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How to become a real estate appraiser in New Hampshire. Trainee: 75 hrs education. Licensed Residential: 150 hrs + 2,000 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
New Hampshire Real Estate Appraisers Board (under Office of Professional Licensure and Certification)
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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 a certified appraiser. Cannot sign appraisal reports independently.
Degree: None required
Scope: Appraisal of non-complex, 1-4 residential units with transaction value under $1,000,000 and non-complex 1-4 residential units with transaction value under $250,000 for federally related transactions.
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. Also includes vacant or unimproved land for 1-4 residential use.
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher required
Scope: Appraisal of all types of real property without restriction on value or complexity, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and vacant land.
NH uses the title 'Apprentice' rather than 'Trainee'
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision; no experience required to become an apprentice appraiser.
No exam required at this level
Must work under direct supervision of a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser. Supervisor must be in good standing with the NH Board.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold a Certified Residential or Certified General credential in good standing for at least 3 years.
May assist in appraisals under direct supervision of a certified appraiser. Cannot sign appraisal reports independently.
Online courses: Allowed
NH requires 2,000 hours over at least 12 months, which exceeds the AQB minimum of 1,000 hours over 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 residential units with transaction value under $1,000,000 and non-complex 1-4 residential units with transaction value under $250,000 for federally related transactions.
Online courses: Allowed
NH requires 2,500 hours over at least 24 months, which significantly exceeds the AQB minimum of 1,500 hours over 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. Also includes vacant or unimproved land for 1-4 residential use.
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours over at least 30 months, with at least 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal. NH requires 30 months vs AQB minimum of 18 months.
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 residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and vacant land.
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Criminal history record check required for all applicants. Must disclose any criminal convictions.
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 | $150 | — | $25 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $150 | $125 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $200 | $125 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $200 | $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.
Complete required qualifying education (75 hours for Apprentice)
Find a certified appraiser willing to serve as supervisor/mentor
Submit application with required documentation and fees to OPLC
Pass criminal background check including fingerprinting
Obtain Apprentice credential and begin accumulating experience under supervision
Complete additional education for desired license/certification level
Pass the National Uniform Licensing/Certification Examination
Submit upgrade application with experience logs and documentation
Register with ASC National Registry
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years (biennial, based on licensee's birth month)
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$200-$400
Renewal fee varies by license level
NH recognizes credentials from other states under the reciprocity provisions of FIRREA Title XI. Out-of-state appraisers may apply for NH credentials if they hold equivalent credentials in their home state.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits available for out-of-state appraisers on assignment-by-assignment basis.
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers performing federally related transactions must be listed on the ASC National Registry.
Unique to New Hampshire
New Hampshire is notably stricter than AQB minimums on experience requirements across multiple tiers. The Licensed Residential tier requires double the AQB minimum hours (2,000 vs 1,000). The state uses 'Apprentice' terminology instead of the more common 'Trainee' designation.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New Hampshire.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#18 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
$57,060
25th percentile
Median
$69,170
+6% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$93,510
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
310 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+24% salary growth potential
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
$69,170
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$55,620
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$69,170
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 New Hampshire real estate agent requirements →