Click on the following links to learn more about the Appraisal Licensing State Requirements:
Required Education
About the Exam
Required Experience
Application Procedures
Level 1 - Trainee License
You must complete 150 hours of approved appraisal education, including the 15-hour National USPAP Course.
Level 2 – Residential License
Level 3 – Certified Residential License
You must complete 200 hours of approved appraisal education, including the 15-hour National USPAP Course, and have an Associate's Degree*.
Level 4 – Certified General License
You must complete 300 hours of approved appraisal education, including the 15-hour National USPAP Course, and have a Bachelor's Degree**.
* In lieu of the Associate's Degree, an applicant can complete 21 college semester credits in courses covering specific subject matters: English Composition; Principles of Economics (Micro or Macro); Finance; Algebra, Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics, Introduction to Computers; and Business or Real Estate Law.
** In lieu of the Bachelor's Degree, an applicant can complete 30 college semester credits in courses covering specific subject matters: English Composition; Micro Economics; Macro Economics; Finance; Algebra, Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics, Introduction to Computers; and Business or Real Estate Law; and two elective courses in accounting, geography, a.g.-economics, business management, or real estate.
After OREA reviews and makes a preliminary determination that you have met the minimum Trainee License requirements, you will be sent an Admission to Examination letter, a “Request for Live Scan Service” fingerprinting form, and information explaining the examination scheduling procedures. You must successfully complete the California Residential Appraiser examination to become licensed.
Applicants pay examination fees directly to the exam provider.
Level 2 - Residential License
After OREA reviews and makes a preliminary determination that you have met the minimum Residential License requirements, you will be sent an Admission to Examination letter, a “Request for Live Scan Service” fingerprinting form, and information explaining the examination scheduling procedures. You must successfully complete the California Residential Appraiser examination to become licensed.
Level 3 - Certified Residential License
After OREA reviews and makes a preliminary determination that you have met the minimum Certified Residential License requirements, you will be sent an Admission to Examination letter, a “Request for Live Scan Service” fingerprinting form, and information explaining the examination scheduling procedures. You must successfully complete the California Certified Residential Appraiser examination to become licensed.
Level 4 - Certified General License
After OREA reviews and makes a preliminary determination that you have met the minimum Certified Residential License requirements, you will be sent an Admission to Examination letter, a “Request for Live Scan Service” fingerprinting form, and information explaining the examination scheduling procedures. You must successfully complete the California Certified General Appraiser examination to become licensed.
Required Experience [Back to Top]
Prior to your approval as a Trainee, you are not required to have any appraisal experience. As a Trainee, you must work under the direct supervision of a supervising appraiser who shall be state licensed or certified in good standing.
The supervising appraiser shall be responsible for your training and direct supervision by:
As a Trainee, you must also maintain your Log of Appraisal Experience (REA 3004). The log must contain the following information for each appraisal:
To apply for a Residential License, you must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of real estate appraisal experience. Acceptable appraisal experience includes, but is not limited to, the following:
To apply for a Certified Residential License, you must have a minimum of 2,500 hours and 30 months of real estate appraisal experience. Acceptable appraisal experience includes, but is not limited to, the following:
As a Certified Residential appraiser, you may appraise any 1-4 residential property without regard to transaction value or complexity, and you may appraise non-residential property with a transaction value less than $250,000.
To apply for a Certified General License, you must have a minimum of 3,000 hours and 30 months of real estate appraisal experience, of which 1,500 hours must be non-residential. Acceptable appraisal experience includes, but is not limited to, the following:
As a Certified General appraiser, you may appraise all real estate without regard to transaction value or complexity.
Application Procedures [Back to Top]
Level 1 - Appraiser Trainee
In order to become a Trainee appraiser in California, you must be at least 18 years of age and be a legal resident of the United States. You must also complete and submit the following:
In order to become a Residential appraiser in California, you must be at least 18 years of age and be a legal resident of the United States. You must also complete and submit the following:
In order to become a Certified Residential appraiser in California, you must be at least 18 years of age and be a legal resident of the United States. You must also complete and submit the following:
In order to become a Certified General appraiser in California, you must be at least 18 years of age and be a legal resident of the United States. You must also complete and submit the following: