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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 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. Exception: No college education required for Licensed Appraisers who have been licensed for a minimum of 5 years and have been in good standing for the past 5 years (per Minnesota Department of Commerce).
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
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
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Criminal history record check required via fingerprint card or electronic fingerprinting at PSI test center. $32 fee paid to Minnesota Department of Commerce. Applies to all initial resident real estate appraiser license applicants. Manual fingerprinting available at local police stations (with separate processing fee).
Fingerprinting
Required
USPAP Requirement
15-Hour National USPAP Course required as part of qualifying education for all credential levels
Not sure if you need a appraiser license? Check whether your state requires one.
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. Reciprocity does not apply to the Trainee Real Property Appraiser license level — applicants for a Trainee license must complete all Minnesota licensing requirements regardless of credentials in another state. Trainees must notify the Commerce Commissioner in writing within 10 days of terminating or changing relationship with any supervisory appraiser.
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 (effective 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. Exception: No college education required for Licensed Appraisers who have been licensed for a minimum of 5 years and have been in good standing for the past 5 years (per Minnesota Department of Commerce).
Must hold an Associate degree or higher, or satisfy AQB alternative college education requirements (30 semester hours in specified subjects, CLEP, etc.). 5-year Licensed Residential good-standing exception available.
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
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| 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.
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CE Hours Per Cycle
30 hours
(Exceeds AQB minimum of 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years for Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, Certified General. 1 year for Trainee Real Property Appraiser (expires every August 31). Renewal window: July 1 – August 31 each year via PULSE Portal.
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-year cycle (exceeds AQB minimum of 28). Must include: 7-hour National USPAP Update Course; 2 additional hours on valuation bias topics; remaining hours elective. Maximum 8 CE hours credit in any 24-hour period. First-cycle CE: licensees licensed at least 6 months but fewer than 24 months at renewal must complete 15 hours for that renewal cycle. Renewal window: July 1 – August 31 at 11:59 PM Central. No grace period for either CE completion or license renewal. Effective January 1, 2026, AQB Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course required (7 hours first completion, 4 hours every 2 years thereafter).
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Minnesota accepts reciprocal applications from appraisers licensed in other states with equivalent requirements
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits available for out-of-state appraisers
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Minnesota with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers must be listed on the ASC National Registry to perform federally related transactions
Real Estate Appraiser Schools in Minnesota
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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.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
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RE Appraiser requirements in Minnesota verified against Minnesota Department of Commerce, Licensing Division, April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in Minnesota.
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