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Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. 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 DC trainee courses

Quick Facts

Below is a list of the steps recommended to become a licensed real property appraiser in Washington, D.C.

  1. Obtain Your Washington, D.C. Appraiser Trainee 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 a Washington, D.C. Licensed Residential 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 Washington, D.C. Board of Real Estate Appraisers page for more detailed information.

How to Become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Washington, D.C.

1

Obtain Your Washington, D.C. Appraiser Trainee License

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

Qualifying Education. Before you can become a licensed residential appraiser in Washington, D.C., you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of District of Columbia 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 Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser course. Before signing up for the 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 Washington, D.C. Board of Real Estate Appraisers. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your appraiser trainee application.

Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you can apply for your Appraiser Trainee license using Washington, D.C.’s online portal. There is a $65 application fee.

2

Complete Your Appraiser Education

After becoming a Washington, D.C. appraiser trainee, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a licensed residential appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. Take a look at the breakdown of coursework (under the Licensee submenu). (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these hours through your Trainee Appraiser 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 an approved certified appraiser mentor; and

  • Over a period of at least six months.

This means that you must take no less than six months to complete your 1,000 hours of appraisal experience. To put things in perspective, if an apprentice works 40 hours per workweek, they will complete their training in a little over six months. If, however, they put in any fewer than 40 hours per week, it would take longer.

To find a supervisory appraiser, you can search Washington, D.C.’s appraiser database to find certified residential and general appraisers who are approved as supervisory appraisers.

Once you’ve completed your appraiser education and experience requirements, you’ll need to submit proof of completion to the Washington, D.C. Board of Real Estate Appraisers 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 Washington, D.C. Board of Real Estate Appraisers 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:

In Montana, the test is administered by PSI (formerly AMP). There is a $106 fee to take the exam, and 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 Washington, D.C. Licensed Residential 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'll need to complete the application using Washington, D.C.’s online portal. There is a $170 application fee.

Washington, D.C. licensed residential appraiser credentials are valid for two years. Continuing Education (CE) must be completed every other year.

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Appraisal

What is the Average Real Estate Appraiser Salary in Washington, D.C.?

According to Indeed, the average real estate appraiser salary in Washington, D.C. is $80,274. A great incentive to working toward a higher license is the ability to make more money. The Certified General Appraiser license is the highest appraiser license in Washington, D.C. Appraisers with this certification make an average salary of $123,372 per year.*

*April 2023 Salary Data

 How Much Does It Cost to Become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Washington, D.C.?

Between course tuition and exam and application fees, you can expect to spend at least $2,100 for your licensed residential appraiser licensure. 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 Fees

$170

Exam Fee

$140 (Estimate based on other comparable state costs)

Total Estimate

$2,110

One additional cost to consider occurs during the trainee 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 Get a Washington, D.C. Licensed Residential Appraiser License?

Becoming a licensed residential appraiser in Washington, D.C. takes at least six 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.

Trainee Education Requirements

79 hours

Residential Appraisal Education Requirements

75 hours

Required Appraisal Experience

1,000 hours (in at least 6 months)

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 Washington, D.C.?

Yes, as long as you meet a few requirements.

  • You must be a licensed or certified appraiser in another state or territory and in good standing

  • You must be current and active on the Appraisal Subcommittee website

  • You must complete and submit Washington, D.C.'s reciprocal license application in the online portal and pay the required application fee

Appraiser License Types in Washington, D.C.

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

  • Appraiser Trainee

  • Licensed Residential Appraiser

  • Certified Residential Appraiser

  • Certified General Appraiser

After receiving your Appraiser Trainee license, you can “upgrade” to any of the subsequent license levels. Today, we’ll be focusing on how to become a licensed residential appraiser. But first, here’s a quick overview of the eligibility 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

Submit to a background check, provide fingerprints, and answer criminal history questions

Appraiser Trainee

Washington, D.C. requires a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as an appraiser trainee, 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

Not required

Licensed Residential 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)

  • Commercial property with a transaction value of $250,000 or less

Here’s a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become a Washington, D.C. licensed residential 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 license)

1,000 hours in no less than six months

Not required

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers

Not required

Certified Residential Appraiser

Certified residential appraisers may appraise:

  • 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity

  • Commercial property with a transaction value less than $250,000

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 license)

1,500 hours in no less than 12 months

Must have completed some college coursework (listed under the Licensee submenu)

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers

Not required

Certified General Appraiser

Certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals in Washington, D.C. 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 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

not required

Washington, D.C. Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Washington, D.C. has a few rules regarding its appraiser CE requirements.

Trainee, state-registered, licensed, and certified appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE every other year. This includes the mandatory 7-hour National USPAP update course that must be taken every two years, as required by the AQB.

Questions?