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Real Estate Appraiser
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 appraise only those properties that the supervisory appraiser is permitted to appraise. Must work under direct supervision at all times.
Degree: No college degree required
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value up to $1,000,000. Complex 1-4 unit residential properties up to $250,000. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Degree: Associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, or equivalent as determined by AQB
Scope: All 1-4 unit residential properties regardless of value or complexity. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution
Scope: All types of real property regardless of value or complexity, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties.
Complete required qualifying education (75-300 hours depending on tier)
Submit application to the North Carolina Appraisal Board with required fees
Complete background check
Gain required experience hours under a certified supervisory appraiser
Pass the appropriate national Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam
Receive license and register on ASC National Registry
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Background check required as part of the application process.
Fingerprinting
Not required
USPAP Requirement
15-hour National USPAP Course required for initial licensing. 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
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee
No exam required at this level
Must work under a certified supervisory appraiser. Supervisor must directly supervise trainee on each appraisal assignment. Supervisor must review and sign all trainee reports.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must hold a certified license (Certified Residential or Certified General) in good standing. Must complete AQB-compliant Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser course.
May appraise only those properties that the supervisory appraiser is permitted to appraise. Must work under direct supervision at all times.
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 6 months. **PAREA accepted by NC** for Licensed Residential per ncappraisalboard.org/appraiser. Applicants completing approved PAREA program for Licensed Residential may apply to the Board for upgrade. Required appraisal experience is calculated by appraisal reports (not hours) when accumulated through PAREA.
Exam: Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam — Licensed Residential
Provider: AQB-approved testing provider
Passing score: Pass/fail as determined by AQB exam standards
No college degree required
AQB does not require a degree at this level
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with transaction value up to $1,000,000. Complex 1-4 unit residential properties up to $250,000. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 12 months. **PAREA accepted by NC** for Certified Residential per ncappraisalboard.org/appraiser. Applicants must have completed required core curriculum (QE) prior to beginning the PAREA program. Cert Res PAREA applicants must submit experience log including minimum 15 appraisals; the Board will choose 5 to review for USPAP compliance.
Exam: Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam — Certified Residential
Provider: AQB-approved testing provider
Passing score: Pass/fail as determined by AQB exam standards
Associate degree or higher from an accredited institution, or equivalent as determined by AQB
North Carolina follows AQB minimum: Associate degree for Certified Residential
All 1-4 unit residential properties regardless of value or complexity. Non-residential properties with transaction value up to $250,000.
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours in non-residential appraisal work.
Exam: Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam — Certified General
Provider: AQB-approved testing provider
Passing score: Pass/fail as determined by AQB exam standards
Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution
North Carolina follows AQB minimum: Bachelor's degree for Certified General
All types of real property regardless of value or complexity, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties.
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| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $200 (NON-REFUNDABLE; payable only by cashier's/certified check or money order to the NC Appraisal Board) | — | $50 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $200 (NON-REFUNDABLE) | — | — | $60 (per NC Appraisal Board renewal page) |
| Certified Residential | $200 (NON-REFUNDABLE) | — | — | $60 (per NC Appraisal Board renewal page) |
| Certified General | $200 (NON-REFUNDABLE) | — | — | $60 (per NC Appraisal Board renewal page) |
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
License expires annually on June 30. CE cycle is biennial (June 1 odd year through May 31 odd year): 28 hours of CE due by May 31 of every odd-numbered year. Trainees and appraisers initially registered after January 1 of an odd-numbered year are not required to show CE for renewal in that odd-numbered year.
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$200 + $60 national registry fee for Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General (annual renewal by June 30). Trainee renewal also $200; trainees not on national registry.
28 hours of CE per 2-year cycle (June 1 odd year through May 31 odd year), due by May 31 of odd years. Must include 7-Hour National USPAP Continuing Education Course (the 2026-2027 USPAP CE Course must be completed by May 31, 2026). Trainees and appraisers initially registered after January 1 of the renewal year are not required to obtain CE for their first renewal. No course may be repeated within the same 2-year CE cycle. Effective January 1, 2026, AQB Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course required (7 hours first completion, 4 hours every 2 years thereafter); courses taken prior to June 1, 2025, do NOT meet this requirement. By May 31, 2027, every current trainee/licensee/certificate holder must complete a Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course of at least 7 hours.
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North Carolina may grant credentials to appraisers holding current credentials in other states, provided qualifications meet or exceed North Carolina requirements.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits are available for out-of-state appraisers to perform appraisal assignments in North Carolina on a limited basis.
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Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All state-licensed and state-certified appraisers who perform appraisals in connection with federally related transactions must be listed on the ASC National Registry.
Real Estate Appraiser Schools in North Carolina
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Unique to North Carolina
The North Carolina Appraisal Board is an independent regulatory board rather than being housed under a larger department, giving it dedicated focus on appraiser regulation and standards enforcement.
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Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in North Carolina verified against North Carolina Appraisal Board, April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in North Carolina.
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