How hard is it to become a real estate appraiser?

It is moderately hard to become a real estate appraiser. To become a licensed or certified real estate appraiser, you need to complete a certain number of education hours, gain practical experience, and pass an examination. The specific requirements to become a real estate appraiser can vary by state and certification level.

Is real estate appraiser a good career?

Yes, being a real estate appraiser is a good career. They have a high earning potential and are often in high demand. On average, real estate appraisers rate 25% higher satisfaction levels in their work compared to other careers. This is often due to the benefits, flexible schedule, and varying work days.

How To Become A Real Estate Appraiser: What It Is and Career Path

What is a real estate appraiser and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Dave Bunton

Before a property is sold, mortgaged, or developed, it is the job of a real estate appraiser to estimate its value based on factors like location, curb appeal, age of the property, characteristics, and structural materials used, among many others.

A typical workday for a real estate appraiser revolves around gathering information about the property, analyzing these bits of information, valuing the property using found data and information on comparable homes, and maintaining property records. Their job also entails staying on top of current market conditions that can affect their appraising property.

The basic educational requirement for this role is a bachelor's degree in economics, finance, real estate law, or something similar. Aspiring real estate appraisers also need a state-issued license to operate as one legally. The minimum requirements for appraiser licenses are on the Appraiser Qualification Board's (ABQ) official website.

Apart from formal education and an appraiser license, one must be impartial, inquisitive, and highly objective to appraise properties fairly. Aside from that, real estate appraisers need to be analytical, detail-oriented, and skilled in math.

What general advice would you give to a Real Estate Appraiser?

Dave Bunton

President, The Appraisal Foundation

During the pandemic, we've seen an increase in the number of people hoping to join the appraisal profession. This makes sense because appraisal work allows you to work out of your home independently, has flexible hours, and takes advantage of the latest technology. While many industries have had to make these shifts after the pandemic started, appraisers have been working this way for years, and we're pleased that folks looking to start or shift their careers are discovering these benefits in the appraisal profession.

ScoreReal Estate AppraiserUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $54,616

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.0

Growth Rate 7%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 2.90%

Black or African American 4.73%

Hispanic or Latino 6.94%

Unknown 3.89%

White 81.10%

Gender

female 33.52%

male 66.48%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress Level

5.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.1

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

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Key steps to become a real estate appraiser

Explore real estate appraiser education requirements

Most common real estate appraiser degrees

Bachelor's

68.9 %

Associate

15.0 %

Master's

6.6 %

Start to develop specific real estate appraiser skills

Skills	Percentages
Residential Real Estate	17.55%
Real Estate Appraisals	5.83%
Real Property	5.21%
Residential Properties	4.31%
Fair Market Value	4.08%

Complete relevant real estate appraiser training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New real estate appraisers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a real estate appraiser based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real real estate appraiser resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed real estate appraiser usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed real estate appraiser in most of states. 43 states require real estate appraisers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Alabama	Degree required	State exam required	Licensed Real Property Appraiser
Maryland	Degree required	State exam required	REAL ESTATE BROKER
Alaska	-	-	Real Estate Broker
California	Degree required	State exam required	Real Estate Broker License
Colorado	Specific course required	State exam required	Real Estate Broker License

Research real estate appraiser duties and responsibilities

Manage valuation disputes of clients with in-house or fee appraisers, submit BPO's/Appraisal reports error and concerns.
Produce high value appraisals for commercial and residential REO properties.
Work directly with senior real estate appraiser and MAI designate appraisers.
Assist and collaborate with a MAI on assignments including inspections and comparable selection.

Prepare your real estate appraiser resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your real estate appraiser resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a real estate appraiser resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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