The Official Website of the State of Arkansas

Upgrading a License

Upgrading a License

  • 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

Real Property Appraiser Classifications in Arkansas

To upgrade from RA to: QE Hrs College Education Experience Hrs
State Licensed 162 N/A 1,000 hrs in no less than 6 months
Certified Residential 204 Specific Courses 1,500 hrs in no less than 12 months
Certified General 304 Bachelor’s degree 3,000 hrs in no less than 18 months

Please Note: If you received the credential from which you’re upgrading prior to January 1, 2026, you will be required to take the 8-hour qualifying education version of the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Rules and Regulations class to be eligible to upgrade.

From REGISTERED APPRENTICE (RA)APPRAISER:

No college level education is required.

Required Education

Core Classes (as listed under RA) – includes 8 hr Valuation Bias & Fair Housing as of 1/1/2026 87 hrs
Residential Market Analysis & Highest and Best Use 15 hrs
Residential Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach 15 hrs
Residential Sales Comparison & Income Approaches 30 hrs
Residential Report Writing & Case Studies 15 hrs
TOTAL HOURS* 162 hrs

Required Experience

One thousand (1,000) hours of experience are required to be obtained in no fewer than six (6) months. While the hours may be cumulative, the required number of months must accrue before an individual can be licensed.

Certified Residential (CR) credential applicants must meet the Qualifying Education requirements outlined in the SBAAHI Rules. (see Code of Arkansas Rules – Appraisers tab)

Required Education

Core Classes (as listed under RA) – includes 8 hr Valuation Bias & Fair Housing as of 1/1/2026 87 hrs
Residential Market Analysis & Highest and Best Use 15 hrs
Residential Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach 15 hrs
Residential Sales Comparison & Income Approaches 30 hrs
Residential Report Writing & Case Studies 15 hrs
Statistics, Modeling and Finance 15 hrs
Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 hrs
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (must be tested) 12 hrs
TOTAL HOURS 204 hrs

Required Experience

One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of experience are required to be obtained during no fewer than twelve (12) months.  While the hours may be cumulative, the required number of months must accrue before an individual can be certified.

Certified General (CG) credential applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Required Education

Core Classes (as listed under RA) – includes 8 hr Valuation Bias & Fair Housing as of 1/1/2026 87 hrs
General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 30 hrs
Statistics, Modeling and Finance 15 hrs
General Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach 30 hrs
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach 30 hrs
General Appraiser Income Approach 60 hrs
General Appraiser Report Writing & Case Studies 30 hrs
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (must be tested) 22 hrs
TOTAL HOURS 304 hrs

Required Experience

Three thousand (3,000) hours of experience, of which, one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must be in non-residential appraisal work, is required to be obtained during no fewer than eighteen (18) months.  While the hours may be cumulative, the required number of months must accrue before an individual can be certified.

From STATE LICENSED (SL) APPRAISER:

Certified Residential (CR) credential applicants must meet the Qualifying Education requirements outlined in the SBAAHI Rules. (see Code of Arkansas Rules – Appraisers tab)

Required Additional Education

Statistics, Modeling, and Finance 15 hrs
Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 hrs
Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (must be tested) 12 hrs
Total 42 hrs

Required Experience

One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of experience obtained during no fewer than twelve (12) months is required.  While the hours may be cumulative, the required number of months must accrue before an individual can be certified.

Certified General (CG) credential applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Required Additional Education

General Appraiser Market Analysis & Highest and Best Use 15 hrs
Statistics, Modeling, and Finance 15 hrs
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach 15 hrs
General Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach 15 hrs
General Appraiser Income Approach 45 hrs
General Appraiser Report Writing & Case Studies 15 hrs
Appraiser Subject Matter Electives (must be tested) 22 hrs
Total 142 hrs

Required Experience

Three thousand (3,000) hours of experience obtained during no fewer than eighteen (18) months is required, of which one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must be in non-residential appraisal work.  While the hours may be cumulative, the required number of months must accrue before an individual can be certified.

From CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL (CR) APPRAISER:

Certified General (CG) credential applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Required Additional Education

General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 hrs
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach 15 hrs
General Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach 15 hrs
General Appraiser Income Approach 45 hrs
General Appraiser Report Writing & Case Studies 10 hrs
Total 100 hrs

Required Experience

Three thousand (3,000) hours of experience obtained during no fewer than eighteen (18) months is required, of which one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must be in non-residential appraisal work.  While the hours may be cumulative, the required number of months must accrue before an individual can be certified.

After you have completed your qualifying education and gained the required experience hours, you may apply to interview to sit for the exam.

  • Submit an Upgrade Examination Application (links to the applications are on the Forms tab under Individual Resident Applications).

  • Upload completion certificates for the required qualifying education.

  • Upload experience logs reflecting the appropriate number of experience hours completed within the appropriate time frame with each page totaled and signed and dated by you and your qualified supervisor(s).

  • Pay the $100 test fee (this fee will be deducted from your new credential fee when you pass the exam and upgrade).