The Official Website of the State of Arkansas

Becoming an Appraiser

Becoming an Appraiser

  • Becoming an Appraiser
  • Upgrading a License
  • Renewing a License
  • Transferring a License from Another State
  • Non-Resident: Reciprocal License/Temporary Practice Permit/RA or SR
  • Appraisal Management Companies
  • Forms
  • Education
  • Complaints and Disciplinary Actions
  • Code of Arkansas Rules – Appraisers
  • Roster Search – Appraisers & AMCs

Out of State Licensure Notice

Welcome! By clicking this link, you have taken the first step toward an exciting career in Real Property Appraising. The information found below should help you as you start your journey but if you have questions, please call us at 501-296-1843.

How to Become a Registered Apprentice (RA) or State Registered (SR) Appraiser

Please Note: You must be a Registered Apprentice (RA) Appraiser to be eligible for an upgrade to Licensed or Certified.

1. Educate Yourself and Find a Supervisor

  • Required Qualifying Education (QE) ** (see list below) must be completed prior to applying.

  • (**Please Note: All qualifying education must be completed within the five-year period immediately preceding the date of application for a registered apprentice appraiser credential.)

  • You must take QE that has been approved by us. (see Education tab)

  • One of the required QE classes, Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Class, is offered by our office as an in-person class. This provides an opportunity for you to meet our staff and network with other appraisers and trainees. (Class forms are on the Forms tab under Education/Training Forms.)

Required Qualifying Education (Core Classes)

Basic Appraisal Principles 30 hrs
Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 hrs
USPAP (Universal Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) 15 hrs
Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations 8 hrs
Supervisor/Trainee Course 4 hrs
TOTAL HOURS 87 hrs

If you have chosen to apply to be a Registered Apprentice (RA) Appraiser, you must find a supervisor before applying. You can use the “Appraiser Roster” (see Roster Search – Appraisers  and AMCs tab) to find contact information for active Certified Residential (CR) and Certified General (CG) Appraisers to find possible supervisors according to the credential level you’re seeking. Registered Apprentice (RA) Appraisers are allowed to have more than one supervisor but must keep separate logs for each.

The supervising appraiser must:

  • have been licensed for three years without disciplinary issues

  • attend (or have attended) a Supervisor Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Class

  • complete and submit a Supervisor Registration Form

  • not supervise more than three trainees at one time

Links to the Supervisory Appraiser/Trainee Appraiser Class forms and Supervisor Registration forms are on the Forms tab under Education/Training Forms.

2. Apply to be a Registered Apprentice (RA) or State Registered (SR) Appraiser

Once you have completed your qualifying education and secured a supervisor (for those who have chosen the Registered Apprentice path), you may apply for registration. The application links below will take you to the online portal where you will create an account, complete the application, upload your qualifying education certificates, and pay the $200 application fee.

What To Do Once You’re Registered as an RA or SR

1. Start Gaining Experience

RAs are required to keep an experience log. If you have more than one supervisor, a separate log is required for each. You will upload your log(s) when you apply to upgrade. Please remember, you cannot start gaining experience hours until you have received your RA credential. Also, make sure you are signing your reports with the correct credential.

You may use the following sample logs for your convenience. If you choose to use the Excel version, please note that it does not have formulas included; you will need to formulate it yourself (don’t forget to delete the AQB sample entry before calculating totals). Each log page must be totaled and signed by the trainee and the supervisor.

SRs are not required to keep a log. Once registered as a State Registered Appraiser, you may begin appraising real property within your credential…

A State Registered Appraiser may perform appraisals on any type of property except when the purpose of the appraisal is for use in federally related transactions, and must include in all appraisal reports a statement that the appraisal may not be eligible for use in federally related transactions. All appraisals and/or appraisal services performed by a state registered appraiser shall be subject to the competency provision of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

2. Renew Your Credential Annually by December 31 (see Renewing Your License tab)

3. Apply to Upgrade

When you’ve completed the education and experience requirements, you are eligible to apply to upgrade (see Upgrading a License tab).