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How to become a real estate appraiser in Delaware. 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
Delaware Council on Real Estate Appraisers (under Division of Professional Regulation)
Official website →Most information on this page has been verified.
80% of data points are verified against official sources. 7 fields based on preliminary research. 2 fields need 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 under direct supervision. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Degree: None required
Scope: Appraisal of non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value under $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 residential properties under $400,000.
Degree: Associate degree or higher, or equivalent CLEP/college coursework
Scope: Appraisal of 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to transaction value or complexity.
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher required
Scope: Appraisal of all types of real property without restriction on value or complexity.
79 total hours including 4-hour Supervisor/Trainee Course. Effective January 1, 2026, total increases to 87 hours with addition of 8-hour Valuation Bias course.
Online courses: Allowed
No experience required to obtain trainee credential.
No exam required at this level
Must work under direct supervision of a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser licensed in Delaware.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold a Certified Residential or Certified General credential in good standing.
May assist in appraisals under direct supervision. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Effective January 1, 2026, total increases to 162 hours with addition of 8-hour Valuation Bias and 4-hour Supervisor/Trainee courses.
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 6 months.
Exam: National Uniform Licensing Exam - Licensed Residential
Provider: Pearson VUE
Passing score: 75%
Fee: $125
None required
No college degree required at this level
Appraisal of non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value under $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 residential properties under $400,000.
Effective January 1, 2026, total increases to 212 hours with addition of Valuation Bias and Supervisor/Trainee courses.
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months.
Exam: National Uniform Certification Exam - Certified Residential
Provider: Pearson VUE
Passing score: 75%
Fee: $125
Associate degree or higher, or equivalent CLEP/college coursework
Bachelor's degree, Associate degree, or 30 semester hours of CLEP college-level courses accepted
Appraisal of 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to transaction value or complexity.
304 total hours through 12/31/25 and on or after 1/1/2026 (includes Supervisor/Trainee Course).
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours over at least 18 months, with minimum 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work.
Exam: National Uniform Certification Exam - Certified General
Provider: Pearson VUE
Passing score: 75%
Fee: $125
Bachelor's degree or higher required
Must be from an accredited college or university
Appraisal of all types of real property without restriction on 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 Course required every 2 years for renewal.
| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $277 | — | — | — |
| Licensed Residential | $328 | $125 | — | $40-$80 |
| Certified Residential | $328 | $125 | — | $40-$80 |
| Certified General | $328 | $125 | — | $40-$80 |
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 (79 hours for Trainee, 87 hours effective 1/1/2026)
Apply online via DELPROS portal with required fee
Pass criminal background check including fingerprinting
Find a certified appraiser willing to serve as supervisor
Obtain Trainee credential and begin accumulating experience
Complete additional education for desired license/certification level
Pass the National Uniform Licensing/Certification Examination
Submit upgrade application via DELPROS with fee ($55 upgrade fee if from Licensed or Certified Residential)
Register with ASC National Registry
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years (biennial, expires October 31 of odd years)
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
Varies
Renewal fee amount provided at time of renewal via DELPROS system
For renewals between January 1, 2026, and October 31, 2027, all appraisers must complete a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course.
Delaware recognizes credentials from other states under FIRREA Title XI.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits available for $40.
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers performing federally related transactions must be listed on the ASC National Registry. Federal Registry fee is $80 if approved Jul 1 - Oct 31 of odd years; $40 if approved Nov 1 - Jun 30.
Unique to Delaware
Delaware uses the DELPROS online licensing system with a 'shopping cart' concept allowing multiple fee payments at once. The state has a unique prorated National Registry fee structure based on approval date. License upgrades from Licensed to Certified Residential are only $55.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Delaware.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#38 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
$47,750
25th percentile
Median
$57,040
-13% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$75,910
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
160 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+18% salary growth potential
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Real Estate Appraiser
$57,040
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$48,450
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$68,320
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$57,040
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 Delaware real estate agent requirements →