How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in Florida
To become a real estate appraiser in Florida, you'll have to first apply to be a Registered Trainee Appraiser.
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.
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 Florida:
1) Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Requirements in Florida
2) Real Estate Appraiser Job Duties
3) Income Potential
4) Florida Real Estate Appraisal Schools
How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in Florida
1) Real Estate Appraiser Licensing Requirements in Florida
In Florida, real estate appraisers MUST be licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Licensing.
To become a Registered Trainee Appraiser, you must:
- complete 75 hours of approved education including at least 15 hours of Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)
- complete and file an application along with a fingerprint card and a $277 application fee.
- work under the supervision of a licensed or certified real estate appraiser
After receiving 2500 hours of appraisal experience and completing 120 hours of approved education, you may apply to become a Certified Residential Appraiser. There is a $377 fee.
The levels of real estate appraiser licensing in Florida are:
- Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
- Certified General Real Property Appraiser
| License Levels | Education Requirements | Experience Requirements | Exam | Scope of Practice |
| Certified Residential Appraiser | A minimum of 120 hours of approved appraisal education, with at least 15 hours on USPAP. | Minimum 2,500 hours of acceptable appraisal experience over at least 2 years. | Must pass the AQB approved certified residential examination. | May appraise all 1-to-4 unit residential property. |
| Certified General Appraiser | A minimum of 180 hours of approved appraisal education and 15 hours on USPAP. | Minimum 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience, over at least 2.5 years. | Must pass the AQB approved certified general examination. | May appraise all types of real estate. |
NOTE: Education, Experience, Testing, and Continuing Education are subject to change based upon criteria established by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of The Appraisal Foundation.
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 Florida
According to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, the 2003 median salary of Real Estate Appraisers in Florida was approximately $35,200/year.
Salaries ranged from under $248,000/year to over $68,000/year.
4) Real Estate Appraisal Schools in Florida
If you are interested in becoming a real estate appraiser in Florida, you will need to take classes that are approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Licensing.
Please call the Board at (850) 487-1395
prior to signing up for
classes.
Name of Provider
Real Estate Appraisal Schools for Florida
Academy of Real Estate Education, Inc.
Fort Myers, FL
941.433.4200
Cooke Real Estate School Headquarters, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
727.522.6511
Florida Real Estate Institute, Inc.
Orange Park, FL
904.269.2555
Gold Coast Professional Schools, Inc.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
305.735.5900
Indian River Community College
Ft. Pierce, FL
561.462.4700
John E. Lennon III
Boynton Beach, FL
561.495.7094
Miami-Dade Community College
Miami, FL
305.237.2000
National Education Seminars of Florida, Inc.
Sarasota, FL
941.379.3577
North Florida Real Estate College
Lake City, FL
904.755.4040
Polk Community College
Winter Haven, FL
941.297.1021
Real Estate Education Specialists
Orlando, FL
407.321.9094
Real Estate Learning Center, Inc.
Orlando, FL
407.321.9094
Seminole Community College
Sanford, FL
407.328.4722
Steven W. Vehmeier
St. Petersburg, FL
727.544.9350
Susan Collins-Cook School of Real Estate
New Smyma Beach, FL
904.345.2104
The Real Estate School, Inc.
Tallahassee, FL
904.222.4940
Wil Bowles School of Real Estate, Inc.
Winter Park, FL
407.671.7771
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