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Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
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 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
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
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
Not sure if you need a appraiser license? Check whether your state requires one.
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
50 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
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| 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.
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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 of CE every 2 years (biennial cycle ending June 30 of even-numbered years; next renewal: June 30, 2026). CE must be completed and recorded in CE Broker prior to paying renewal fee — apprentices included. CE due date: June 1 of even years (renewal cannot be guaranteed if forms received after June 1, per Rule 137-500.01). Required for June 30, 2026 renewal: 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course AND 7-hour 2026-2027 USPAP Update Course. After 1/1/2026, every 2 calendar years thereafter the Valuation Bias course length must be 4 hours (4-hour version required for subsequent renewals). Apprentices licensed after July 1 of the year prior to renewal need only 14 hours of CE for first renewal. No limit on online CE hours. Same course cannot be repeated within 2-year cycle.
Compare top-rated appraiser education providers in South Carolina.
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Out-of-state/country licensed appraisers assessed individually. No exam required if requirements are commensurate with South Carolina standards.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permit - $120
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Important: Federal Requirement for Appraisers
All licensed and certified appraisers must be listed on the ASC National Registry. $80 biennial Federal Registry fee.
Real Estate Appraiser Schools in South Carolina
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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.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
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Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in South Carolina verified against South Carolina Real Estate Appraisers Board, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in South Carolina.
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