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How to become a real estate appraiser in South Carolina. Trainee: 75 hrs education. Licensed Residential: 150 hrs + 1,000 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
South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board, Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)
Official website →Most information on this page has been verified.
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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 assist on appraisals the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign or issue appraisal reports.
Degree: None required
Scope: Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $400,000
Degree: Associate degree or equivalent
Scope: 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
Degree: Bachelor's degree or higher
Scope: All types of real property, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and all other property types
South Carolina uses the term 'Apprentice' instead of 'Trainee'
South Carolina has no limit on the number of hours that may be completed online. The Valuation Bias & Fair Housing (8 hrs) and Supervisor/Trainee (4 hrs) courses are additional requirements beyond the 75-hour core, bringing total to approximately 87 hours for post-Jan 2026 applicants.
Online courses: Allowed
No experience required to obtain Apprentice credential. Trainees gain experience under supervision of a Certified appraiser.
No exam required at this level
Must work under a supervising Certified Appraiser. Supervisor and Apprentice must both complete the Supervisor/Trainee course.
Max trainees per supervisor: 3
Must be a Certified Residential or Certified General appraiser in good standing
May assist on appraisals the supervising certified appraiser is permitted to perform. Cannot independently sign or issue appraisal reports.
Online courses: Allowed
1,000 hours of logged experience over a period of at least 6 months
Exam: AQB-approved Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: National exam provider
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
None required
No college degree required for Licensed Appraiser
Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $1,000,000 and complex 1-4 unit residential properties with a transaction value less than $400,000
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours of logged experience over a period of at least 12 months
Exam: AQB-approved Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: National exam provider
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
Associate degree or equivalent
Must hold an Associate degree or satisfy AQB alternative college education requirements
1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
Online courses: Allowed
1,500 hours must be in non-residential appraisal work
3,000 hours with at least 1,500 hours in non-residential properties over a period of at least 18 months
Exam: AQB-approved Certified General Real Property Appraiser Examination
Provider: National exam provider
Passing score: Pass/Fail (national standard)
Bachelor's degree or higher
Must hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
All types of real property, including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and all other property types
Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
Background check required as part of the application process
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 | $255 | — | — | — |
| Licensed Residential | $255 | — | — | $80 |
| Certified Residential | $255 | — | — | $80 |
| Certified General | $255 | — | — | $80 |
The National Registry fee ($40/year) is paid to the federal Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) and applies to all appraisers performing federally-related transactions.
Complete qualifying education courses (QE1, QE2, QE3) plus Supervisor/Trainee course
Complete 8-hour Valuation Bias & Fair Housing course (required after Jan 1, 2026)
Apply for Apprentice credential with a supervising Certified appraiser
Gain required experience hours under supervision
Complete additional qualifying education for desired credential level
Pass the AQB-approved national examination for the credential level
Submit application with $255 fee to LLR
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
$255
Biennial renewal fee for all license levels
28 hours every 2 years. For 2026 renewal (due June 30, 2026): must include 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course AND 7-hour 2026-2027 USPAP Update. CE tracked via CE Broker. No limit on online CE hours.
Out-of-state/country licensed appraisers assessed individually. No exam required if requirements are commensurate with South Carolina standards.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permit available for $120
Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers must be listed on the ASC National Registry. $80 biennial Federal Registry fee.
Unique to South Carolina
South Carolina uses the term 'Apprentice' (not 'Trainee') for the entry-level credential. The state also offers mass appraisal classification variants (Licensed Mass, Certified Residential Mass, Certified General Mass) in addition to the standard four tiers. PAREA completers are exempt from the exam requirement.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Carolina.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#35 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
$38,490
25th percentile
Median
$59,080
-10% vs. national avg ($65,420)Experienced
$76,270
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
860 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+18% salary growth potential
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Real Estate Appraiser
$59,080
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
Pre-licensing education (40-180 hours) + state exam
$49,990
2-3 years experience + additional education + broker exam
$54,300
You are here
Real Estate Appraiser
AQB courses + supervised experience (varies by tier)
$59,080
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.
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
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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 South Carolina real estate agent requirements →