- Employment type: Self-employment or working as an appraiser for a company may affect income as well.
Just like in most fields, the more experience and the higher your certification, the more you can expect to earn. You find more details in our blog on the average real estate appraiser salary in Texas.
Can I appraise property in Texas with an out-of-state appraisal license?
You can perform work with an out-of-state license by filling out the Texas Real Estate Appraiser Reciprocity application.
You can apply for reciprocity if you:
- Are listed in the national ABQ registry
- Haven’t received any disciplinary actions that limit appraising
- Haven’t lost your license due to revocation, suspension, or voluntary surrender
Helpful resources
Sources cited
- Appraiser (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Texas (Salary.com)
- Appraiser Sr. (Residential Real Estate) Salary in Texas (Salary.com)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Property Appraisers and Assessors (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Residential Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Texas (Glassdoor)
Texas Appraiser License: Certified Residential
How to become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Texas
A Certified Residential Appraiser in Texas 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.
To become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Texas, you must:
- Complete 204 hours of appraisal qualifying education (includes 79 hours of Trainee courses, plus an additional 125 hours of QE courses)
- 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 requirements:
- 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
- Exception: No college education is required for Licensed Residential Appraisers who have been licensed for a minimum of 5 years and have been in good standing for the past 5 years.
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Texas licensing board. For more information, contact the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) at 512.936.3001.
Texas 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
AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course – 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
Helpful resources
Texas Appraiser License: Certified General
How to become a Certified General Appraiser in Texas
A Certified General Appraiser (or commercial appraiser) in Texas is permitted to appraise all types of property, including residential, multi-family, vacant land, and commercial property.
To become a Certified General Appraiser in Texas, you must:
- Complete 304 hours of appraisal qualifying education (includes 79 hours of Trainee courses, plus an additional 225 hours of QE courses)
- Complete 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 18 months, including at least 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam for Certified General Appraisers
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field
Steps to upgrade your appraiser license in the state of Texas
Step 1: Hold a valid appraisal license and successfully complete the additional required qualifying education courses for your upgrade level. Successful completion of qualifying education courses requires passing the course final examination for each course with a proctor.
Step 2: Complete and document all required experience hours for your upgrade level. Certified General Appraiser – Provide 3,000 hours of acceptable and verifiable appraisal experience acquired over a minimum of 18 months of which a minimum of 1,500 hours must be non-residential real property appraisal experience
Step 3: Complete courses and maintain copies of transcripts for all college level requirements. Certified General Appraiser must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Step 4: Submit the Application package which includes:
- Forms: Certified General Application
- Fees (on application)
- Education completion certificates
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- Experience (Experience Log Instructions) (Experience Log)
- Background information for criminal records check
Step 5: Pass the national examination approved by AQB and TALCB. Texas national exam provider is Pearson VUE.
Important: Verify all steps and requirements with the Texas licensing board. For more information, contact the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) at 512.936.3001.
Texas 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
AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course – 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
FAQs about becoming a commercial appraiser in Texas
Why become a Certified General Appraiser in Texas?
As an appraiser, what do you do when the housing market slows down? Is an appraiser’s business still secure? Yes, because you can upgrade your license to the Certified General Appraiser level to work on commercial properties or multi-unit dwellings, or focus on a niche, such as sustainable homes, farms, or even luxury homes. With a Certified General license, you can diversify and expand your service offerings to help buffer against potential downturns in the housing market.