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Real Estate Appraiser
Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
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.
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
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.
Not sure if you need a appraiser license? Check whether your state requires one.
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.
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| 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.
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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.
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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.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare California with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
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.
Real Estate Appraiser Schools in California
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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.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
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RE Appraiser requirements in California verified against Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA), April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in California.
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