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Indiana 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 Indiana 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 IN trainee courses

Quick Facts

Below is a list of the steps recommended to become a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser in Indiana.

  1. Obtain Your Indiana Real Estate Appraiser Trainee License (Includes Passing the Appraiser Trainee Examination)

  2. Complete Your Certified Residential Appraiser Education

  3. Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience

  4. Submit Your Application

  5. Pass the Certified Residential Appraiser Examination

If you've already completed appraiser education or are licensed in another state, visit the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency's page for more detailed information.

How to Become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Indiana

1

Obtain Your Indiana Real Estate Appraiser Trainee License

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

The best way to become a certified residential appraiser in Indiana is to first get your Real Estate Appraiser Trainee license. But before you can apply, you need to complete the minimum 75 hours of Indiana Appraiser qualifying education (which must be approved by The Appraisal Foundation). This coursework is broken up as follows:

  • 30 hours of appraisal principles

  • 30 hours of appraisal procedures

  • 15 hours of Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)

Once your qualifying education is complete, Indiana requires you to take an AQB-Approved Supervisor-Trainee Course (4 hours). Before signing up, you’ll need to find a supervisory appraiser who will act as your mentor through completion of your experience hours. (Your supervisory appraiser will also need to complete the AQB Supervisor-Trainee Course if they haven't already done so.) You will both need to fill out and submit the Supervisor Transfer of Appraiser Trainee License form.

The application can be submitted online. A criminal background check is required after the application has been submitted. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an examination approval letter to take the appraiser trainee exam with Pearson VUE. After you have passed the examination, you must submit a copy of your examination score sheet.

More details on the Appraiser Trainee licensing process can be found on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency’s website.

Purchase your required IN trainee courses »

2

Complete Your Certified Residential Appraiser Education

After getting your Appraiser Trainee license, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a certified residential appraiser: 125 hours of Indiana-approved qualifying education. Indiana requires a very specific breakdown of this coursework.

3

Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience

Once you’ve finished your qualifying education, you must conduct at least 2,500 hours of actual appraisal experience. Additionally, those 2,500 hours must be completed:

  • Under the supervision of a licensed residential real estate appraiser; and

  • Over a period of at least 24 months.

This means that you must take no less than 24 months to complete your 2,500 hours of appraisals. To put things in perspective, if a trainee works about 26 hours per workweek, they will complete their training in a little over 24 months. If, however, they put in any fewer than 26 hours per week, it would take longer. Here’s a helpful table to give you an overview of the timeframes you’d be looking at.

Number of Hours Per Week

Total Time to Complete 2,500 hours

≈26 Hours

≈24 Months

≈19 Hours

≈2.5 Years

≈16 Hours

≈3 Years

≈14 Hours

≈3.5 Years

*Must be completed under the supervision of a certified Indiana appraiser*

4

Submit Your Application

After you complete your required work experience hours, it’s time to apply for licensure in Indiana. Here’s a list of what you’ll need to get started:

  • Read through the application carefully

  • Gather all of your supporting documentation (e.g., transcripts; proof of coursework; experience log; etc.)

  • Prepare the $100 application fee

All that’s left is to submit your application, supporting documents, and application fee either online, or by mail. After submitting your application, you’ll need to submit to a criminal background check.

5

Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination

Once your application has been submitted, the Board will review your application and, if acceptable to the Board, you will be approved to take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination for Certified Residential Appraiser.

You will need a sponsoring entity to take the exam. In Indiana, the exam is administered by Pearson Vue. We’ve compiled a few handy pieces of information to help you prepare:

  • The exam is four to six hours long. The Certified Residential Appraiser Examination takes four hours to complete.

  • There are 125 questions on the test. The Certified Residential Appraiser Examination 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 Certified Residential Appraiser Examination 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 How to Become a Certified Residential Appraiser in Indiana

What is the Average Indiana Real Estate Appraiser Salary?

