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How to Get Your License

Arkansas 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 83 hours of Arkansas Appraiser Qualifying Education coursework, the building blocks of your appraisal knowledge. The best way to complete those hours successfully? By getting your trainee certification, the official recommendation of The Appraisal Foundation. Though your state may not require this certification level, earning it will help you stand out to future employers, and prepare you for the jobs that require it!

Purchase your required AR trainee courses

Quick Facts

Below is a list of the steps required to become a state licensed appraiser in Arkansas, which allows you to work independently.

  1. Obtain Your Arkansas Registered Apprentice License

  2. Complete Your Appraiser Education

  3. Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience

  4. Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination

  5. Submit Your Application for an Arkansas State Licensed 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 State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspector licensing page to learn more about appraiser reciprocity.

How to Become a State Licensed Appraiser in Arkansas

1

Obtain Your Arkansas Registered Apprentice License (Recommended)

NOTE: Your state may accept PAREA or Practicum as an alternative to Trainee license with Trainee/Supervisory model.

Qualifying Education. Before you become a state licensed appraiser in Arkansas, it’s recommended that you complete 75 hours of Arkansas Appraiser 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 Training Course for Supervisory and Registered apprentices.

Before signing up for the Supervisory and Registered Apprentice training course, you need to find a sponsoring appraiser. This person 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 State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your state registered apprentice application.

You must create an account and apply online for your Registered Apprentice license. The application fee is $200.

2

Complete Your State Licensed Appraiser Education

After becoming an Arkansas registered apprentice, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a state licensed appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these course hours through your Registered apprentice license – 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; and

  • Over a period of at least 6 months.

To find a sponsoring appraiser, you can search the Arkansas appraiser database to find active certified residential and general appraisers who may be open to working with you.

4

Submit Your Application for Arkansas State Licensed Appraiser

Once you've completed your education and experience, it’s time to apply to interview and take the exam for your State Licensed Appraiser license. Generally, candidates can expect this process to take up to a month, but it may vary.

You’ll need to provide proof of your passing exam score, completed education requirements, and completed experience hours. There is a $100 application fee. This fee will be deducted from your new credential fees when you pass the exam. You will owe the difference upon passing.

5

Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination

After the Arkansas Appraisal Board approves your education and experience, you can take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam. You will receive a candidate handbook and instructions for contacting the testing company to schedule your 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. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Appraisal

What is the Average Real Estate Appraiser Salary in Arkansas?

According to Indeed, the average real estate appraiser salary in Arkansas is $40,650.* Of course, this rate varies depending on your city. A great incentive to working toward a higher license is the ability to make more money. The certified general appraiser is the highest appraiser license in Arkansas, and those with this certification make an estimated average salary of $102,000 per year.*

* May 2023 Salary Data

 How Much Does It Cost to Become a Licensed Appraiser in Arkansas?

Between course tuition and exam and application fees, you can expect to spend at least $2,000 to become a licensed appraiser. The cost will vary slightly depending on the education provider and number of attempts at the exam, but here’s a breakdown of the approximate cost:

Average Course Tuition

$1,800 (Residential Appraiser)

Application Fee

$300 (minus interview/exam application fee)

Upgrade Fee

$50

Exam Fee

$50 (estimate based on common exam costs)

Total

~$2,000

One added cost to consider occurs during the apprentice period. You’ll be conducting 1,000 hours of in-field appraisals to upgrade your license, which means your travel expenses may accumulate. This should be considered when calculating the total approximate cost of obtaining your appraiser license.

 How Long Does It Take to Become a Licensed Appraiser in Arkansas?

Becoming a licensed appraiser in Arkansas takes at least eight months. This includes the 1,000 hours of mandatory logged appraisal experience and 150 hours of appraisal education. This table gives you a general idea of how long it will take to complete this process.

Registered apprentice Education Requirements

79 hours

State Licensed Appraiser Education Requirements

75 hours

Required Appraisal Experience

1,000 hours

Full-Time Pace: (40 hrs/week)

≈ 8-10 months

Part-Time Pace: (20 hrs/week)

≈ 16-18 months

 If I Have an Out-of-State Appraiser License, Can I Appraise Real Estate in Arkansas?

Yes, as long as you meet a few requirements:

  • Fill out your application

  • Pay the required fees

  • Submit a verification of licensure from another jurisdiction

You can also practice with a temporary license if you are a practicing out-of-state appraiser. Carefully read and follow all directions on this temporary license form to apply.

Appraiser License Types in Arkansas

It’s important to understand how Arkansas classifies real estate appraisers across four separate categories, each with their own qualifications for licensure:

  • Registered Apprentice

  • State Licensed Appraiser

  • Certified Residential Appraiser

  • Certified General Appraiser

After receiving your Registered Apprentice license, you can “upgrade” to any of the subsequent license levels. Today, we’ll be focusing on how to become a state licensed appraiser. First, here’s a quick overview of the eligibility requirements for all license levels.

Appraiser Eligibility Highlights

Be at least 18 years old

Have a high school diploma or GED

Background check and fingerprints

Registered Apprentice

Arkansas, like most states, requires a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a registered apprentice, this first level of licensure is recommended 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 an appraiser assistant:

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 an Apprentice/Supervisor Appraiser course

None required, though you will need to associate with a Supervisory Appraiser before receiving your apprentice license. (You’ll work under your Supervisory Appraiser to earn experience hours after receiving your apprentice license.)

Not required

Not required

Background questions and fingerprints required

Licensed Appraiser:

The next level up is the licensed real estate appraiser. At this level, you can provide appraisal services in transactions with:

  • Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $1,000,000)

  • Complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $400,000)

Here’s a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become a licensed 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 Apprentice license)

1,000 hours in no less than 6 months

Not required

Must pass exam National Uniform Licensing Examination for Licensed Appraisers

Background questions and fingerprints required

Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

In Arkansas, the next level of licensure is the State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser license. Certified residential appraisers may provide appraisal services in transactions with:

  • 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 Apprentice license)

1,500 hours in no less than 12 months

A completed or partially completed college education is required in most cases.

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers

Background questions and fingerprints required

Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

State certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals. They can provide appraisal services in transactions with all types of residential or commercial real 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 Apprentice license)

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

Background questions and fingerprints required

Arkansas Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Arkansas has a few rules about its appraiser CE requirements.

State Licensed, Certified Residential, and Certified General Appraisers must complete during the two-year renewal period in an even-numbered year a minimum of 28 hours of continuing education. State Registered Appraisers and Registered Apprentice Appraisers must complete 14 hours of continuing education each calendar year. All appraisers must successfully complete the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course, or its AQB-approved equivalent, every 2 calendar years.

Questions?