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How to become a real estate appraiser in Arkansas. Trainee: 75 hrs education. Licensed Residential: 150 hrs + 1,000 hrs experience. All four tiers documented with fees, exams, and AQB comparison. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (under Department of Labor and Licensing)
Official website →Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
73% of data points are verified against official sources. 11 fields based on preliminary research. 1 field needs verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
75 hrs
TRAINEE ED.
150 hrs
LICENSED RES. ED.
1,500 hrs
CERT. RES. EXP.
3,000 hrs
CERT. GEN. EXP.
Real estate appraiser licensing follows a tiered path. Each level builds on the previous one with additional education and experience.
Scope: May assist in appraisals of any property type under direct supervision of a certified appraiser; cannot sign appraisal reports independently
Degree: No college degree required
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $1,000,000; complex 1-4 unit residential with transaction value less than $250,000
Degree: Associate degree or higher required
Scope: All residential properties of 1-4 units regardless of value or complexity; does not include commercial or non-residential properties
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher required
Scope: All types of real property — residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural — without regard to value or complexity
Arkansas uses 'Registered Apprentice' instead of 'Trainee Appraiser'
Effective January 1, 2026, total increases to 87 hours with the addition of 8-hour Valuation Bias & Fair Housing course and 4-hour Supervisor/Trainee Course
Online courses: Allowed
No experience required to become a Registered Apprentice; experience is gained under supervision
No exam required at this level
Must work under direct supervision of a Certified Residential or Certified General appraiser. Supervisor must complete the AQB-approved Supervisor/Trainee Course.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold a Certified Residential or Certified General credential in good standing and have completed the Supervisor/Trainee Course
May assist in appraisals of any property type under direct supervision of a certified appraiser; cannot sign appraisal reports independently
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of actual appraisal experience completed under supervision of a certified appraiser in no fewer than 6 months
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Licensed Residential
Provider: Prometric (on behalf of the AQB)
Passing score: Pass/Fail as determined by AQB cut score
Fee: $100
No college degree required
AQB does not require a degree at the Licensed Residential level; Arkansas follows AQB minimum
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $1,000,000; complex 1-4 unit residential with transaction value less than $250,000
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of experience obtained during no fewer than 12 months; hours may be cumulative but required months must accrue
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Certified Residential
Provider: Prometric (on behalf of the AQB)
Passing score: Pass/Fail as determined by AQB cut score
Fee: $100
Associate degree or higher required
Associate degree in a focused field of study or Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution, or equivalent coursework (30 semester hours in specified subjects per AQB criteria)
All residential properties of 1-4 units regardless of value or complexity; does not include commercial or non-residential properties
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours of experience obtained during no fewer than 18 months, of which 1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Certified General
Provider: Prometric (on behalf of the AQB)
Passing score: Pass/Fail as determined by AQB cut score
Fee: $100
Bachelor's degree or higher required
Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, or equivalent coursework per AQB criteria
All types of real property — residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural — without regard to value or complexity
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Criminal background check required for all applicants
Fingerprinting
Required
USPAP Requirement
15-Hour National USPAP Course required as part of qualifying education; 7-Hour USPAP Update required every 2 years for renewal
| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $200 | — | Included in application process | — |
| Licensed Residential | $200 | $100 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $200 | $100 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $200 | $100 | — | $40 |
The National Registry fee ($40/year) is paid to the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) and applies to all appraisers performing federally-related transactions.
Complete 75 hours of qualifying education (Basic Appraisal Principles, Basic Appraisal Procedures, 15-hour USPAP)
Complete the Supervisor/Trainee Course (4 hours)
Submit Registered Apprentice application with applicable fee and background check
Gain experience under direct supervision of a certified appraiser
Complete additional qualifying education hours for desired credential level
Submit exam application and fee ($100)
Pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam
Submit credential application and pay applicable fees
Register with the ASC National Registry ($40 annual fee)
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years (Licensed/Certified); 1 year (Registered Apprentice)
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$125
$200 base with $75 discount typically applied
28 hours per 2-year cycle for Licensed/Certified appraisers; 14 hours of qualifying or CE annually for Registered Apprentice and State Registered appraisers. Must include 7-hour USPAP Update and 7-hour Valuation Bias & Fair Housing course (effective 2026). Most renewals due in June; Apprentice renewals in December.
Arkansas offers reciprocal licensure for appraisers holding equivalent credentials in other states with substantially similar requirements. Applicants must submit proof of current credential and meet background check requirements.
Temporary practice: Available for out-of-state appraisers on a case-by-case basis
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers must be listed on the ASC National Registry to perform appraisals for federally related transactions
Unique to Arkansas
Arkansas uses 'Registered Apprentice' terminology and has a split renewal calendar — Licensed/Certified renew in June while Apprentice credentials renew in December. The state follows AQB minimums without exceeding them at any tier.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Arkansas.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#49 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate (SOC 13-2023)
Entry Level
$37,700
25th percentile
Median
$46,590
-29% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$63,070
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
900 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate" includes both appraisers and assessors. Tax assessors and other non-appraisal roles are included in this figure.
Source: BLS OEWS – Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate (May 2024)
Real Estate Career Ladder+21% salary growth potential
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
$46,590
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$38,450
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$63,890
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$46,590
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
Estimated total: 60–166 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
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All data verified as of 2026-03-21. Sources consulted:
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Already a licensed real estate agent? Many appraisers start as agents. Compare Arkansas real estate agent requirements →