How to Get a North Carolina Real Estate Appraiser License

The North Carolina Appraisal Board has identified three levels of real property appraisal classification:

• Registered Trainee
• Certified Residential Appraiser
• Certified General Appraiser

Current North Carolina Real Estate Appraiser License Requirements

The North Carolina Appraisal Board has established the minimum educational requirements for an appraisal license. The minimum educational requirements include the following:

Registered Trainee

• Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours
• Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours
• The 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent 15 Hours
• Residential Market Analysis & Highest & Best Use 15 Hours OR
• General Market Analysis & Highest & Best Use 30 Hours
• Total Trainee Education Requirements 90 Hours

Certified Residential - the following appraisal prelicensing courses plus an Associate's Degree or its equivalent.
*Note: As of January 1, 2015, a Bachelor's Degree will be required.

• Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours
• Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours
• The 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent 15 Hours
• Residential Market Analysis & Highest & Best Use 15 Hours
• Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours
• Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches 30 Hours
• Residential Report Writing and Case Studies 15 Hours
• Statistics, Modeling and Finance 15 Hours
• Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 Hours
• Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 20 Hours (May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules)
• Total Certified Residential Education 200 Hours

2,500 hours worth of appraisals, and at least 2 years worth of experience.

Certified General - the following appraisal prelicensing courses plus a Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent.

• Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours
• Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours
• The 15-Hour National USPAP Course or its equivalent 15 Hours
• General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 30 Hours
• Statistics, Modeling and Finance 15 Hours
• General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach 30 Hours
• General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 30 Hours
• General Appraiser Income Approach 60 Hours
• General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies 30 Hours
• Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 30 Hours (May include hours over minimum shown above in other modules) Total Certified General Education 300 Hours

3,000 hours worth of appraisals, and at least 2 ½ years experience.

North Carolina Appraisal Regulatory Agency

Recent Changes to Real Property Appraiser Qualifications

Beginning January 1, 2015, the AQB has made significant changes to appraisal qualifications. Some states may choose to implement the changes sooner, so be sure to check with your state regulator.

Several important changes are outlined below, with complete details available on this AQB publication:

Upcoming Changes to Real Property Appraiser Qualifications

Important Change: Increased College Degree Requirements

Implications: After January 1, 2015, you must hold a bachelor's degree to obtain the Certified Residential license level or beyond. If you achieve this license level prior to January 1, 2015, you will be grandfathered in under the old regulations.