Becoming a real estate appraiser in Virginia requires specific authorization to practice property valuation. The process is highly regulated and overseen by the Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Board (REAB), which operates under the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Anyone seeking to perform appraisals for compensation must obtain a license, ensuring valuations meet established standards for accuracy and integrity. The journey involves a structured progression through education, supervised experience, and examination to achieve one of the tiered license levels.
Defining the Appraiser Role and License Levels
The Virginia licensure system recognizes four distinct classifications. Each classification defines the scope of practice an appraiser may undertake and determines the necessary education and experience requirements.
Provisional Real Estate Appraiser
The Provisional Real Estate Appraiser, often called a Trainee Appraiser, is the entry-level classification and required starting point for all aspiring appraisers. This license does not permit independent work, requiring direct supervision by a certified appraiser. A Provisional Appraiser may only value properties that their designated Supervisory Appraiser is permitted to appraise.
Licensed Residential Real Estate Appraiser
The Licensed Residential Appraiser holds the first level of independent practice authority, specializing in residential properties. This license permits the appraisal of non-complex one-to-four unit residential properties with a transaction value of less than $1,000,000. It also allows for the valuation of complex one-to-four unit residential properties, provided the transaction value is less than $250,000. Additionally, a Licensed Residential Appraiser may appraise non-complex, non-residential properties if the transaction value or market value does not exceed $250,000.
Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser
The Certified Residential Appraiser provides expanded authority within the residential valuation sector. Holders of this license may appraise all one-to-four unit residential properties regardless of their transaction value or complexity. This certification removes the value and complexity limitations imposed on the Licensed Residential level. They are also authorized to appraise non-residential properties with a transaction value or market value up to $250,000.
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
The Certified General Appraiser is the highest credential for real estate appraisal licensure in Virginia. This license qualifies the holder to appraise all types of real property without restriction. The scope of practice includes complex commercial, industrial, and specialized properties, along with all residential property types. This level requires the most extensive education, experience, and examination requirements.
Fulfilling the Mandatory Education Requirements
The path to licensure begins with completing a specific number of classroom hours in qualifying education courses approved by the REAB. These courses must be completed before an applicant can sit for the licensing examination.
The initial step for all applicants is to complete the educational requirements for the Provisional Appraiser license, totaling 79 to 83 hours of instruction. This required education includes a 30-hour course in Basic Appraisal Principles and another 30-hour course in Basic Appraisal Procedures. A mandatory 15-hour course on the National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is also required.
Moving to the Licensed Residential level requires a cumulative total of 154 hours of qualifying education. The additional 75 hours cover specialized residential topics like Market Analysis, Site Valuation and Cost Approach, and Sales Comparison and Income Approach. To achieve the Certified Residential designation, a total of 204 hours of education is mandated, adding advanced topics, statistics, and subject matter electives.
The Certified General Appraiser license requires a total of 304 classroom hours. This curriculum builds upon the residential track by including extensive coursework in non-residential properties, complex income capitalization techniques, and advanced report writing. All education must be sourced from providers approved by the Virginia REAB.
The Provisional Appraiser and Experience Log
After completing the initial education, the next phase involves gaining practical experience under a certified professional. This training is formalized by obtaining the Provisional Appraiser license and finding a Supervisory Certified Appraiser. The supervisor must hold either a Certified Residential or Certified General license, as Licensed Residential appraisers cannot supervise trainees.
The required number of experience hours and the minimum time frame vary based on the license level sought. For the Licensed Residential Appraiser, an applicant must log a minimum of 1,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience over at least six months. The Certified Residential license requires 1,500 hours accumulated over no less than 12 months.
The Certified General Appraiser mandates a minimum of 3,000 hours of experience, accrued over at least 18 months. A minimum of 1,500 of those hours must be dedicated to non-residential appraisal assignments. This ensures the applicant gains proficiency in complex property types and income valuation approaches.
All supervised experience must be documented in an appraisal experience log, which is submitted to the REAB for verification. The log must detail the type of property, report date, property address, and a description of the work performed by the Provisional Appraiser. The log also requires the signature and license number of the supervising appraiser on each page, certifying the hours.
Passing the State Licensing Examination
Once education and experience are satisfied, the applicant must apply for and pass the appropriate National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination. The REAB must first approve the applicant to sit for the exam, confirming all prerequisites have been met. Scheduling is conducted through the state’s approved testing vendor, PSI.
A distinct examination exists for each level: Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General. Each exam is tailored to the scope of practice of the respective license. The exam is structured with 125 questions, 15 of which are pre-test questions that do not count toward the final score. The Licensed Residential and Certified Residential exams last four hours, while the Certified General exam is a six-hour assessment.
To pass the examination, an applicant must achieve a scaled score of at least 75 points. If an applicant fails the first attempt, they are permitted to retest. The Appraisal Foundation allows candidates up to three attempts to pass the required examination.
Final Application and License Issuance
After passing the licensing examination, the final stage involves submitting an application package to the REAB for license issuance. This requires gathering all supporting documentation, including official transcripts for qualifying education and the verified appraisal experience log. The process includes a mandatory background check and fingerprinting submission.
The application requires payment of necessary fees, which vary by license level. For a permanent license, the application fee is $290 for all three levels (Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General), which includes a fee for the USPAP standards copy. A separate $80 National Registry fee is assessed for all permanent license applicants.
Once the completed application and all required documentation, including background check results, are received by the DPOR, the final review begins. If the application is complete and the applicant is qualified, the license is typically issued in 15 to 20 business days. The applicant’s license status is updated online, and the physical license is mailed.
Ongoing Requirements: Renewal and Continuing Education
Maintaining an active real estate appraiser license requires adherence to a regular renewal cycle and completion of continuing education. All licenses must be renewed every two years from the date of initial issuance. This biennial renewal ensures practitioners remain current with industry standards and legal requirements.
To qualify for renewal, appraisers must complete a minimum of 28 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year licensing term. Mandatory CE includes the 7-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update Course. Appraisers must also complete a minimum two-hour course focused on either fair housing or appraisal bias.
The remaining CE hours can be fulfilled through various approved elective courses relevant to appraisal practice. Failure to complete the necessary 28 hours of CE and submit the renewal application on time results in the license becoming inactive. If a license lapses past the specified grace period, the appraiser may be required to pay a reinstatement fee or reapply for licensure.