According to Indeed.com, the median salary for an Indiana Certified Residential Appraiser is around $88,019 (January, 2025). Of course, this rate varies depending on your city (e.g., Indianapolis is around $85,251, while Fort Wayne is around $54,015). A great incentive to working towards a higher license is the ability to make more money. The Certified General Appraiser license is the highest appraiser license in Indiana, and those with this certification make an average salary of $106,450 (February, 2025).

 How Much Does It Cost to Get a Certified Residential Appraiser License in Indiana?

Between course tuition and exam and application fees, you can expect to spend at least $1,665 for your Certified Residential Appraiser licensure in Indiana. 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

$1,400

Application Fees

$200

Exam Fees

$65

Total Estimate

$1,665

One additional cost to consider occurs during the appraiser trainee experience period. You’ll be conducting over 2,500 hours of in-field appraisals in order to obtain your first license, which means travel expenses may start to accumulate. This should be considered when calculating the total approximate cost of obtaining your appraiser license.

 How Long Does It Take to Get an Indiana Certified Residential Appraiser License?

Between the 2,500 hours of mandatory appraisal trainee experience and over 200 hours of appraisal and trainee education, you’re looking at anywhere between two and four years. This table should give you a general idea of how long you’re looking at for this process.

Appraiser Trainee Education Requirements

79 hours

Certified Residential Appraisal Education Requirements

125 hours

Certified Required Appraisal Experience

1,500 hours (in at least 12 months)

Full-Time Pace: (24 hrs/week)

25-27 months

Part-Time Pace: (14 hrs/week)

3.5-3.75 years

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

Yes, as long as you meet these requirements (Article 3, Pg 26), summarized below.

  • The requirements for examination, education, and experience in the state where you are currently licensed or certified meets or exceeds those in Indiana

  • You meet all of the other Indiana requirements for the license or certification you want

  • You pay the necessary fees

You’ll also need to apply for reciprocity, either online or by mail.

Appraiser License Types in Indiana

Indiana recognizes three different levels of appraisal licensure, so it’s important to understand the differences as each has their own unique qualifications. The three license types are:

  • Real Estate Appraiser Trainee

  • Certified Residential Appraiser

  • Certified General Appraiser

Appraiser Eligibility Highlights

Be at least 18 years old

Proof of U.S. Citizenship, U.S. National Status, or Alien Status

Pass a Background Check and other criminal history requirements

Indiana Real Estate Appraiser Trainee

Like most states, Indiana offers a pilot program to help potential appraisers begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as an appraiser trainee, this is the first level you can achieve before you can become fully licensed and start performing valuation services on real property – including appraising homes – on your own. You must work under the direct supervision of a certified appraiser.

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.

Not required

Must pass Appraiser Trainee Exam

Required

Indiana Certified Residential Appraiser

Certified residential appraisers may provide appraisal services in transactions with 1-4-unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity. In some cases, they may also provide appraisal services on other types of property if in compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and if they are cosigned by a certified general appraiser.

Qualifying Education Hours Required

Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser

College Degree Requirement

Exam Requirement

Background Check

200 hours total (only 125 hours if you already have your Appraiser Trainee license)

2,500 hours in no less than 24 months

Must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers

Required

Indiana Certified General Appraiser

A certified general appraiser license is the highest level of appraiser license you can achieve in Indiana. 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 total (only 225 hours if you already have your Appraiser Trainee license)

3,000 hours in no less than 30 months, where a minimum of 2,000 hours must be obtained in non-residential appraisal work

Must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified General Appraisers

Required

Indiana Certified Residential Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Many professions have what’s called “continuing education” or CE. This is ongoing education that appraisers must take throughout their careers to ensure they’re staying informed and up-to-date on new practices as well as Indiana laws and regulations.

Indiana has the same CE requirements for all appraiser license types. Here are a few key takeaways:

  • To renew a license, a license holder must complete at least 28 hours of continuing education every 24 months, including:

    • the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course (or equivalent), which must be completed within six months after the effective date of USPAP

    • 21 hours of any CE elective courses, as long as they are AQB approved

Becoming an appraiser is a rewarding career path full of opportunity for growth and personal development. Once you complete the five steps to earn your license, you’re on your way to a fruitful career!

Questions?