Whether you want to own your own business, have more control over your income, or have a flexible schedule, becoming a real estate appraiser is a great option. Even better, it’s an available option to almost everyone, as it’s not prohibitively expensive to get started, and most states don’t require a college degree to become an appraiser.
If you’re living in the Lone Star state, we’ll walk you through everything you need to do to become a Texas real estate appraiser.
Want more information on how to become a real estate appraiser? Explore our free career guide.
How to Earn Your Appraiser License in Texas
The first step to becoming an appraiser in Texas is to be an Appraiser Trainee. During this stage, you’ll learn how to evaluate properties, conduct market research, and write appraisal reports under the guidance of a Certified Supervisory Appraiser.
The requirements to become an appraisal trainee are:
- Complete 75 hours of Basic Qualifying Education
- Complete a 4-hour Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course
- Choose a supervisory appraiser who will provide diligent supervision over all appraisal work
- Pass a background check with the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB)
Once you’ve met these requirements, you can submit your application to become an Appraiser Trainee online or through the mail to TALCB. Once you receive your trainee credential, you can begin working with your supervisor and earning an income as an appraiser.
How long does it take to become a real estate appraiser in Texas?
Getting started as an Appraiser Trainee is a fairly quick process. You can become a licensed Trainee within a couple of months. Once you’ve completed your 79 hours of Trainee qualifying education and found a Supervisory Appraiser, you’ll just need to wait for the background check to process, which usually only takes about a week, though it can vary. Then TALCB will process your application and send you your trainee license when approved.
After becoming an Appraiser Trainee, the next step to becoming a fully licensed or certified appraiser is to gain on-the-job appraisal experience while working under your supervisor for at least 6 months, 12 months, or 18 months, depending on which license level you choose to pursue. On top of logging your required work experience, you will also need to complete some additional licensing and certification courses and pass the national exam to become a Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General Appraiser in Texas. At that point, you can begin to work independently (without a supervisor) and even start your own appraisal business.
For even more details on how to get your appraisal license in Texas, just take a look at our Texas appraiser requirements page!
To help expedite the process, McKissock offers online appraisal courses in flexible learning formats to suit your needs and preferences. Learn on your own schedule, from the comfort of your home.
What Does a Texas Real Estate Appraiser Do?
Now that you know how to become an appraiser in Texas, let’s look at what one is and what they do. Basically, 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.
Why Become an Appraiser in Texas?
As we mentioned above, becoming a real estate appraiser gives you the opportunity to own your own business, have greater control over your income, and set a schedule that works best for you. Texas 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.
But what about when the housing market slows down? Is an appraiser’s business still secure? Typically, yes. You can offer ancillary services, such as tax assessment, expert witness testimony, and property data collection, upgrade your appraisal license to work on commercial properties or multi-unit dwellings, or focus on a niche, such as sustainable homes, farms, or even luxury homes.
How Much Do Appraisers Make in Texas?
While the average salary for an appraiser in Texas as of February 2025 is around $85,500 per year,¹ 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, and other higher cost-of-living areas tend to earn a higher income than appraisers in rural or lower cost-of-living areas in the state.
- The Texas metropolitan areas with the highest average salaries for appraisers include:¹
- Jewett ($108,152)
- Emerald Bay ($95,408)
- Odessa ($92,605)
- Austin ($90,965)
- Dallas ($90,822)
- Midland ($90,100)
- The Texas metropolitan areas with the highest average salaries for appraisers include:¹
- 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: Being self-employed or working as an appraiser for a company, financial institution, or government agency will impact your income.
In Texas, Appraiser Trainees have an average salary of around $65,517,² but once you become a Licensed Residential Appraiser you’ll see a significant pay increase. Just like in most fields, the more experience you gain and the higher your certification, the more you can expect to earn.
Take the first step to become a Texas real estate appraiser
If you’re ready to become a real estate appraiser in Texas, McKissock is with you every step of the way! We offer convenient, comprehensive Qualifying Education for appraisers in Texas that meet TALCB requirements and help you prepare for your career. And when you’re ready to upgrade your license, we have the classes, exam prep, and more to keep you on track to meet your career goals.
Have questions? McKissock’s Education Specialists can help you understand all of the requirements you need to meet to become a real estate appraiser in Texas. Call us at 877.204.1039.
