How to Get a Residential Real Estate Appraiser's License in the District of Columbia

The many real estate transactions that occur in the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia Board of Appraisers.

In the District of Columbia, there are two distinct levels of real estate appraiser licensure, each of which has a specific license and certification requirement. These levels are "Residential Real Property Appraiser" and "General Real Property 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 not have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude

• The applicant must turn in a notarized application form with two recent passport photos.

• The applicant must meet the current educational requirements and submit a Certificate of Appraiser Education Form.

• The applicant must submit a notarized Work Experience Log of Appraisal Reports to indicate having met the required experience.

• The applicant must pass a written State exam.

• The applicant must submit to the Board an application for an Appraiser License within 30 months of passing the state exam.
Each one of the two different licensure levels demands a different level of approved education.

• The Residential Real Property Appraiser candidate must pass a board-approved examination after having studied 90 hours of a state-approved course of which at least 15 hours must be the National Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course.

• The General Real Property Appraiser candidate must successfully complete 180 hours of a board-approved course of which at least 15 hours must be the National Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course. The 90 hours required for the Residential license may apply towards the fulfillment of the required 180 hours.

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

• Applicants for a Real Property Appraiser's license must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of appraisal experience.

• Applicants for a General Real Property 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.

All residential real estate appraisers' licenses must be renewed by February 28th of each even numbered year.

Applicants, who receive their license during the second year of the two year period preceding the date the license expires, need not take any continuing education. All other licensees, however, must take the 7-hour USPAP update course within a licensing period.