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How to Get Your License

Maine 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 Maine 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 ME trainee courses

Quick Facts

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

  1. Obtain Your Maine 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 Maine Licensed Residential Real Property 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 Maine Board of Real Estate Appraisers licensing page to learn more about appraiser reciprocity.

How to Become a Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser in Maine

1

Obtain Your Maine Trainee Real Property Appraiser 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 licensed residential appraiser in Maine, it’s recommended that you complete 75 hours of Maine 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 Appraiser trainees.

Before signing up for the Supervisory and Appraiser trainee 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). You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your state appraiser trainee application.

You must apply for your trainee license via mail along with your $380 license fee and $30 application fee.

2

Complete Your Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser Education

After becoming a Maine trainee appraiser, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a licensed residential appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these course hours through your 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. 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 National Registry of Appraisers appraiser database to find active certified residential and general appraisers who may be open to working with you.

4

Submit Your Application for Maine Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser

Once you've completed your education and experience, it’s time to apply for your Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser license online. 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 $30 application fee, and a $380 licensing fee.

5

Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination

After the Maine 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:

  1. The exam is four hours long. The Licensed Residential Examination can take up to four hours to complete.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 Maine?

According to Indeed, the average real estate appraiser salary in Maine is $58,330.* 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 Maine, and those with this certification make an estimated average salary of $108,000 per year.*

* May 2023 Salary Data

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

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

$30

National Appraiser Registry Fee

$380

Exam Fee

$50 (estimate based on common exam costs)

Total

$2,260

One added 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 Become a Licensed Appraiser in Maine?

Becoming a licensed appraiser in Maine 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.

Trainee Real Property Education Requirements

79 hours

Licensed Residential Real Property 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 Maine?

Yes, as long as you meet a few requirements:

  • File a complete 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 Maine

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

  • Trainee Real Property Appraiser

  • Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser

  • Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser

  • Certified General Real Property Appraiser

After receiving your 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. First, here’s a quick overview of the eligibility requirements for all license levels.

Be at least 18 years old

Have a high school diploma or GED

Submit fingerprints

Trainee Real Property Appraiser

Maine, like most states, recommends 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 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 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

Background questions and fingerprints required

Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser

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

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

  • Commercial properties (transaction value < $250,000)

Qualifying Education Hours Required

Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser

College Degree Requirement

Exam Requirement

Background Check

150 hours total (only 75 hours once you have your State Registered Real Estate Appraiser Trainee license)

1,000 hours in no less than six months

Not required

Must pass exam National Uniform Licensing Examination for Licensed Appraisers

Background questions and fingerprints required

Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser

In Maine, the next level of licensure is the Certified Residential Real Property 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 total (only 125 hours once you have your State Registered Real Estate Appraiser Trainee 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

Maine Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Maine has a few rules about its appraiser CE requirements.

Maine provisional, state licensed, and certified appraisers must complete 14 hours of CE during the preceding license term. This includes the mandatory 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course that must be taken every two years, as required by the AQB.

Questions?