How to Become an Appraiser

1. How do I get started in the appraisal field?

Step 1:  You need to take prelicening classes. If you took your prelicensing classes prior to 2008 then you should have completed: R1, R2, R3 and the 15 hour National USPAP course. (This is a total of 90 classroom hours.) If you take the 2008 education criteria, then you still must complete the first 90 classroom hours of education consisting of the following four courses: Basic Appraisal Principles (30 Hours), Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 Hours), the 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent (15 Hours), and Residential Market Analysis & Highest & Best Use (15 Hours).

You should take these courses from Board approved sponsors and you will find the current list of sponsors on this website. To find the list, on our homepage click on the “Education” link and then choose “Qualifying Education.” Note: you need to take these classes in consecutive order.

Step 2:  When you have completed your course work, you can download the application and information for filing your application from the Board's website at http://www.ncappraisalboard.org/forms/InfoAndApp.pdf

Step 3:  Read the booklet in its entirety and completely fill out the application. Send us the finished application, your original course completion certificates, and the $200 application fee in the form of a certified check, money order, or cashier check.

Step 4:  When we receive and process your application you will be granted exam approval. The Board staff will send you information on how to contact the testing site and make reservations for the exam. Note: you schedule the test at your convenience. You are not assigned a test date; you make arrangements around your schedule.

Step 5:  When you pass the state exam, send us your original test result.

Step 6:  When we receive your test result the Board staff will look to see if you have had a character issue. For those applicants who do not have a character issue, your registered trainee number will be assigned and mailed to you. For those applicants with a character issue, your application must go before the Board for approval. Regardless of the category your application falls into, you will be notified by the Board staff.

Note: once your trainee number has been assigned to you, you are eligible to begin working as a registered trainee. (back to top)

2. What is a character issue?

Specifically, if you answer “yes” to the character questions in the application. For example, the following are typical character questions.
1) “Have you ever been denied any other professional license of any other type in any state?”
2) “Are there currently any charges pending against you in connection with any professional license in NC or any other state?”
3) “Have you ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to any criminal offense in NC or any other state?” . (back to top)

3. If I have a character issue, how long will I have to wait before my application will be seen by the Board?

The Board meets eight times a year. We try to get applications seen the next time the Board meets but this depends too upon when in the month we are able to compile background information on you. If we receive your passing exam score close to a Board meeting then we may not have enough time to do a history check. If this happens, your paperwork will go before the Board at the meeting following the meeting that is at hand. (back to top)

4. What happens if the qualifying course I need isn’t offered at the school nearest me for quite a while?

5. How long will it take me to become certified once I become a trainee?

That varies from trainee to trainee. It depends on how quickly you work and how many hours per week you work. It takes a minimum of two years. (back to top)

6. What is the progression of “stages” or “ranks” of the appraisal profession?

step 1: registered trainee
step 2: certified residential (sometimes referred to as certified) Note: Effective January 1, 2008 the Board will no longer issue the residential license level
step 3: certified general (sometimes referred to as general). (back to top)

7. What are the requirements to apply for trainee, certified and general?

If you completed your prelicensing education using the Segmented Approach (prior to 2008) then the requirements are:

Trainee: R1, R2, R3, the 15 hour National USPAP classes.
Certified: the G1 class, 300 points worth of appraisals (this should equal 2,500 hours), and at least 2 years worth of experience.
General: the G2 and G3 classes, 360 points worth of appraisals (this should equal 3,000 hours), and at least 2 ½ years experience.

