A property appraiser places a fair market value on homes for property tax or other purposes. Florida has three main kinds of licenses for real estate appraisers: registered trainee appraiser, certified residential and certified general appraiser. As the names imply, a general appraiser may do appraisals in Florida on both residential and commercial property. Each type of license requires certain appraiser education and experience. Appraisers must also take two exams to get a real estate appraiser license in Florida.
Experience:
1. Registered Trainee
A trainee may register to obtain appraisal experience. No experience is necessary for this registration.
2. Certified Residential
Residential appraisers must have 2500 hours of appraisal experience over a 24-month period. (See Sources below.)
3. Certified General
General appraisers must have 3000 hours of experience (at least 1500 of which is nonresidential appraisal work) over a 30-month period.
Education:
1. Registered Trainee
Trainees must first receive 100 hours of board-approved appraisal courses. Refer to the “Frequently Asked Questions” in the Sources below for a specific list of courses for each Florida appraiser license type.
2. Certified Residential
Residential appraisers must complete 200 classroom hours of approved real estate appraiser courses. In addition, these applicant need either an associate’s degree or 21 semester credits in the following courses: English Composition; Principles of Economics (Macro or Micro); Algebra; Finance; Geometry or a higher math course; Statistics; Computer Science; and either Real Estate or Business Law.
3. Certified General
General appraisers must complete 300 hours of approved real estate appraisal courses. Additionally, these candidates must have either a bachelor’s degree or 30 semester hours in the following courses: English Composition; Macro Economics; Micro Economics; Finance; Algebra; Geometry or a higher math course; Computer Science; Statistics; and either Business or Real Estate Law. Applicants must also complete any 2 or the following courses: Accounting; Geography; Agricultural Economics; Real Estate or Business Management.
Candidates must take two exams; a national appraiser examination from Appraisal Qualfications Board and the Florida supplemental exam. Pearson VUE administers both of these exams. Use the “Appraiser Examination Candidate Handbook” to get details on and register for the national AQB exam. Use the separate candidate booklet to register for the Florida supplemental property appraiser exam. You can find links to these appraisal exam candidate booklets from the Pearson VUE page in the Sources below.
Fingerprints:
Florida requires appraiser applicants to pass a background check. Pearson VUE can take electronic fingerprints for you at its testing centers. Click on the “fingerprint reservation online” link on the Pearson VUE page in the Sources below to make a reservation.
Application:
After completing all of the above requirements, applicants then need to fill out a Florida appraiser application and pay a license application fee. Use the “Real Estate Appraisers” link in the Sources to find applications for each Florida appraiser license. As of 2010, the fee for a registered trainee appraiser is $230, and the fee for a certified residential appraiser or a certified general appraiser license is $330.
Note: You may need to submit additional forms. Use the “Appraisal Forms” link in the Sources below to find additional forms used by Florida property appraisers and license applicants.
Sources:
Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board: Florida Licensing Requirements for Appraisers
Frequently Asked Questions for Licensure as a Florida Property Appraiser
Pearson VUE
Real Estate Appraisers (License Application Links)
