Loading...
Loading...
Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers (under Department of Labor & Industry)
Official website →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.
2,500 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 of an approved mentor. 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 unit residential properties with transaction value 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, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential.
Complete 75 hours of qualifying education
Find an approved mentor (certified appraiser) in Montana
Submit Trainee application with $400 fee
Complete background check
Obtain Trainee credential and begin accumulating experience under mentor supervision
Complete additional education hours for desired license/certification level
Pass the National Uniform Licensing/Certification Examination with required passing score
Submit upgrade application with experience logs and required fee
Register with ASC National Registry
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.
Not sure if you need a appraiser license? Check whether your state requires one.
Online courses: Allowed
No experience required. Trainees gain experience under supervision of an approved mentor. Mentor Appraiser system: supervisor must hold Certified Residential or Certified General credential and be Board-approved as a Mentor. Both Trainee and Mentor must complete the AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course. Mentor relationship terminations must be reported to the Board within 30 days (per HB 276, 2025 Session).
No exam required at this level
Must work under direct supervision of a certified appraiser who is an approved mentor in Montana. Both trainee and supervisory appraiser must complete a course that complies with AQB specifications.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold Certified Residential or Certified General designation and be approved as a mentor by the Board.
May assist in appraisals under direct supervision of an approved mentor. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Montana uses 'Licensed Appraiser' rather than 'Licensed Residential Appraiser'
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of actual appraisal experience under supervision of a certified appraiser who is an approved mentor, completed over at least 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 unit residential properties with transaction value under $400,000.
Online courses: Allowed
2,500 hours of appraisal experience over a minimum of 24 months. Montana exceeds AQB minimum of 1,500 hours.
Exam: National Uniform Certification Exam - Certified Residential
Provider: Pearson VUE
Passing score: 77%
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.
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, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential.
Use code LicenseMap35 for 35% off at checkout
| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $400 | — | — | — |
| Licensed Residential | $515 | $125 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $515 | $125 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $815 | $125 | — | $40 |
The National Registry fee ($40/year) is paid to the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) and applies to all appraisers performing federally-related transactions.
Calculate your licensing ROI →
See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
1 year (annual renewal by March 31)
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$400-$515
Varies by license level; annual renewal required
28 hours of CE required per 2-year CE cycle (Montana licenses renew annually by March 31 but CE is on a 2-year cycle, due in even years for some licensees and odd years for others). Must include 7-hour National USPAP Update Course. Effective January 1, 2026, AQB Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course required (7 hours first completion, 4 hours every 2 years thereafter). All hours may be completed via distance education (effective April 14, 2018).
Find approved RE Appraiser pre-licensing courses at The CE Shop →(affiliate link)See our discount
Use code LicenseMap35 for 35% off at checkout
Montana recognizes credentials from other states under FIRREA Title XI. Reciprocal appraiser license application fee is $515.
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 Montana with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers performing federally related transactions must be listed on the ASC National Registry.
Real Estate Appraiser Schools in Montana
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Complete your qualifying education and continuing education from approved providers.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through links on our site. This does not affect our recommendations or the price you pay.
Unique to Montana
Montana has notably high application fees across all tiers and uses an approved mentor system rather than a generic supervisor system. The state requires annual renewal (March 31) but only requires CE every other renewal cycle. Montana's Certified Residential exam passing score of 77% is higher than the typical 75%.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
Browse Study Guides on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Already a licensed real estate agent? Many appraisers start as agents. Compare Montana real estate agent requirements →
Not sure this is the right career? Take a 2-minute quiz →
Answer 6 quick questions and we'll match you with the best-fit licensed profession.
Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in Montana verified against Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers (under Department of Labor & Industry), April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in Montana.
See CE requirements in Montana →GetLicenseMap.com has an advertising relationship with The CE Shop. Clicking links may result in GetLicenseMap.com receiving a commission. This does not affect the price you pay.