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Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (under Department of Commerce)
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.
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 up to $1,000,000; complex 1-4 unit residential and non-residential 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 Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing with required fees
Complete fingerprinting and background check (BCI & FBI)
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
Fingerprinting and background check required as part of the application process. Conducted through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the FBI.
Fingerprinting
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.
Per Ohio Real Estate Appraiser Board ('Trainee' remains an acceptable working term)
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee. Maximum 3 Registered Appraiser Assistants per Certified Supervisor at one time (per Ohio Real Estate Appraiser Board). Trainee assignments appraising commercial property require supervisor to be a Certified General Appraiser. Both Trainee and Supervisor must complete the AQB Supervisor/Trainee Course. Background check via Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and FBI Webcheck is required (~$70 Webcheck fee separate from application fee).
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.
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 up to $1,000,000; complex 1-4 unit residential and non-residential up to $250,000
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of appraisal experience obtained over a minimum of 12 months.
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
Ohio 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
Ohio 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 | $175 | — | $75 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $250 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $250 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $250 | — | — | $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
2 years (biennial), effective April 9, 2025, per HB 238. Prior to HB 238, renewal cycle was annual (1-year). All credentials issued on or after April 9, 2025, are issued with a 2-year term. Existing credentials issued on or before April 8, 2025, will receive a 1-year term initially and will be eligible for a 2-year term starting in 2026.
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$165
Biennial renewal fee per Ohio Real Estate Appraiser Board ($125 to Division + $40 federal registry pass-through), effective with HB 238 biennial cycle
28 hours of CE per 2-year cycle (for credentials with 2-year term). Trainees and appraisers with 1-year credentials must complete 14 hours per year. Must include 7-hour National USPAP Update Course (every 2 years). Effective January 1, 2026, AQB Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course required: appraisers with credential expiration 1/1/2026 to 4/8/2026 must complete the 7-hour course for 2026 renewal; appraisers with credential expiration 4/9/2027 to 12/31/2027 must complete the 7-hour course for 2027 renewal. New appraiser credential applications received on or after January 1, 2026, must include proof of completion of the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Law course (includes class examination); existing licensees taking the course as CE do NOT need the class exam. Ohio Fair Housing Course required separately for trainees as part of QE.
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Ohio may grant credentials to appraisers holding current credentials in other states, provided qualifications meet or exceed Ohio requirements.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits are available for out-of-state appraisers to perform appraisal assignments in Ohio on a limited basis.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Ohio with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
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 Ohio
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
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Unique to Ohio
Ohio requires dual-level fingerprint-based background checks through both the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the FBI, which is more thorough than some states that only require state-level checks.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
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Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in Ohio verified against Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (under Department of Commerce), April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in Ohio.
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