Want to know how to become a home appraiser in California? In this article, you’ll discover what it takes to get your license, what equipment you’ll need to carry out the appraisal process, and where you can apply online.
In the state of California, home appraisers are required to be licensed to conduct valuation appraisals on homes and other real estate. To obtain a license, a person needs to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school and must pass both the written and practical exams administered by the Board of Real Estate Appraisers of California. Those who wish to become an appraiser should also be aware that they will need to take continuing education courses every three years and pay annual registration fees.
The Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) is California’s state appraisal board. 9,609 appraisers are currently licensed in the state. The BREA protects public trust by enforcing professionalism in the appraisal industry through enforcement and education. Licensed appraisers are expected to promote professionalism with their understanding of business protocols.
The Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) is California’s state appraisal board. 9,609 appraisers are currently licensed in the state. The BREA protects public trust by enforcing professionalism in the appraisal industry through enforcement and education. Licensed appraisers are expected to promote professionalism with their understanding of business protocols.
The Exam Preparation for Home Appraisers in California
The exam preparation process can be daunting. There are a lot of things to think about when going through the process, and you will probably have to work hard to get the desired score. The key to success is preparation, so consider this blog article your guide on how to prepare for the exam.
The state license exam is based on 10 major content areas that are the same for all three examinations but the determination attached to the content areas is different for each examination. The home appraiser exam is based on 125 multiple questions and The Candidate must pass the exam by scoring 75% or above.
The Education Requirements
Education Required Being a Home Appraiser in California, To be approved as an apprentice, applicants must have completed an accredited program in appraisal and also pass the qualifying exam. The education requirement is different for the different home appraisals.
Basic Requirements – The Applicant’s age should be 18 years or above.
License Requirements
- For the appraisal course, complete the total education hours
- Apply for a Trainee’s license (AT)
- Gain hours of experience with a Certified Appraiser
- Pass the State Exam
- Upgrade licensed to Residential Licensed(LR), Certified Residential Appraiser(CR) and Certified General Appraiser(CG)
| Classification | Education Hours | College Degree Requirements | Experience Requirement |
| Trainee License | 75 Hours | N/A | N/A |
| Licensed Residential Appraiser | 150 Hours | N/A | 1000 hours of acceptable assessment experience at least 6 months. |
| Certified Residential Appraiser | 200 Hours | Associate’s Degree, bachelor’s degree in a focused field of study, successful completion of the CELP exam, or successful completion of 30 college semester credit hours in specified subjects. | 1500 hours of acceptable assessment experience at least in 6 to 12 months. |
| Certified General Appraiser | 300 Hours | Bachelor’s degree or above (in any field) from a recognized College or University. | 3000 hours of experience in at least 18 months out of which 1500 hours should be in non-residential assessment work. |
Complete a total of education hours for the appraisal course:-
BREA is one of the most difficult jurisdictions in California to get licensed. Besides having to take more courses than most other states, you also typically need training in residential construction or appraisal. You have to complete a total of education hours of study for this.
Apply for a Trainee’s license (AT)
You have to download the preliminary application license form and send it along with the license fee to BREA. Here criminal background check is done through live scan fingerprinting. You can get a trainee license without sitting for a state exam.
Obtain Hours of Experience
Getting through the application process for an appraiser’s license can be difficult. Candidates are usually matched with a certified appraiser who will teach them the appraisal process, after which they would need to pass state exams. In California, there are several places you can go to find a supervisor, and you can work with as many supervisors as you want.
One great approach is to check with appraisal management companies (AMCs) in your area to see if they are hiring. You can search for AMCs registered with BREA by going to the Appraiser’s page on their website.
Pass the State Exam
After meeting the education requirements and gaining total hours of experience, you are ready to take the state exam. The Candidate must pass the exam by scoring 75% and above.
| Exam Name | Exam-Duration |
| State Licensed Appraiser | 4 Hrs |
| Certified Residential Appraiser | 4 Hrs |
| Certified General Appraiser | 6 Hrs |
To become a licensed appraiser in California, you first must pass the examination and receive a passing score report from PSI. To request an appraiser issuance, applicants need to visit the website of the Bureau of Real Estate Valuers (BREA) to download an application form for issue at www.brea.ca.gov. Before authors move beyond examination requirements, they must complete their application with all reasonable fees to BREA.
Upgrade licensed to LR, GR and CG
Once you have passed all your education requirements, apprentice hours, and state exams, all you need to do is send the upgrade application and pay the application fee.
Basic Explanation of the Appraisal Process
The appraisal is the process of determining a property’s market value, which is based on such factors as size, condition of the property, location, and type of property. To legally appraise a property, an appraiser must be licensed with the state agency or county where he or she practices.
Conclusion
The short answer is that you can become a home appraiser in California by fulfilling specific requirements, including passing the California Home Appraiser Examiners Examination. Many property appraisers become home appraisers in California by chance while they are looking for a more stable and lucrative career. Property appraisal is a very popular career for many reasons. First and foremost, appraising property is something that anyone can do. Also, the amount of income property appraisal brings in can be substantial. The median annual salary for appraisers in California is $61,355.
In your career as a home appraiser in California, you will become familiar with the principles of appraisal, which include: financial statement analysis, capitalization of income ratios, debt-equity ratios, and tax value, as well as market analysis.
