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How to become a real estate appraiser in Colorado. Trainee: 75 hrs education. Licensed Residential: 158 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
Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers, Division of Real Estate (DORA)
Official website →75 hrs
TRAINEE ED.
158 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 on any appraisal the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Degree: None required
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $400,000
Degree: Associate degree or equivalent
Scope: 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher
Scope: All types of real property, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and all other property types
Colorado does NOT issue a formal trainee license or credential. Trainees work under a supervising appraiser without a separate state-issued trainee license.
Colorado does not have a separate trainee licensing level. USPAP and Board Rule 11.2 governs trainee conduct. No formal education requirements exist specifically for trainees, but completing the AQB minimum 75 hours is recommended before gaining experience.
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to begin working as a trainee
No exam required at this level
Supervisory appraiser must be state-certified and in good standing for at least 3 years. Supervisor must sign reports and take responsibility per USPAP Standards Rule 2-3 and Board Rule 11.2.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must be state-certified appraiser in good standing for at least 3 years in the jurisdiction where the trainee practices
May assist on any appraisal the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours minimum over at least 6 months. PAREA (Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal) is accepted as an alternative experience pathway — up to 100% of experience hours can be satisfied through PAREA.
Exam: AQB-approved Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: Requires Letter of Exam Eligibility from the Board before scheduling
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
Fee: $44.95
None required
No college-level education required for Licensed Appraiser
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $400,000
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours minimum over at least 12 months. PAREA accepted as alternative experience pathway — up to 100% of experience hours.
Exam: AQB-approved State Certified Residential Appraiser Examination
Provider: Requires Letter of Exam Eligibility from the Board
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
Fee: $44.95
Associate degree or equivalent
Must satisfy one of six options: (1) Bachelor's degree in any field, (2) Associate's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Real Estate, (3) 30 semester hours in specified topics, (4) CLEP exams, (5) combination of college and CLEP, or (6) 5+ years as Licensed Appraiser with clean disciplinary record
1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours minimum over at least 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work. No alternative approved for non-residential requirement.
Exam: AQB-approved State Certified General Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: Requires Letter of Exam Eligibility from the Board
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
Fee: $44.95
Bachelor's degree or higher
Must hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
All types of real property, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and all other property types
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Background check required for all license applicants. Fingerprinting required.
Fingerprinting
Required
USPAP Requirement
15-Hour National USPAP Course required as part of qualifying education for all credential levels
| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | — | — | — | — |
| Licensed Residential | $112 | $44.95 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $112 | $44.95 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $112 | $44.95 | — | $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 qualifying education for desired credential level
Gain required experience hours under a certified supervisory appraiser
Apply for Letter of Exam Eligibility from the Board
Pass the AQB-approved national examination
Submit license application with fees, background check, and supporting documentation
Receive license and register with ASC National Registry
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$263
Renewal fee for Licensed/Certified Residential/Certified General appraisers
Colorado recently transitioned from a 3-year to a 2-year license cycle. Must include 7-hour USPAP Continuing Education course.
Colorado accepts reciprocal applications from appraisers licensed in other states. $112 application fee for reciprocal/endorsement applications.
Temporary practice: Temporary appraiser license available for $13
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers must be listed on the ASC National Registry to perform federally related transactions
Unique to Colorado
Colorado is one of the few states that does NOT issue a separate trainee appraiser credential. Any individual may work on appraisals under supervision without a state-issued trainee license, as long as they comply with USPAP and Board Rule 11.2. Additionally, Colorado has a unique Ad Valorem Appraiser credential for property tax/mass appraisal work.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Colorado.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#23 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
$52,890
25th percentile
Median
$64,260
-2% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$93,550
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
1,320 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+4% salary growth potential
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Real Estate Appraiser
$64,260
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$61,690
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$79,400
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$64,260
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: Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers, Division of Real Estate (DORA) — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers, Division of Real Estate (DORA) — Licensing Requirements
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