Access the forms, documents, and related websites you need to apply for and maintain your appraiser license.
Professional and business licensing and exams
To apply for an appraiser trainee license, you must pass the state appraiser exam. You will pay for your license after passing the exam. You can apply for an appraiser license by reciprocity or apply for a temporary appraiser license.
- Apply for an appraiser trainee license
- Apply for an appraiser license by exam
- Pay for your license after passing your exam
- Apply for an appraiser license by reciprocity
- Apply for a temporary appraiser license
Appraiser foundations, subcommittees, and associations
Additional resources that can help you get more involved and stay up to date on news, becoming an appraiser, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) information:
- The Appraisal Foundation
- The Appraisal Subcommittee
- Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials (AARO)
Requirements and certifications
There are different requirements depending on the level of appraiser license you seek. Most appraiser licenses involve specific courses and hours of experience, but vary on levels of education. You can find the details below for specific licenses.
Registered real estate appraiser trainee requirements
Real estate appraiser trainees must find a certified real estate appraiser to supervise your work experience and complete 79 hours of the core curriculum courses.
State-licensed real estate appraiser requirements
For state-licensed real estate appraisers, no college experience is needed. You must complete 150 hours of real estate appraiser education and 1,000 hours of experience in less than 6 full months.
Certified general real estate appraiser requirements
To be a certified appraiser, a college education is required and you must provide a transcript of a bachelor's degree or higher in any field. You must also have 3,000 hours of experience in no less than 18 full months, with 1,500 of those hours in non-residential appraising. 300 hours of real estate appraiser education is also required.
For more details and requirements for additional types of real estate appraiser licenses, please visit Real Estate Appraiser Requirements for Registration/Licensure/Certification.
Middle housing
Along with the Department of Commerce (COM), we recently hosted a listening session for appraisers. Our goal was to get feedback on land use and appraiser licensing related to middle housing and accessory dwelling units.
- See a summary of the listening session.
- Visit Middle Housing in Washington (COM) for more information.