How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in California

To become a real estate appraiser in California, you must first complete the educational requirements and pass a state exam which allows you to start out as a Trainee in the field.

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 the one in California.

Real estate appraisers can be self-employed and work for themselves or they can work for mortgage firms, banks, lenders and government agencies.

Here's what you need to know to become a real estate appraiser in California:

1) Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Requirements in California

2) Real Estate Appraiser Job Duties

3) Income Potential

4) California Real Estate Appraisal Schools

How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in California

1) Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Requirements in California

In California, real estate appraisers MUST be licensed by the California Office of Real Estate Appraisers (OREA).

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!

2) Duties of Real Estate Appraisers

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) Income Potential in California

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 in California 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) Real Estate Appraisal Schools in California

If you are interested in becoming a real estate appraiser in California, you will need to take classes that meet standards set by the California Office of Real Estate Appraisers (OREA).

School status may change so please call OREA at 916.552.9000 prior to signing up for classes.

Acheson Appraisal Classes
283 North Rampart Street, Orange, CA 92868-1852
714-935-1161

Allied Real Estate School
22952 Alcalde Drive, Suite 150, Laguna Hills, CA 92653-1311
800-542-5543

Anthony Schools, A Kaplan Professional Company
2646 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA 92612
800-726-7767

Inspection Training Associates
1016 South Tremont Street, Oceanside, CA 92054-5051
800-323-9235

International Right of Way Association
19750 South Vermont Avenue, Suite 220
Pacific Harbor Business Center, Torrance, CA 90502-1144
310-538-0233

Real Estate Communications Resources
2015 Clement Avenue, Building 7, Alameda, CA 94501
510-865-8041

Real Estate Trainers, Inc.
2428 North Grand Avenue, Suite K, Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-972-2211

The Foundation of Real Estate Appraisers
283 North Rampart Street, Orange, CA 92868-1852
714-935-1161

Appraisal School, The
6279-D Variel Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
818-223-8856

Back to California Real Estate Agent

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.