If you are completing your education in 2008 and thereafter then the 2008 Education Criteria are as follows (Note: the experience requirement remains the same as the Segmented Approach):

Registered Trainee

Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours
The 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent 15 Hours
Residential Market Analysis & Highest & Best Use 15 Hours
Total Trainee Education Requirements 90 Hours

Certified Residential - the following appraisal prelicensing courses plus an Associate's Degree

Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours
The 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent 15 Hours
Residential Market Analysis & Highest & 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 (May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules)
Total Certified Residential Education 200 Hours

Certified General - the following appraisal prelicensing courses plus a Bachelor's Degree

Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours
The 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent 15 Hours
General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 30 Hours
Statistics, Modeling and Finance 15 Hours
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach 30 Hours
General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 30 Hours
General Appraiser Income Approach 60 Hours
General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies 30 Hours
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 30 Hours (May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules)
Total Certified General Education 300 Hours

To see a more detailed chart, on the homepage click on “Rules and Laws” and then “Prelicensing Requirements.” (back to top)

8. How do I count points and how long will it take me to get one point?

This information is published in our information and application booklet which can be downloaded from the "Forms" section of the Board's website. The following is a brief synopsis.

Residential Category:

Residential Single-Family/with inspection 1
Residential Single-Family/Drive-By or Desktop ½
Residential Single-Family (Mega home – Greater than 5,000 SF) 1 ½
Residential (1-4 Unit) Vacant Lot ½
Residential 2-4 Family 2
Residential Tract (10-50 acres/improved) 2

General Category:

Land:
Undeveloped tracts, residential multi-family sites, commercial sites, agricultural tracts, industrial sites, land in transition, etc. 3

Subdivision Analysis: 6

Residential Multi-Family (5-12 Units):
Apartments, condominiums, town- houses and mobile home parks 6

Residential Multi-Family (13+ Units):
Apartments, condominiums, town- houses, and mobile home parks 8

Commercial Single-Tenant:
Office building, retail store, restaurant, service station, bank, day care center, mini-storage, etc. 6

Commercial Multi-Tenant:
Office building, shopping center, hotel, etc. 10

Industrial:
Warehouse, manufacturing plant, etc. 8

Institutional:
Rest home, nursing home, hospital, school, church, government building, etc. 8

Miscellaneous:
Improved mixed use (residential/Commercial) 8
Golf courses/recreational facilities 8
Improved agricultural tracts 6

NOTE: You may receive credit for appraisals of other types of real property not listed. The Appraisal Board will, on an individual basis, determine the amount of credit to be awarded for such appraisals based on information which you provide. It takes approximately 8 hours worth of work to equal one point. (back to top)

9. When I become Licensed do I still have to work under a supervisor?

No, only registered trainees must work under a supervisor. Once you upgrade to a status above trainee your supervisor should disassociate you. Please understand, you may still work for your supervisor but he/she would only be considered your boss or co-worker and no longer your supervisor. (back to top)

10. When I become a trainee, will the Appraisal Board place me with a supervisor?

No. The Appraisal Board only licenses and regulates the profession. We leave the individual in charge of finding a place of employment.

11. How do I find a supervisor?

That is entirely up to you. One way is to network in your community. Talk to appraisers who are friends of yours and friends of your family’s. See if they will agree to become your supervisor. If you don’t know anyone personally, talk to people you do know and see if they know any appraisers and would personally put in a good word about you with them. Use the yellow pages in your phone directory. Look up “appraisers,” find their business and go introduce yourself. Give them a resume and sell your qualities to them. Be persistent and professional and someone will take an interest in helping you succeed.

12. When I become a trainee, how much money can I expect to make?

That is entirely between you and your supervisor. There isn’t any criteria set by the Board concerning payment. Before you accept a trainee position with a supervisor, this is a point that the two of you will need to discuss. Some trainees work on commission and others may receive a base salary plus commission. The range of money you can expect to make depends on a variety of factors such as where you live, your supervisor, how much the firm charges to do an appraisal, and so forth. (back to top)

13. I want to take the appraiser test, tell me the number I should call.

Once you receive exam approval from the Board you will be mailed information on taking the test. One item you will be sent is a green exam approval card. The phone number for our testing agency is on the back of the green card.

14. When you say I need to apply to the Board, what am I applying for?

You’re applying for exam approval to take the state test. There is a state test for each level of appraising (registered trainee, certified residential and certified general). Each time you move up the ladder, so to speak, in your appraisal career, you must apply to the Board to take the state test, receive exam approval, take the test, send in your passing score and wait to be issued. (back to top)