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Louisiana 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 87 hours of Louisiana 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 LA trainee courses

Quick Facts

Below is a list of the steps recommended to become a certified residential appraiser in Louisiana.

  1. Obtain Your Louisiana Trainee Appraiser 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 Louisiana Licensed Residential Real Estate 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 Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board for more information about reciprocity.

How to Become a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser in Louisiana

1

Obtain Your Louisiana Real Estate 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 real estate appraiser trainee in Louisiana, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Louisiana Appraier 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 Louisiana’s 4-hour Training Course for Supervisory Appraisers and Trainee Appraisers. 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 Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your real estate appraiser trainee application.

Before applying for your license, take a moment to read Louisiana’s Trainee license requirements.

Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you can apply using Louisiana’s Trainee Appraiser license application. There is a $245 application fee.

2

Complete Your Appraiser Education

After becoming a Louisiana real estate appraiser trainee, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a licensed residential real estate 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 Real Estate Appraiser Trainee 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.

  • Under the supervision of a certified appraiser; and

  • In no fewer than 6 months.

There are many ways to find a supervisory appraiser. You can use Louisiana’s appraiser search portal to find certified residential and general appraisers who are approved to work with trainees. You can also search the list of active certified appraisers in Louisiana 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 Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board for verification. Once approved, the board will notify you that you can schedule your certification exam.

4

Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination

After the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers 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. 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 Louisiana Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

After passing your exam, it’s time to apply for your license. Generally, candidates can expect this process to take up to a month, but it may vary.

You'll need to complete the application and submit it to the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board along with proof of your passing exam score, completed education requirements, and completed experience hours. There is a $245 application fee.

You’ll also need to complete a criminal history record and background check as part of your application. More info on this process can be found here.

Louisiana Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser licenses 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 Louisiana?

According to Indeed, the average real estate appraiser salary in Louisiana is $66,653.* 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 license is the highest appraiser license in Louisiana. Appraisers with this certification make an average salary of $106,172 per year.*

* April 2023 Salary per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

 How Much Does It Cost to Become a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser in Louisiana?

Between course tuition and exam and application fees, you can expect to spend at least $2,100 to become a certified residential real estate 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

Application Fee

$245

Exam Fee

$140 (Estimate based on other comparable state costs)

Total

$2,185

One additional cost to consider occurs during the trainee period. You’ll be conducting 1,500 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 Louisiana Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser?

Becoming a certified residential real estate appraiser in Louisiana takes at least a year. This includes the 1,500 hours of mandatory logged appraisal experience and 200 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

Certified Residential Appraisal Education Requirements

200 hours

Required Appraisal Experience

1,500 hours (in at least 12 months)

Total

≈ 1-1.5 years

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

Yes, as long as you meet a few requirements, including:

  • Must be a certified residential or general appraiser in another state or territory and in good standing

  • Must complete and submit Louisiana's reciprocal license application and pay the required application fee

  • Must submit a criminal history record, get fingerprinted, and submit to a background check

Louisiana reciprocal appraiser licenses or certifications are valid for two years.

Appraiser License Types in Louisiana

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

  • Real Estate Appraiser Trainee

  • Licensed Residential Real Estate Appraiser

  • Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

  • Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

Many Louisiana appraisers begin their careers as real estate appraiser trainees, gaining experience in the field. Then, they can “upgrade” to a licensed residential appraiser once they meet the education and experience requirements. Today, we’ll focus on how to become a Louisiana licensed residential real estate appraiser. But first, here’s a quick overview of the eligibility requirements for all licensing levels.

Appraiser Eligibility Highlights

Be at least 18 years old

Hold a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency

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

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

Find extra details here regarding Louisiana’s background check process.

Real Estate Appraiser Trainee

Louisiana recommends a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a real estate appraiser trainee, 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 a real estate appraiser 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-hour Supervisory/Appraiser Assistant Training 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

Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

Certified residential real estate appraisers may appraise:

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

  • All other complex and non-complex real property (transaction value < $500,000)

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. See Louisiana’s five options to meet this requirement here

.

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Real Estate Appraisers

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 < $250,000)

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 National Uniform Licensing Examination for Licensed Appraisers

Background questions and fingerprints required

Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

Certified general real estate appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals in Louisiana. 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 Real Estate Appraisers

Required

Louisiana Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Louisiana has a few rules regarding its appraiser CE requirements.

Certified residential and general appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE once during every two-year renewal cycle. This includes the mandatory 7-hour National USPAP update course that must be taken every two years, as required by the AQB.

Questions?