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How to become a real estate appraiser in Minnesota. 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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73% of data points are verified against official sources. 5 fields based on preliminary research. 7 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 on appraisals the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign or issue 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
Minnesota uses the term 'Trainee Real Property Appraiser' for the entry-level credential
All 75 hours must be from Minnesota Department of Commerce pre-approved appraiser pre-license education providers. A maximum of 8 hours of CE credit may be earned in any 24-hour period.
Online courses: Allowed
No experience required to obtain trainee credential. Trainees gain experience under supervision.
No exam required at this level
Trainees must identify supervisory appraiser(s) during application. Both parties must notify the Commerce Commissioner within 10 days of terminating a supervisor-trainee relationship.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must be a Certified Residential or Certified General appraiser. May supervise no more than 3 trainees at any one time.
May assist on appraisals the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign or issue appraisal reports.
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience in not less than 6 months
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Licensed Residential
Provider: PSI Services (as of July 1, 2023). Must be pre-authorized by Commerce Department before scheduling.
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
None required
No college degree required for Licensed Residential credential per AQB
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 of acceptable appraisal experience in not less than 12 months
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Certified Residential
Provider: PSI Services. Must be pre-authorized by Commerce Department.
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
Associate degree or equivalent
Must hold an Associate degree or higher, or satisfy AQB alternative college education requirements (30 semester hours in specified subjects, CLEP, etc.)
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 of acceptable appraisal experience in not less than 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours (50%) in non-residential appraisal work
Exam: National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam — Certified General
Provider: PSI Services. Must be pre-authorized by Commerce Department.
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
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 as part of the application process
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 | $150 | — | — | — |
| Licensed Residential | $230 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $230 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $230 | — | — | $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 pre-approved qualifying education for Trainee credential
Apply for Trainee license through PULSE Portal identifying supervisory appraiser(s)
Gain required experience hours under supervision of certified appraiser
Complete additional qualifying education for desired credential level
Submit license upgrade application via PULSE Portal for Commerce Department review
Receive pre-authorization to sit for national exam from Commerce Department
Schedule and pass national exam through PSI Services
Receive license and register with ASC National Registry
CE Hours Per Cycle
30 hours
(Exceeds AQB minimum of 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$230
Renewal fee includes Federal Registry fee and technology surcharge
30 hours every 2 years: 7 hours National USPAP Update, 7 hours Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course, 2 hours on valuation bias topics, and remaining elective hours. Maximum 8 hours of CE credit in any 24-hour period. Renewal window is July 1 - August 31.
Minnesota accepts reciprocal applications from appraisers licensed in other states with equivalent requirements
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits available for out-of-state appraisers
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 Minnesota
Minnesota requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle (exceeds AQB minimum of 28 by 2 hours). The additional 2 hours must cover valuation bias topics. Also uses PULSE Portal for all licensing transactions.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Minnesota.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#10 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
$62,720
25th percentile
Median
$78,940
+21% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$101,680
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
1,460 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+66% salary growth potential
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Real Estate Appraiser
$78,940
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$47,650
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$66,310
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$78,940
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: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Licensing Division — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Licensing Division — Licensing Requirements
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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 Minnesota real estate agent requirements →