Becoming a real estate appraiser in Illinois is a structured, multi-step process overseen by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Appraisers determine the market value of real property for various purposes, including mortgages, tax assessments, and investment decisions. The state mandates a sequential path of education, supervised experience, and examination to ensure competency. The journey begins with the foundational Trainee license and progresses through higher levels of certification.
The Four Levels of Illinois Appraiser Licensure
Illinois utilizes a tiered licensing system that defines the scope of practice for each professional. The entry-level Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser must work under the direct supervision of a certified appraiser and cannot sign independent appraisal reports.
The State Licensed Residential Real Estate Appraiser allows the valuation of non-complex, one-to-four unit residential properties with a transaction value up to $1 million, and complex properties up to $400,000.
The State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser credential allows for the appraisal of all one-to-four unit residential properties without regard to complexity or transaction value. This level represents the standard for most residential valuation work in the state.
The highest designation is the State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, which permits the valuation of all types of real property. This includes complex commercial, industrial, and large-scale agricultural holdings, which the residential certified and licensed levels are not authorized to appraise.
Initial Requirements for All Applicants
All appraiser license applicants in Illinois must meet several basic eligibility standards. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and provide evidence of having completed a high school education or its equivalent, such as a GED certificate.
A mandatory component of the application process is the submission of fingerprints for a comprehensive background check. This screening is conducted through an approved vendor and must be successfully completed before the IDFPR issues any license.
How to Obtain the Trainee Appraiser License
The Associate Real Estate Trainee Appraiser license is the starting point for new professionals. To qualify, an applicant must complete 75 hours of qualifying education (QE) coursework from an IDFPR-approved provider. This total must include the 15-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course. The remaining hours cover essential topics like basic appraisal principles and procedures.
Trainees must establish a supervisory relationship with a State Certified Residential or Certified General Appraiser in good standing. They must work under this Supervisory Appraiser’s guidance to gain practical experience, as they cannot work independently. The trainee and supervisor must formally register this association with the IDFPR by submitting the required application and documentation.
Required Education and Experience for Advancement
The State Licensed Residential Appraiser requires a total of 150 hours of qualifying education and 1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience, completed in no less than six months.
The State Certified Residential Appraiser credential requires 200 hours of qualifying education and 1,500 hours of experience, completed in a minimum of 12 months. This advancement also introduces a post-secondary education requirement, which can be satisfied by:
- Holding a bachelor’s degree in any field.
- Holding an associate’s degree in a related field such as business or finance.
- Completing 30 semester hours of specific college-level coursework, including subjects like English composition, microeconomics, finance, and statistics.
Achieving the State Certified General Appraiser license demands the most rigorous qualifications: 300 hours of qualifying education and 3,000 hours of experience. A minimum of 1,500 of those experience hours must be in non-residential appraisal work, and the total experience must be completed in no less than 18 months. This highest tier mandates a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, without the college credit alternatives available for the Certified Residential level.
Passing the Illinois Licensing Examination
After completing all required qualifying education and accumulating the necessary experience hours, the applicant must receive authorization to sit for the examination. Candidates apply to the IDFPR, providing evidence of their completed coursework and logged experience hours for verification. Once approved, the IDFPR grants eligibility to take the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination.
The exam is administered by a third-party testing service, such as PSI, and is a standardized national test specific to the license level sought. The examination is multiple-choice, and a passing score of 75 is required for licensure in Illinois. Applicants who do not pass on their first attempt can retake the test up to three times within their three-year eligibility window.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Maintaining an appraiser license in Illinois requires adherence to a regular two-year renewal cycle; all licenses expire on September 30 of odd-numbered years. To qualify for renewal, appraisers must complete a total of 28 hours of approved continuing education (CE) during each two-year period.
This CE must include a mandatory 7-hour National USPAP Update Course. The remaining 21 hours can be completed through elective courses approved by the IDFPR. Illinois also requires a separate one-hour course on Sexual Harassment Prevention Training (SHPT), which is mandatory for renewal but does not count toward the required 28 hours of continuing education.