Joining the appraisal profession in Pennsylvania requires a three-tiered process of education, apprenticeship and testing. Please note that additional requirements may apply. Contact the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers at (717) 783-4866 for any questions or clarifications.
Residential Appraisal Certification
Education: The candidate must complete 200 hours of classroom instruction. Forty-five of those hours must be completed before the two-year apprenticeship begins. Of those initial 45 hours, 15 hours must be the USPAP course.
Apprenticeship: The candidate must gain 2,500 hours of work experience (within no fewer than 24 months) under the supervision of a certified appraiser. Click here to register with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an appraisal assistant/trainee. This work experience must be extensively documented on your certification application. Be prepared to show a sample appraisal report from every quarter during the two-year period.
Examination: Candidates must pass the Pennsylvania State Exam for Appraisers. For examination eligibility information, contact the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers at (717) 783-4866. The examination is administered by Promissor. There is no deadline to apply, and the fee is $100.00.
Degree requirement: Applicants must possess an associate degree or higher. In lieu of the degree, the candidate may complete 21 semester credit hours covering the following subject-matter: English composition, finance, principles of economics, algebra, geometry (or higher math), statistics, introduction to computers (word-processing or spreadsheets), and business / real estate law.
General Appraisal Certification
Education: The candidate must complete 300 hours of classroom instruction. Forty-five of those hours must be completed before the apprenticeship begins. Of those initial 45 hours, 15 hours must be the USPAP course.
Apprenticeship: The candidate must gain 3,000 hours of work experience (within no fewer than 30 months) under the supervision of a certified appraiser. Click here to register with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an appraisal assistant/trainee. This work experience must be extensively documented on your certification application. Be prepared to show a sample appraisal report from every quarter during the 30-month period.
Examination: Candidates must pass the Pennsylvania State Exam for Appraisers. For examination eligibility information, contact the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers at (717) 783-4866. The examination is administered by Promissor. There is no deadline to apply, and the fee is $100.00.
Degree requirement: Applicants must possess an bachelor's degree or higher. In lieu of the degree, 30 semester credit hours in the following subject-matter courses would apply: English composition, finance, macroeconomics, microeconomics, algebra, geometry (or higher math), statistics, introduction to computers, business / real estate law, and two electives in accounting, geography, ag-economics, business management or real estate.