How to Get a Residential Real Estate Appraiser's License in Virginia

The many real estate transactions that occur in the Commonwealth of Virginia every month require knowledgeable individuals to determine the fair market value of that real estate. Banks want to lend money to buyers of homes, but only if those homes are worth the money being lent. Homeowners want to borrow money against the value of their homes and buyers want confirmation that the money that they're offering to buy their homes for are priced fairly. All of these parties use residential real estate appraisers who are licensed by the Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Board.

In Virginia, there are four distinct levels of real estate appraiser licensure, each of which has a specific license and certification requirement. These levels are "Appraiser Trainee," "Licensed Residential Appraiser," "Certified Residential Appraiser" and "Certified General Appraiser."

Every applicant for either of these levels must meet the following qualifications:

* The applicant must be at least 18 years old.

* The applicant must be of good moral character, honest, truthful and competent to transact real estate appraisal business.

* The applicant must meet the current educational and experience requirements for each level of licensure.

* The applicant must certify in writing that the Virginia real estate appraiser license law and the regulations of the Real Estate Appraiser Board have been read and understood.

* The applicant may not have had a real estate appraisers license or certificate revoked, suspended or surrendered for disciplinary actions in any jurisdiction.

* The applicant may not have been convicted, found guilty, pled guilty or pleaded nolo contendere in any jurisdiction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or of any felony.

* The applicant must have successfully completed the specified number of classroom hours for each level of licensure including a minimum of 15 hours on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

* The applicant must submit a minimum amount of real estate appraisal experience that is required for every level of licensure.

* The applicant must pass a written examination within 12 months of being approved by the Virginia Appraisal Board to take the exam.

Each one of the four different licensure levels demands a different level of approved education.

* The Appraiser Trainee must pass a written state examination after having taken 75 hours of a state-approved course within five years of having been approved by the real estate appraisal board to take the exam.

* The Licensed Residential Appraiser candidate must pass a board-approved examination after having studied 90 hours of a state-approved course. The 75 hours of study engaged in for the Appraiser Trainee will count towards the 90 hours needed for the Licensed Residential Appraiser.

* The Certified Residential Appraiser must successfully pass a 120-hour approved course of which the 90 hours earned for the Licensed Residential Appraiser may be applied towards the 120 hours.

* The Certified General Appraiser candidate must successfully complete 180 hours of a board-approved course. All previous hours earned for any of the other licensure classes may apply towards the fulfillment of the required 180 hours. Additionally, all candidates for licensure as certified general appraisers must complete a 30 hour advanced-level course in the appraisal of nonresidential properties.

Apart from the educational requirements, appraiser candidates must complete a set number of experience hours.

* Appraiser Trainees have no experience requirements. They must work under the direct supervision of a licensed real estate appraiser in order to gain the experience needed to apply for licensure as a Licensed Residential Appraiser.

* Applicants for a Residential Appraiser's license must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of appraisal experience.

* Applicants for a Certified Residential Appraiser's license must have a minimum of 2,500 hours of appraisal experience.

* Applicants for a Certified General Appraiser's license must have a minimum of 3,000 hours of appraisal experience of which at least 1,500 hours must be in nonresidential appraisals, and must include appraisal experience that demonstrates an understanding of the income approach.

All residential real estate appraiser's licenses expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued. As a condition of license renewal, all active license holders must complete continuing education requirements as following:

* Continuing education courses or seminars must be at least 28 classroom hours in length.

* Seven of those classroom hours must be the National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice course which was established by the Appraiser Qualification's Board (AQB) of The Appraisal Foundation as a national requirement for all States.

Virginia applicants may study the residential real estate appraisal course as well as the license renewal continuation education course, either on the internet or with a CD on their computer, both provided by an approved appraisal school, after which they may take the state licensing course.