Online Appraiser Education
Get Your California Appraiser License

Trainee Appraiser Qualifying Education from The CE Shop

Begin your rewarding journey as a real property appraiser - and complete your California trainee appraiser education confidently! Our courses are designed to help you learn key concepts with short videos, enriching animation, real-life scenarios, and intuitive study tools. You'll stay fully engaged from your first lesson to your passing exam score.

Earning Your Trainee Appraiser License

The path to becoming a real estate appraiser in California starts with trainee appraiser education. It’s your gateway to gaining experience in the field working under a supervisory appraiser. The Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) sets the standard for required qualifying education and our program sets you up for success to advance with confidence.

As always, be sure to check your state requirements when planning your appraisal education.

Basic Appraisal Principles

30 Credit Hours Total
$435

This course provides 30 hours of instruction in basic appraisal principles, which satisfies a portion of the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) qualifying education for aspiring professionals. Topics include an introduction to the appraisal profession, real estate concepts and property characteristics, ownership, interests, and rights, title and transferring real estate, and an introduction to contracts and leases appraisers may find in real estate. The course also dives into types of and approaches to value, influences on real estate, economic principles, and real estate markets. The course closes on the ethics in theory and practice of appraisal along with valuation bias, fair housing, and equal opportunity that will be top of mind in an appraisal practice.

Basic Appraisal Procedures

30 Credit Hours Total
$435

This course provides 30 hours of instruction in basic appraisal procedures, which satisfies a portion of the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) qualifying education for aspiring professionals. Topics include an overview of the appraisal process and approaches, math and statistics used in appraisals, and valuation procedures. This course will also dive into location and neighborhood characteristics, architectural styles and construction types, as well as land and site characteristics. Additionally, this course will answer questions about the cost, income, and sales comparison approach alongside special and emerging appraisal techniques.

2024 15-Hour National USPAP Course

15 Credit Hours Total
$399

The 15-Hour National USPAP Course focuses on the requirements for ethical behavior and competent performance by appraisers that are set forth in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

The primary objective of this course is to have participants become familiar with the USPAP document. The course material emphasizes the role of the appraiser and the impartiality associated with this role. Special responsibilities of the appraiser with regard to impartiality are explored in detail. All required manuals from The Appraisal Foundation are included in your course.

This course is offered via live online (synchronous meeting) delivery. Once enrolled, you can select upcoming classes to attend. Classes are offered weekly in four 3.5-hour sessions (Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D). They must be taken in order but you can select the schedule options that work best for you. No need to register in advance, just show up! Upcoming classes are:

Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Course

4 Credit Hours Total
$105

In many states, entry into the real property appraisal profession occurs with the trainee appraiser classification. This classification may be referred to as apprentice appraiser, provisional appraiser, registered appraiser, or a similar designation determined by state appraiser regulatory agencies. While the name may differ, the expectations of the role are the same. Trainee appraisers work under the direct control and supervision of a supervisory appraiser to gain an understanding of the national Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) while accumulating experience performing appraisals.

In this course, you'll learn about the qualifications and responsibilities of both the supervisory appraiser and trainee appraiser role including:

  • AQB minimum qualifications for various appraiser classifications and supervisory appraisers
  • Jurisdictional credentialing requirements for trainee and supervisory appraisers which may exceed the AQB minimums
  • Processes for establishing credentialed appraiser qualifications and the role entities involved in the process play
  • Expectations and responsibilities of the trainee and supervisory appraiser
  • USPAP basics
  • Responsibilities and requirements of trainee and supervisory appraisers in maintaining and signing experience logs

Cultural Competency and Elimination of Bias

3 Credit Hours Total
$79
This course provides 3 hours of instruction on cultural competency and anti-bias training, which satisfies a portion of the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) qualifying education for aspiring professionals. *This course does not meet the 2026 Real Property Qualification Criteria (Criteria) required education on valuation bias and fair housing laws and regulations.

Stay Updated on Our Appraiser Courses and Get Your Career Guide

Sign up for updates about our appraiser courses and download your FREE guide, “Starting a Career in Real Property Appraisal.” Inside, you’ll learn all about how to become a trainee appraiser, what happens after you earn your trainee license, the different career paths you can choose, and much more.

Test Drive Your Course FREE

Test drive your appraisal course with a FREE 5-day trial and see what sets us apart! Our interactive, video-rich content engages you from start to finish, helping you retain key appraisal concepts as you move through the modules. No credit card is required to start your free trial, and we’ll even save your progress for a limited time.

Why Choose The CE Shop for Appraiser Licensing?

We're leaders in world-class online real estate education. Our appraiser qualifying education courses lead the industry in learner engagement, accuracy, relevance, high pass rates, and convenience.

Interactive Content

Stay engaged and retain the information more effectively.

Ground-Breaking Material

Bring your learning experience to life through revolutionary practice exercises.

Follow Your Progress

Track which lessons have been completed and how much time you've spent in the course.

Anytime, Anywhere Access

Learn when and where it's convenient for you with our online educational experience.

State Requirements For the State of California

California State Requirement Details for Appraiser Trainee

Hours Required by the State: 167 hours

158 hours of Basic Education

  • 30-hour Basic Appraisal Principles
  • 30-hour Basic Appraisal Procedures
  • 15-hour National USPAP Course
  • 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course*
  • 15-hour Residential Market Analysis and Highest & Best Use
  • 15-hour Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach
  • 30-hour Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches
  • 15-hours Residential Report Writing and Case Studies

*Beginning January 1, 2026, an 8-Hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course will be required for Qualifying Education when earning or upgrading a credential.

9 hours of additional required edcuation:

  • 4 hour Supervisory/Trainee Appraiser Course
  • 4 hour CA State & Federal Law Course
  • 1 Hour Cultural Competency Course

Licensing Exam: The licensing exam is administered by PSI. Registration for the state licensing exam is an entirely separate process from proctoring for your course final exam. For instructions to register for your state licensing exam and further information, please click here.

The CE Shop’s Offering:  

  • 15 hour National USPAP Course
  • 30 hours Basic Appraisal Principles 
  • 30 hours Basic Appraisal Procedures
  • 4 hours Supervisory/Trainee Appraiser
  • 3 Hours Cultural Competence and Elimination of Bias
  • 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course

The CE Shop is an approved education provider in California. 

Reporting: The state does not require schools to report qualifying education course completions.

Expiration Date of Course: Course expiration dates vary by course. Each individual course will have an expiration date listed in your account. See Terms & Conditions for more details.

Certificates: Immediately upon course completions, The CE Shop will provide students with an electronic copy of the course certificate of completion. Certificates will remain in your account for a minimum of five years, should you need additional copies at a later time. Please refer to your application to determine if you need to submit your certificate(s) of completion. Course completion dates are recorded using Central Standard Time. Please note that the date on your certificate of completion will reflect this.

Proctored Final Exam: The state requires your final exam to be proctored. You’ll need to schedule an appointment with a proctor in advance. You can find full details of the proctoring process here. Upon passing the final course exam, you will be asked to sign an affidavit verifying your identity as the student who completed the course and the final course exam. 

Seat Time: It is required that all students spend a minimum amount of seat time engaged in the course content. Our online course delivery system manages this requirement for you.

Still have questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions or Contact Us.

California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers

Street Address: 3075 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 190, Rancho Cordova, CA  95670

Telephone:  (916) 552-9000

Email: info@brea.ca.gov

Manage your License

BREA Licensing Handbook

BREA FAQs

Questions?