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How to become a real estate appraiser in New Jersey. 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 Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board, Division of Consumer Affairs
Official website →Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
68% of data points are verified against official sources. 13 fields based on preliminary research. 1 field needs 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.
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
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
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 out of 110 scored questions (125 total questions)
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
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
| 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.
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
CE Hours Per Cycle
28 hours
(AQB minimum: 28 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
2 years
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
Varies
Renewal fee amount not confirmed from official source
28 hours every 24 months including 7-hour USPAP Update Course. A 2-hour course on NJ laws and rules governing real estate appraising is also required. Effective 2026, a 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course is required.
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
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 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.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New Jersey.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#3 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
$61,780
25th percentile
Median
$89,890
+37% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$122,050
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
800 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+35% salary growth potential
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Real Estate Appraiser
$89,890
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$66,680
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$92,890
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$89,890
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: New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board, Division of Consumer Affairs — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board, Division of Consumer Affairs — 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 New Jersey real estate agent requirements →