The information contained below is designed to provide a summary of the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements established by the Alabama Real Estate Appraiser Board.   The information provided below can be found on the Board’s website.  However, we recommend you contact the Real Estate Board for more detailed information and for any changes which may have occurred in the Alabama Administrative Code.

Levels of Licensure:

• Trainee Real Property Appraiser
• State Registered Real Property Appraiser
• Licensed Real Property Appraiser
• Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
• Certified General Real Property Appraiser

Licensure Requirements :

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Must meet the educational requirements for the applying level of licensure
• Must meet the experience requiremtn fot the applying level of licensure
• For Certified Residential level: Provide proof of satisfactory completion of either a 2 year associates degree or higher, OR a total of 21 semester hours consisting of: English Composition; Principles of Economics, (either Macro or Micro); Finance; Algebra; Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics; Computer Science; and either Business Law or Real Estate Law
• For Certified General level: Provide proof of satisfactory completion of either a 4 year bachelors degree or higher, OR a total of 30 semester hours consisting of: English Composition; Micro Economics, Macro Economics; Finance; Algebra; Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics; Computer Science; and either Business Law or Real Estate Law.  Also must include any 2 or the following courses: Accounting; Geography; Agricultural Economics; Business Management. Or Real Estate
• Satisfactory completion of the examination
• Submit application, required documents and associated fees

Education Requirements:

On February 20, 2004, the Appraiser Qualifications Board of The Appraisal Foundation adopted changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria that went into effect on January 1, 2008. These changes represent the minimum national requirements that each state must implement for individuals applying for a real estate appraiser license or certification as of January 1, 2008. The Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria and Interpretations of the Criteria provides in depth information on the new criteria and may be accessed by clicking the hyperlink or is available on The Appraisal Foundation website. The educational hour requirements for AL are:

• 75 hours for the Trainee Real Property Appraiser which consist of the following courses:
  • Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours)
  • Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours)
  • The 15 Hour National USPAP course or its equivalent (15 hours)
• 75 hours for the State Registered Real Property Appraiser (the same course requirements as the Trainee level)
• 150 hours for the Licensed Real Property Appraiser which consist of the same 75 hours for Trainee AND:
  • Residential Market Analysis and Highest & Best Use (15 hours)
  • Residential Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach (15 hours)
  • Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours)
  • Residential Sales Comparison & Income Approach (30 hours)
• 200 hours for the Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
• 300 hours for Certified General Real Property Appraiser

Experience Requirements:

• Trainee Real Property Appraiser - No experience required
• State Registered Real Property Appraiser - 1000 hours
• Licensed Real Property Appraiser - 2000 hours in at least 12 months
• Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser - 2500 hours in at least 24 months
• Certified General Real Property Appraiser - 3000 hours in at least 30 months with at least 1500 hours of experience in non-residential appraisals

Continuing Education:

• All license expire September 30 every two years
• All licensees must complete 28 hours of continuing education within the renewal cycle
• At least 7 hours of this requirement must cover the USPAP Update course or its equivalent