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How to become a real estate appraiser in California. 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
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82% of data points are verified against official sources. 8 fields based on preliminary research. 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 appraise only those properties that the supervisory appraiser is permitted to appraise. Must work under direct supervision at all times.
Degree: No college degree required
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value up to $1,000,000. Complex 1-4 unit residential properties up to $250,000. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Degree: Associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, or equivalent as determined by AQB (e.g., 21 college semester hours in specific subjects)
Scope: All 1-4 unit residential properties regardless of value or complexity. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution
Scope: All types of real property regardless of value or complexity, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties.
California designates trainee licenses with the 'AT' code
Effective 1/1/2026, a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course is also required for renewal.
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee
No exam required at this level
Must work under a certified supervisory appraiser. Supervisor must directly supervise trainee on each appraisal assignment. Supervisor must review and sign all trainee reports.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold a certified license (Certified Residential or Certified General) for at least 3 years in good standing with no relevant disciplinary actions in the past 3 years. Must complete a BREA-approved Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser course.
May appraise only those properties that the supervisory appraiser is permitted to appraise. Must work under direct supervision at all times.
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 6 months. Experience may be gained through traditional supervision, PAREA, or a Practicum Program.
Exam: Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam — Licensed Residential, plus California supplemental exam
Provider: PSI (formerly AMP)
Passing score: 75 out of 110 scored questions (approximately 68%)
Questions: 125
Time limit: 4 hours
Fee: $85
Candidates have up to 5 attempts to pass within one year of eligibility. 15 of the questions are unscored pilot questions.
No college degree required
AQB does not require a degree at this level
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value up to $1,000,000. Complex 1-4 unit residential properties up to $250,000. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 12 months.
Exam: Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam — Certified Residential, plus California supplemental exam
Provider: PSI (formerly AMP)
Passing score: 75 out of 110 scored questions (approximately 68%)
Questions: 125
Time limit: 4 hours
Fee: $85
Candidates have up to 5 attempts to pass within one year of eligibility.
Associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, or equivalent as determined by AQB (e.g., 21 college semester hours in specific subjects)
California follows AQB minimum: Associate degree for Certified Residential
All 1-4 unit residential properties regardless of value or complexity. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work.
Exam: Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam — Certified General, plus California supplemental exam
Provider: PSI (formerly AMP)
Passing score: 75 out of 110 scored questions (approximately 68%)
Questions: 125
Time limit: 4 hours
Fee: $85
Candidates have up to 5 attempts to pass within one year of eligibility.
Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution
California follows AQB minimum: Bachelor's degree for Certified General
All types of real property regardless of value or complexity, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Live Scan fingerprinting and background check required as part of the application process. Conducted by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI.
Fingerprinting
Required
USPAP Requirement
15-hour National USPAP Course required for initial licensing. 7-hour USPAP Update Course required every 2 years for renewal.
| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $930 | — | $75 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $1,035 | $85 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $1,110 | $85 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $1,110 | $85 | — | $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 required qualifying education (75–300 hours depending on tier)
Complete California-specific courses (Supervisor/Trainee, Laws & Regulations, Cultural Competency)
Submit application to BREA with required fees
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting for background check
Gain required experience hours under a certified supervisory appraiser (or via PAREA/Practicum)
Apply for exam eligibility and schedule exam through PSI
Pass the national Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam and California supplemental exam
Receive license and register on ASC National Registry
CE Hours Per Cycle
56 hours
(Exceeds AQB minimum of 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
4 years (license valid for 2 years, but CE measured over 4-year cycle)
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$850–$1,030 (varies by license level)
56 hours every 4 years. Includes: 7-hour USPAP Update every 2 years (14 hours over 4 years), 4-hour CA Laws and Regulations, 1-hour Cultural Competency, 2-hour Elimination of Bias. Effective 1/1/2026, 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course also required each 2-year renewal cycle.
California can enter into reciprocity agreements with other states permitting appraisers licensed in one state to apply for licenses in California based on current licensure without additional examinations.
Temporary practice: Temporary Practice Permits are available for out-of-state appraisers. Valid for one year and one assignment, or until the expiration of the home state license, whichever occurs first. Request via Form 3009.
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All state-licensed and state-certified appraisers who perform appraisals in connection with federally related transactions must be listed on the ASC National Registry.
Unique to California
California's CE requirement of 56 hours per 4-year cycle (equivalent to 28 hours per 2-year cycle) meets but does not technically exceed the AQB minimum when annualized. However, California's mandatory Cultural Competency, Elimination of Bias, and (starting 2026) Valuation Bias courses add state-specific mandates beyond AQB requirements. California also has notably high application fees compared to most states.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in California.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#2 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
$66,290
25th percentile
Median
$91,400
+40% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$118,630
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
5,660 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+46% salary growth potential
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
$91,400
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$62,420
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$82,050
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$91,400
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.
Source: California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) — Licensing Requirements
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All data verified as of 2026-03-21. Sources consulted:
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