The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board has identified five levels of real property appraisal classification:
Appraiser Trainee
Provisional Licensed Real Estate Appraiser
Licensed Real Estate Appraiser
Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
Current Texas Appraiser License Requirements
The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board has established the minimum educational requirements for an appraisal license. The minimum educational requirements include the following:
APPRAISER TRAINEE
Must be sponsored by a current certified general or certified residential real estate appraiser, in good standing, who shall:
be responsible to the public and to the board for the conduct of the appraiser trainee;
actively, diligently and personally supervise and direct the appraiser trainee; and,
who shall sign the appraiser trainee's reports.
Be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Be a legal resident of Texas for at least 60 days immediately before filing an application.
College-level requirements: None
PROVISIONAL LICENSED REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
After making a diligent and good faith search, failed to secure sponsorship as an Appraiser Trainee from at least two certified appraisers.
Submit a completed -Application for Provisional Appraiser License- (the blue TALCB Form 11.0) and other required materials. Do NOT submit the yellow TALCB Form 1.5, -Application for Appraiser Certification and Licensing-.
Submit two (2) completed, signed and notarized -Affidavit Declining Sponsorship- forms (TALCB Form 12.0).
Successfully complete 150 classroom hours of acceptable real estate appraisal related courses (with exams) which must include ALL appropriate Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) required topics.
Pass the approved state licensed appraiser exam.
College-level requirements: None
LICENSED REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
Successfully complete150 classroom hours of acceptable real estate appraisal related courses (with exams) which must include ALL appropriate Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) required topics.
Legally acquire 2,000 hours of acceptable real estate appraisal experience.
Pass the approved state licensed appraiser exam.
College-level requirements: None
CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
Successfully complete 200 classroom hours of acceptable real estate appraisal related courses (with exams) which must include ALL appropriate Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) required topics:
Legally acquire 2,500 hours of acceptable real estate appraisal experience over a minimum of two calendar years (24 months).
Pass the approved state certified residential appraiser examination.
College-level requirements: Associate degree or higher. In lieu of the required degree, 21 semester credit hours covering the following subject matter courses: English Composition; Principles of Economics (Micro or Macro); Finance; Algebra, Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics; Computer Science; and Business or Real Estate Law.
CERTIFIED GENERAL REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
Successfully complete 300 classroom hours of acceptable real estate appraisal related courses (with exams) which must include ALL Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) required topics.
Legally acquire 3,000 hours of acceptable real estate appraisal experience over a minimum of 30 months (2½ calendar years). At least 1,500 of the 3,000 hours must be non-residential real estate appraisal work.
Pass the approved state certified general appraiser examination.
College-level requirements: Bachelors degree or higher. In lieu of the required degree, 31 semester credit hours covering the following subject matter courses: English Composition; Principles of Economics (Micro or Macro); Finance; Algebra, Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics; Computer Science; and Business or Real Estate Law; and 2 elective courses in accounting, geography, ag-economics, business management, or real estate.
IMPORTANT: For detailed information on understanding the 2008 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria, please follow this link to the Appraisal Foundation.
UPCOMING CHANGES TO REAL PROPERTY APPRAISER QUALIFICATIONS
Beginning January 1, 2015, the AQB has made significant changes to appraisal qualifications. It is possible that some states may choose to implement the changes sooner, so be sure to check with your state regulator.
IMPORTANT CHANGE: Increased College Degree Requirements
Implications: After 1/1/15, you must hold a bachelor's degree to obtain the Certified Residential license level or beyond. If you achieve this license level prior to 1/1/15, you will be grandfathered under the old regulations.
CLASSIFICATION
CURRENT REQUIREMENTS
January 1, 2015 REQUIREMENTS
Trainee Appraiser
None
None
Licensed Residential Appraiser
None
30 semester credit hours of collegelevel education from an accredited college, junior college, community college, or university OR an Associate’s degree or higher (in any field).
Certified Residential Appraiser
21 semester credit hours in specified collegiate subject matter courses from an accredited college or university OR an Associate’s degree or higher.
Bachelor’s degree or higher (in any field) from an accredited college or university.
Certified General Appraiser
30 semester credit hours in specific collegiate subject matter courses from an accredited college or university OR a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Bachelor’s degree or higher (in any field) from an accredited college or university.
IMPORTANT CHANGE: Experience Hours are Required BEFORE taking the licensing exam.
Implications: For the Licensed, Certified Residential and Certified General license levels, the required experience must be completed prior to taking the licensing exam. If you intend to upgrade your license prior to the 1/1/15 rules change, you need to be sure that you have enough time to complete your experience hours.
State Regulatory Agency
Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board
Mr. Renil C. Liner: Commissioner
P.O. Box 12188
Austin, TX 78711-2188
(512) 459-2232 Click for State Website