Real Estate Appraisal School
Enrolling in a real estate appraisal school is the first step in becoming a real estate appraiser in California. Real estate appraisers inspect and take measurements of real property (land, homes, apartments, office buildings, etc.) in order to arrive at an accurate value of the property.In any real estate transaction that needs a loan, a real estate appraisal will be required by the bank or lender. This includes purchase as well as refinancing transactions.
Consequently, there are many career opportunities for real estate appraisers in active real estate markets such as in Fresno CA.
Real estate appraisers can be self-employed and work for themselves or they can work for mortgage firms, banks, lenders and government agencies.
How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser
Before you spend your money on a real estate appraisal school, here's what you need to know:1) Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Requirements in California
2) Real Estate Appraiser Job Duties
3) Show me the money!
4) California Real Estate Appraisal Schools
1) Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Requirements in California
To be licensed, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Complete the required 90 hours of appraisal education (a real estate appraisal school offers courses to satisfy the education requirement)
- Pass the State appraisers exam (a real estate appraisal school will train you for this)
- Apply for the Trainee License
Once you have your Trainee License, you will be able to work under a licensed appraiser. Once you have a minimum of 2000 hours of appraisal experience, you may apply and obtain your Residential Appraiser License
There are actually 4 levels of real estate appraiser licensing in California:
- Trainee License
- Residential License
- Certified Residential License
- Certified General License
| OREA License Levels | Education Requirements | Experience Requirements | Exam | Scope of Practice |
| Trainee | A minimum of 90 hours of appraisal related education covering the specific topics required by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB), with at least 15 hours on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).* | None | Must pass the AQB approved residential examination. | Must work under the technical supervision of a licensed appraiser. May assist on any appraisal within the scope of practice of the supervising appraiser. |
| Residential | A minimum of 90 hours of appraisal related education covering the specific topics required by AQB, with at least 15 hours on USPAP.* | Minimum 2,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience | Must pass the AQB approved residential examination. | May appraise non-complex 1-to-4 unit residential property up to a transaction value of $1 million, and complex 1-to-4 unit residential and all non-residential property up to a transaction value of $250,000. |
| Certified Residential | A minimum of 120 hours of appraisal related education covering the specific topics required by AQB, with at least 15 hours on USPAP.* | Minimum 2,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience and 2 1/2 years of experience. | Must pass the AQB approved certified residential examination. | May appraise all 1-to-4 unit residential property without regard to complexity, and non-residential property up to a transaction value of $250,000. |
| Certified General | A minimum of 180 hours of appraisal related education covering the specific topics required by AQB, with at least 15 hours on USPAP.* | Minimum 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience, of which at least 1,500 hours must be non-residential and 2 1/2 years of experience. | Must pass the AQB approved certified general examination. | May appraise all types of real estate. |
*Effective January 1, 2003, applicants must complete the 15-hour National USPAP course.
The course must be taught by an AQB certified USPAP instructor, who is also a Certified General or Certified Residential licensed appraiser in good standing. Make sure your real estate appraisal school satisfies this requirement!
If you're interested in this career, here's a good book to get you started on the fundamentals and one to help you pass the exam:
2) Real Estate Appraiser Job Duties
A real estate appraiser's job is to estimate the value of real property. Real property consists of land, buildings, and even natural resources such as water, oil, or minerals.
The estimate of value is known as an appraisal. A real estate appraisal is made when real property is bought, sold, assessed, taxed, condemned, insured, or mortgaged.
A real estate appraiser's job duties also include:
- obtaining land values from county sources and sales information about nearby properties to help establish property value
- examining the income records and operating costs of income properties
- estimating building replacement costs using building valuation manuals and professional cost estimators.
- examining the type and location of nearby services such as shopping centers, schools, parks, and other neighborhood features in order to evaluate their impact on property values.
- verifying legal descriptions of property with county records, measuring the property and comparing the measurements with the legal descriptions.
- photographing interiors and exteriors of properties to help estimate property value, substantiate findings and complete appraisal reports
- preparing written reports that estimate the property value, outline methods used in estimations and meet appraisal standards
3) Show me the money!
According to California Employment Development Department (EDD), real estate appraiser trainees make about $1,400 to $2,700 per month. The salary of Real Estate Appraisers with at least three years of experience can range from $2,500 to $4,500 per month.
The salary of Independent real estate appraisers can range from $1,500 to $8,000 or more per month and can receive $200 to $300 per day as consultants.
State appraisers' salary start at $2,133 per month, and can rise to $2,418. They can be promoted to the associate level, which pays $3,330 to $4,018 per month.
Principal property appraisers with the State can earn a maximum of $4,849.
4) California Real Estate Appraisal Schools
If you are interested in becoming a real estate appraiser, you will need to enroll in a real estate appraisal school:
| School | Phone # |
| Allied Schools | <888.501.7686 |
| Anthony Schools | 888.373.7277 |