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Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 RI trainee courses

Quick Overview

Below is a list of the steps required to become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Rhode Island.

  1. Obtain Your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Division of Commercial Licensing for more detailed information.

How to Become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Rhode Island

1

Obtain Your Rhode Island Trainee Appraiser 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 Rhode Island, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Rhode Island 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 Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course. Before signing up for this 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 Rhode Island Real Estate Appraisers Board. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your trainee appraiser application.

Before applying for your license, take a moment to read through Rhode Island’s detailed trainee application requirements.

Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you can apply for your Trainee Appraiser license using Rhode Island’s online portal or by submitting a paper application. There is a $680 application fee.

2

Complete Your Appraiser Education

After becoming a Rhode Island trainee appraiser, 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 on page 21 of the AQB’s Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these 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 six months.

There are many ways to find a supervisory appraiser. You can use Rhode Island’s licensee search portal to find certified residential and general appraisers who may be open to mentoring a trainee. You can also search the list of active certified appraisers in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Real Estate Appraisers Board 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 Rhode Island Real Estate Appraisers Board approves your education and experience, you can take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification 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 a Rhode Island 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 first need to create an account on the Rhode Island online portal. You can apply for your license using the online portal or by submitting a paper application to the Rhode Island Real Estate Appraisers Board.

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

Rhode Island appraiser licenses are valid for two years. Continuing Education (CE) must be completed during every renewal period.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rhode Island Real Estate Appraisal

What is the Average Real Estate Appraiser Salary in Rhode Island?

According to Indeed, the average real estate appraiser salary in Rhode Island is $68,893. A great incentive to working toward a higher license is the ability to make more money. The Certified General license is the highest appraiser license in Rhode Island, and those with this certification make an average salary of around $99,515 per year.*

* April 2023 Salary Data

 How Much Does It Cost to Get a Licensed Residential Appraiser License in Rhode Island?

Between course tuition and exam and application fees, you can expect to spend at least $2,100 for your licensed 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 Fee

$200

Exam Fee

$140 (Estimate based on other comparable state costs)

Total

$2,140

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 Rhode Island Residential Appraiser License?

Becoming a Rhode Island licensed appraiser 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 Rhode Island?

Yes, as long as you meet these requirements, summarized below:

  • Must be a licensed or certified appraiser in another state or territory and submit proof of licensure

  • The credentialing requirements of the state must meet or exceed those of Rhode Island

  • Must complete and submit Rhode Island's reciprocal license application and pay the required $680 application fee

  • Must submit a criminal history record and submit to a background check

Rhode Island reciprocal appraiser licenses or certifications are valid for two years.

Appraiser License Types in Rhode Island

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

  • Trainee Appraiser

  • Licensed Residential Appraiser

  • Certified Residential Appraiser

  • Certified General Appraiser

After receiving your Trainee Appraiser 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 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

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

Submit to a background check and answer criminal history questions

Find extra details here regarding Rhode Island’s background check process.

Trainee Appraiser

(h3) Trainee Appraiser Rhode Island, like most states, requires a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a trainee appraiser, 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

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)

  • Complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $250,000)

Here’s a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become a Rhode Island 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 exam National Uniform Licensing Examination for Licensed Residential Appraisers

Required

Certified Residential Appraiser

Certified residential appraisers may appraise:

  • Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value

  • Complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $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. See Rhode Island’s six options to meet this requirement here

Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers

Required

Certified General Appraiser

Certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals in Rhode Island. 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

Required

Rhode Island Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Rhode Island has a few rules regarding its appraiser CE requirements.

Licensed and certified appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE during every renewal cycle (every two years). This includes the mandatory 7-hour National USPAP update course that must be taken every two years, as required by the AQB.

Questions?