A real estate appraiser determines an unbiased opinion of value for a property, supporting mortgage lending, insurance, and investment decisions. This role requires attention to market data and property characteristics to produce a credible report reflecting the property’s worth. Because appraisals directly influence financial transactions, the profession is heavily regulated by state and federal guidelines. Becoming a practicing appraiser in Florida involves a structured, multi-stage process ensuring a high standard of competency.
Understanding Florida Appraiser Licensing Tiers
The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board (FREAB) recognizes four levels of licensure, defining the scope and complexity of assignments an appraiser can undertake. The mandatory entry point is the Registered Trainee Appraiser. This is a non-practicing level, allowing individuals to gain experience only under the direct supervision of a certified appraiser.
The Licensed Residential Appraiser credential permits the appraisal of non-complex, one-to-four unit residential properties up to $1 million, and complex properties up to $250,000. This license allows for independent practice in the residential sector. The next level is the Certified Residential Appraiser, which expands the scope to include all one-to-four unit residential properties regardless of value or complexity.
The highest credential is the Certified General Appraiser. This level removes all restrictions on property type, value, or complexity. Professionals holding this license are authorized to appraise all commercial and residential real estate, including large-scale developments.
Initial Steps: Becoming a Registered Trainee Appraiser
The appraisal career begins with obtaining the Registered Trainee Appraiser registration, establishing a formal framework for supervised experience. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. A mandatory background check is required, initiated by submitting electronic fingerprints through a LiveScan service provider approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Pre-licensing education for the Trainee level requires 104 classroom hours of FREAB-approved coursework. This curriculum includes 30 hours of Basic Appraisal Principles and 30 hours of Basic Appraisal Procedures. It also includes the 15-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course, which dictates ethical and performance standards.
The remaining hours cover Florida-specific content, including a mandatory four-hour Supervisor/Trainee course and six hours dedicated to Florida appraisal laws and rules. Before applying, the Trainee must secure a Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser to serve as their supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for mentoring the Trainee and ensuring the compliance of all appraisal work performed.
Gaining Required Appraisal Experience
After obtaining the Trainee registration, the focus shifts to accumulating practical experience under the guidance of a Supervisory Appraiser. This structured apprenticeship involves participating in real appraisal assignments. The experience must be documented in detailed appraisal logs, signed by the Supervisory Appraiser and retained for a minimum of five years.
The experience requirements vary by the license level pursued:
Licensed Residential Appraiser
Applicants must accrue 1,000 hours of acceptable experience over a minimum period of six months.
Certified Residential Appraiser
This level requires 2,500 hours of experience, accumulated over a minimum period of 24 months.
Certified General Appraiser
This designation requires 3,000 hours of experience over a minimum period of 30 months. At least 1,500 hours must be dedicated to non-residential property appraisal work, such as commercial or industrial valuations.
Upgrading to Licensed or Certified Appraiser Status
Once experience hours and minimum time frames are met, the Trainee must complete final educational and examination requirements. The total pre-certification education requirement for the Certified Residential Appraiser is 200 classroom hours, including the 104 hours completed previously. The Certified General Appraiser requires 300 classroom hours of approved education.
Both Certified Residential and Certified General applicants must meet specific college-level degree requirements. Certified Residential candidates must hold at least an Associate’s degree or higher, or complete 30 semester hours of college-level courses. Certified General candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
The final hurdle is successfully passing the State Certified Appraiser Examination, required for all license levels beyond the Trainee stage. This examination is administered by an approved vendor and consists of two parts: the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Exam and a Florida Supplemental Exam. The tests cover technical terms, appraisal principles, land economics, and Florida-specific laws, requiring a passing score of 75% or higher on each component.
Submitting Your Official Florida License Application
The final administrative step is submitting an application to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board (FREAB), which operates under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The application package must include documentation of all qualifying education courses and transcripts. Applicants must also provide the fully executed experience logs and proof of passing the state examination, along with the application form and applicable licensing fees.
The DBPR reviews all applications for completeness and compliance with state statutes and board rules. Although the DBPR reserves a maximum of 90 days for processing, a complete application often receives a response within 10 to 30 days. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application and fingerprints early, even before completing final requirements, to allow the DBPR to begin the background check and initial review.
Maintaining and Renewing Your Florida License
Once licensed, Florida appraisers must maintain their credential through a mandatory, biennial renewal cycle. Licenses expire on November 30th of every even-numbered year. To keep the license active, appraisers must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year cycle.
The CE curriculum includes mandatory coursework:
The 7-hour National USPAP Update Course.
A minimum of three hours dedicated to an update of Florida appraisal laws and rules.
The remaining 20 hours can be fulfilled through various approved specialty appraisal courses. The renewal application and fees must be submitted to the DBPR through their online portal before the November 30th deadline.