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Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board, Division of Consumer Affairs
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 on any appraisal the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Degree: 30 semester hours of college-level courses or Associate degree or higher
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $400,000
Degree: Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Scope: Appraisal of 1-4 residential units without regard to value or complexity, including vacant or unimproved land utilized for 1-4 family purposes
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher
Scope: All types of real property without restriction on value or complexity, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and all other property types
Complete 75 hours of qualifying education (trainee level)
Apply for Trainee Appraiser permit (optional but recommended)
Gain required experience hours under a certified supervising appraiser
Complete additional qualifying education for desired credential level
Pass the AQB-approved national examination
Submit license/certification application with fees and supporting documentation
Complete background check and fingerprinting
Receive license and register with ASC National Registry
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Criminal history background check required for all applicants. Certification and Authorization form must be completed.
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.
Voluntary trainee permit issued by the NJ Real Estate Appraiser Board. The Trainee Appraiser program is voluntary in New Jersey.
NJ also requires a Supervisor-Trainee orientation course (additional hours). The Trainee Appraiser program is voluntary in NJ.
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee. Maximum 3 supervisors permitted per trainee, each must be identified to the Board. Supervisor must complete the Trainee/Supervisor Course (effective January 1, 2015) and submit Certification of Supervising Appraiser form. Trainee must maintain a separate log for each supervising appraiser; supervisor must sign off on log entries at least monthly. Trainees must return their permit within 30 days if no longer under direct supervision. Application must be signed and notarized.
No exam required at this level
Trainee must work under the direct supervision of a certified appraiser who is an approved mentor in New Jersey. The supervising appraiser must be designated on the trainee permit application.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must be a state-certified appraiser in good standing and approved as a mentor by the Board
May assist on any appraisal the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign appraisal reports.
Online courses: Allowed
2,000 hours of qualifying appraisal experience in no fewer than 12 months under a certified supervisor. NJ exceeds the AQB minimum of 1,000 hours over 6 months.
Exam: AQB-approved Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: PSI or Pearson VUE
Passing score: Scaled score of 75; exam contains 125 total items (110 scored, 15 pretest)
Questions: 125
Time limit: Varies
Fee: $100
30 semester hours of college-level courses or Associate degree or higher
NJ requires 30 semester hours of college-level education or an Associate degree or higher from an accredited institution
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value less than $400,000
Online courses: Allowed
2,500 hours of qualifying appraisal experience over at least 24 months. NJ exceeds the AQB minimum of 1,500 hours over 12 months.
Exam: AQB-approved Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: PSI or Pearson VUE
Passing score: Scaled score of 75 out of 110 scored questions (125 total questions)
Questions: 125
Fee: $100
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Bachelor's degree or higher in any field, OR Associate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Real Estate, OR 30 semester hours in specified topics, OR CLEP examinations. Appraisers who held Licensed Residential credential for 5+ years with no adverse record may be exempt.
Appraisal of 1-4 residential units without regard to value or complexity, including vacant or unimproved land utilized for 1-4 family purposes
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours of appraisal experience in no fewer than 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work
Exam: AQB-approved Certified General Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: PSI or Pearson VUE
Passing score: Scaled score of 75 out of 110 scored questions (125 total questions)
Questions: 125
Fee: $100
Bachelor's degree or higher
Must hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
All types of real property without restriction on value or complexity, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and all other property types
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| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $100 | — | — | — |
| Licensed Residential | $100 | $100 | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $100 | $100 | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $100 | $100 | — | $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
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
Biennial (every 2 years) for Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, Certified General. Annual (1 year) for Trainee Appraisers; trainee permits may be renewed up to 3 times maximum. Renewal notice from the Board sent at least 60 days before expiration.
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
Varies
Renewal fee amount not confirmed from N.J.A.C. 13:40A-7.1; flagged for human verification
28 hours of CE every 24-month renewal period for Licensed Residential / Certified Residential / Certified General. Trainees: 14 hours CE per annual renewal. Required: 7-hour National USPAP Update Course (every 2 years); 2-hour course on New Jersey law and rules governing real estate appraising practice (effective 1/1/2016, NJ-specific). Effective January 1, 2026: 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course required (4-hour every 2 years thereafter; this new course is INCLUDED IN the 28 total hours, not in addition). If initially licensed in first 6 months of second year of renewal cycle, only 14 hrs CE required; if initially licensed in last 6 months of second year, no CE required. CE documentation must be retained for at least 4 years. Credits may not be carried over to another renewal period. Late renewal penalty: $200 if more than 30 days past expiration.
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New Jersey accepts reciprocal applications from appraisers licensed in other states. A $75 nonrefundable filing fee applies for reciprocal applications.
Temporary practice: Temporary visiting certificates available
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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 New Jersey
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Unique to New Jersey
New Jersey's Trainee Appraiser program is voluntary (not mandatory), and the state significantly exceeds AQB minimum experience requirements for both Licensed Residential (2,000 vs 1,000 hours) and Certified Residential (2,500 vs 1,500 hours) tiers. NJ also requires all applications to be notarized.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
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Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in New Jersey verified against New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board, Division of Consumer Affairs, April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in New Jersey.
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