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Real Estate Appraiser
Governing Authority
West Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board
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 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 West Virginia Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board with required fees
Complete background check
Gain required experience hours under a certified supervisory appraiser
Pass the appropriate national Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam
Receive license/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.
West Virginia uses 'Apprentice Appraiser' (not 'Trainee Appraiser') per WV Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board terminology. Per §190-2-11.5.
Online courses: Allowed
Trainees gain experience under supervision — no experience required to become a trainee
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
West Virginia 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
West Virginia 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 | $200 | — | $50 | — |
| Licensed Residential | $200 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified Residential | $200 | — | — | $40 |
| Certified General | $200 | — | — | $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
14 hours
(AQB minimum: 14 hrs)
Renewal Cycle
1 year
USPAP Update
7-Hour USPAP Update required each cycle
Renewal Fee
$200
Annual renewal fee. VERIFY against current WV Board fee schedule.
14 hours of continuing education PER YEAR (annual renewal cycle Oct 1 – Sept 30, due August 31). Over a 2-year period this totals the AQB minimum of 28 hours. Must include the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course on the appropriate biennial schedule. WV-specific 3-hour WV Law Course is required for new applicants effective 1/1/2015 per §190-2-11.5 (one-time, part of qualifying education).
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West Virginia may grant credentials to appraisers holding current credentials in other states, provided qualifications meet or exceed West Virginia requirements.
Temporary practice: Temporary practice permits are available for out-of-state appraisers to perform appraisal assignments in West Virginia on a limited basis.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare West Virginia 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 West Virginia
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Unique to West Virginia
West Virginia is one of the few states using 'Apprentice Appraiser' rather than 'Trainee Appraiser' as the trainee-tier title. WV operates an ANNUAL renewal cycle (Oct 1 – Sept 30, due August 31) with 14 CE hours per YEAR — atypical compared to most states' biennial 28-hour cycle. WV-specific 3-hour WV Law Course required for new applicants per §190-2-11.5. WV's predominantly rural/mountainous terrain creates unique challenges for appraisers locating comparable sales data.
Study guides for the real estate appraiser licensing exam.
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Official Sources
RE Appraiser requirements in West Virginia verified against West Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, April 2026.
All data verified as of 2026-04-30. Sources consulted:
See full CE requirements in West Virginia.
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