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Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers (under Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs/BPOA, within Department of State/DOS)
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 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 college or university
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 Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers with required fees
Complete fingerprinting and background check
Gain required experience hours under a certified supervisory appraiser
Pass the appropriate national Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam
Receive certification and register on ASC National Registry
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Fingerprinting and background check required as part of the application process. Pennsylvania requires criminal history record checks.
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.
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee. Trainee biennial renewal limited to 4 times maximum (per 49 Pa. Code §36.6). Trainee inactive/expired status requires contacting Board Office (1-833-DOS-BPOA, st-appraise@pa.gov) for reactivation procedures.
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 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.
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
Pennsylvania 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 college or university
Pennsylvania 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 | $300 | — | $75 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $300 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $300 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $300 | — | — | $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). Certificates expire June 30 of every odd-numbered year. Next biennial renewal: June 30, 2027. Renewal notices emailed 30-45 days prior to expiration date. Trainee biennial renewal limited to 4 times maximum unless Board determines additional renewals warranted (per 49 Pa. Code §36.6).
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$150 (Trainee biennial) per 49 Pa. Code §36.6. Certified Residential / Certified General / Pennsylvania Evaluator / Broker Appraiser renewal fees differ. VERIFY current renewal fees by tier against PALS PA before relying on this for non-trainee tiers.
28 hours of CE per 2-year cycle (biennial period 7/1 odd-year through 6/30 odd-year). Required: 7-hour National USPAP Update Course (or equivalent); 2-hour course on the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act and Board's regulations and policies (PA-specific). Effective with the 2025-2027 biennial renewal period (per 49 Pa. Code §36.44(a.1)), AQB-compliant Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course required: 7-hour CE course required by 6/30/2027; 4-hour course required for subsequent renewals beginning 6/30/2029. New applicants/upgrades after 1/1/2026: 8-hour QE course. Trainee NOT required to complete CE if initially licensed January 1 through April 30 of every odd-numbered year. Asynchronous distance education acceptable per 49 Pa. Code §36.44 if course provides interaction between learner and instructor.
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Pennsylvania may grant credentials to appraisers holding current credentials in other states, provided qualifications meet or exceed Pennsylvania requirements.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits are available for out-of-state appraisers to perform appraisal assignments in Pennsylvania on a limited basis.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
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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 Pennsylvania
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Unique to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's board is specifically named the 'State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers,' emphasizing the certification aspect. It operates under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA), which oversees dozens of professional licensing boards within the Department of State.
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RE Appraiser requirements in Pennsylvania verified against Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers (under Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs/BPOA, within Department of State/DOS), April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
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