New Jersey Real Estate Appraiser License Requirements
Becoming an appraiser can be a lucrative and rewarding choice for your career – but how do you get started? Your appraisal education begins with 75 hours of Qualifying Education coursework, the building blocks of your appraisal knowledge. The best way to complete those hours successfully? By getting your trainee license, the official recommendation of The Appraisal Foundation. Though your state may not require this license level, earning it will help you stand out to future employers, and prepare you for the jobs that require it!
Quick Overview
Below is a list of the steps required to become a Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser in New Jersey.
- Obtain Your New Jersey Trainee Appraiser Permit
- Complete Your Appraiser Education
- Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience
- Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination
- Submit Your Application for New Jersey Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser
We’ll go into more detail about these steps below.
If you've already completed appraiser education or are licensed in another state, visit the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs State Real Estate Appraisal Board for more detailed information.
How to Become a Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser in New Jersey
Now let's take a more in-depth look at the steps recommended to really start your appraisal career as a licensed residential appraiser.
1. Obtain Your New Jersey Trainee Appraiser Permit
Qualifying Education. Before you can become a licensed real estate appraiser in New Jersey, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Qualifying Education (QE), broken up as follows:
- 30 hours of appraisal principles
- 30 hours of appraisal procedures
- The 15-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course, or an equivalent course
You’ll also need to complete a 4-hour Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course. Before signing up for this course, you need to find a supervisory appraiser who will act as your mentor through completion of your experience hours (Step 3).
All Qualifying Education must be approved by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your trainee permit application.
See AlsoNew Jersey Real Estate Exam Prep & Practice Exam Course OnlineLatest Real Estate Courses in India [2024 Update]How to Pass the New York Real Estate ExamNew Jersey Real Estate Exam Preparation Tips - Ocean School Of Real EstateBefore applying for your permit, take a moment to read through New Jersey’s detailed trainee application requirements.
Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you can apply for your Trainee Appraiser permit using New Jersey’s online portal or by submitting a paper application. There is a $100 application fee.
2. Complete Your Appraiser Education
After getting your New Jersey Trainee Appraiser permit, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a licensed appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. Take a look at the breakdown of coursework. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these hours through your Trainee permit – nice work!)
3. Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience
Once you’ve finished your education, you must conduct and log at least 1,000 hours of actual appraisal experience. Those 1,000 hours must be completed:
- Under the supervision of a certified appraiser who is an approved mentor in New Jersey; and
- Over a period of at least six months.
There are many ways to find a supervisory appraiser. You can request a New Jersey licensee list to find certified residential and general appraisers who may be open to mentoring a trainee. You can also search the list of active certified appraisers in New Jersey found in the Appraisal Subcommittee’s National Registry of Appraisers.
Once you’ve completed your appraiser education and experience requirements, you’ll need to submit proof of completion to the New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board for verification. Once approved, the board will notify you that you can schedule your licensing exam.
4. Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination
After the New Jersey Board of Real Estate Appraisers approves your education and experience, you can take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam. The Appraisal Foundation publishes tips on the exam structure that can help you prepare. Here’s an overview:
- The exam is four hours long. The Licensed Residential Examination can take up to four hours to complete.
- There are 125 questions on the test. The National Uniform Licensing and Certification exam is composed of 125 total questions. Fifteen of these questions are considered practice, and answering those questions wrong does not negatively affect your score.
- A score of 75 points is passing. Scores for the National Uniform Licensing and Certification exam range between 0 and 110 points. Each question carries an equal weight of 1 point. In order to pass, you must earn a minimum of 75 points.
- You can take the test more than once. The Appraisal Foundation allows you to take the test up to three times.
5. Submit Your Application for a New Jersey Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser
After passing your exam, it’s time to apply for your license. Generally, candidates can expect this process to take up to six weeks, but it may vary.
To fill out your application, you first need to create an account on the New Jersey online portal. You can apply for your license using the online portal or by submitting a paper application to the New Jersey Board of Real Estate Appraisers. There is a $75 application fee.
You’ll need to submit your fingerprints and consent to a background check as part of your application. More info on this process can be found here.
New Jersey appraiser licenses are valid for two years. Continuing Education (CE) is required to be completed before renewing your license.
Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Appraisal
What is the Average Real Estate Appraiser Salary in New Jersey?
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in New Jersey?
If I Have an Out-of-State Appraiser License, Can I Appraise Real Estate in New Jersey?
Appraiser License Types in New Jersey
It’s important to understand how New Jersey classifies real estate appraisers across four separate categories, each with their own qualifications for licensure:
- Trainee Appraiser
- Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser
- Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
- Certified General Real Property Appraiser
After receiving your Trainee Appraiser permit, you can “upgrade” to any of the subsequent license levels. Today, we’ll be focusing on how to become a licensed residential real property appraiser. But first, here’s a quick overview of the requirements for the first four licensing levels.
| Appraiser Eligibility Highlights |
|---|
| Be at least 18 years old |
| Hold a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency |
| Have fingerprints on file, pass a background check, and answer criminal history questions |
Find extra details here about New Jersey’s fingerprint and background check process.
Trainee Appraiser
(h3) Trainee Appraiser New Jersey, like most states, recommends a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a trainee appraiser, this first level of licensure is required before you can become fully licensed and start appraising real estate on your own.
Here's a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become a trainee:
| Qualifying Education Hours Required | Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser | College Degree Requirement | Exam Requirement | Background Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 hours of qualifying appraisal education 4 hours of a Trainee/Supervisor Appraiser course | None required, though you will need to associate with a Supervisory Appraiser before receiving your trainee license. (You’ll work under your Supervisory Appraiser to earn experience hours after receiving your trainee license.) | Not required | Not required | Required |
Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser
The next level up is a licensed residential appraiser. At this level, you can appraise:
- Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $1,000,000)
- Complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $250,000)
Here’s a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become a New Jersey licensed real property appraiser:
| Qualifying Education Hours Required | Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser | College Degree Requirement | Exam Requirement | Background Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 hours (only 75 hours are required to upgrade after receiving your Trainee permit) | 1,000 hours in no less than six months | Not required | Must pass exam National Uniform Licensing Examination for Licensed Residential Appraisers | Required |
Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
Certified residential appraisers may appraise:
- 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
| Qualifying Education Hours Required | Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser | College Degree Requirement | Exam Requirement | Background Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 hours (only 125 hours are required to upgrade after receiving your Trainee permit) | 1,500 hours in no less than 12 months | Must have completed some college coursework. See New Jersey’s six options to meet this requirement on page 3 of the application. | Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers | Required |
Certified General Real Property Appraiser
Certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals in New Jersey. They can appraise all types of residential or commercial property without regard to value or complexity.
| Qualifying Education Hours Required | Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser | College Degree Requirement | Exam Requirement | Background Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 hours (only 225 hours are required to upgrade after receiving your Trainee permit) | 3,000 hours in no less than 18 months | Must have bachelor's degree or higher in any field and from any accredited college or university | Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified General Appraisers | Required |
New Jersey Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements
New Jersey has a few rules regarding its appraiser CE requirements.
Licensed and certified appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE during every other renewal cycle (every two years). This includes the mandatory 7-hour National USPAP update course that must be taken every two years, as required by the AQB.
Trainee appraisers are required to complete 14 hours of CE for each annual renewal. Trainee appraisers may renew their permit up to three times.
