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Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program, under Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR)
Official website →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: Any type of property without regard to transaction value or complexity.
Complete required qualifying education (75-300 hours depending on tier)
Submit application to the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program with required fees
Complete 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
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.
Effective October 1, 2023, SD ACP changed title from State-Registered to 'Registered Trainee' per ASC compliance ruling
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee. Maximum 3 Registered Trainees may be supervised at one time. Supervisor must be State-Certified Residential or State-Certified General with at least 3 years of certification, in good standing. Supervisor must complete the SD Appraiser Certification Program's 'Training Course for Supervisory Appraisers and Registered Trainee Appraisers' before supervision begins (must retake every 3 years if not actively supervising). All appraisals completed by Registered Trainees must be under direct supervision of a Supervisory Appraiser per AQB criteria (effective Oct 1, 2023). ARSD 20:14:04:11 was previously out of compliance with AQB; now resolved. Per ARSD 20:14:10:04, supervisor endorsement is annual (Oct 1–Sept 30 cycle); $150 initial, $100/yr renewal. SD offers Midway-to-Upgrade Review program: when a Registered Trainee has achieved at least 50% of experience hours required for upgrade, may request appraisal review (up to 2 appraisals). Midway Upgrade Fee: $200 (Residential), $250 (Residential Small Income 2-4 units), $350 (Non-Residential Agricultural), $400 (Non-Residential Commercial/Industrial/Multi-Family >4 units). Upgrade fee: $200 + Application Fee for Targeted Category. If upgrading from Registered Trainee, add $40 National Registry 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 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
South Dakota 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
South Dakota follows AQB minimum: Bachelor's degree for Certified General
Any type of property without regard to transaction value or complexity.
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| Tier | Application | Exam | Background | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee | $210 (State-Registered application fee per official SD Appraiser Certification Program Fee Schedule; no federal registry fee for State-Registered tier) | — | $50 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $350 (per official SD ACP Fee Schedule); $390 total including $40 federal registry fee | — | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $375 (per official SD ACP Fee Schedule); $415 total including $40 federal registry fee | — | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $400 (per official SD ACP Fee Schedule); $440 total including $40 federal registry fee | — | — | $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
Annual (1 year) — NOT biennial. SD credential cycle: October 1 through September 30 each year. Renewal applications and fees due no later than August 16 of each year per ARSD 20:14:10:04. If credential expires September 30 and not renewed by then, late renewal available until March 31 of the following year with a $25 late penalty fee for each month or fraction of a month past October 1.
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$175 Registered Trainee / $365 State-Licensed / $375 State-Certified Residential / $390 State-Certified General per official SD ACP Application Renewal Fee Schedule. Annual renewal.
28 hours of CE every 2 years (CE cycle is biennial even though renewal is annual). Must include 7-hour National USPAP Update Course. Effective January 1, 2026, AQB Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course required (7 hours first completion, 4 hours every 2 years thereafter). New applicants and upgrades after 1/1/2026 must complete the 8-hour QE course.
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South Dakota may grant credentials to appraisers holding current credentials in other states, provided qualifications meet or exceed South Dakota requirements.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits are available for out-of-state appraisers to perform appraisal assignments in South Dakota 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 South Dakota
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Unique to South Dakota
South Dakota administers its appraiser program through the Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) rather than a standalone board, which streamlines administration but means the program shares administrative resources with other licensing programs.
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Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in South Dakota verified against South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program, under Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR), April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
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