Frequently Asked Questions
Real Estate Appraisers
What are the licensure/certification requirements?
 
There are three basic requirements for a license/certification:
 
  1. Education is required of all applicants and is based on the category of license/certification for which you are applying.
  2. A written examination is required.
  3. Experience is required of all applicants and is based on the category of license/certification for which you are applying. Applicants not meeting the experience requirements may be eligible for an appraiser assistant license.

What are the categories of licensure/certification, related fees, and terms of licensure?

 

State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser $300* 2 years
State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser $300* 2 years
State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser $300* 2 years
State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser Assistant $250 2 years
Temporary/Reciprocal $125 1 year
* $250 application fee and $50 federal registration fee

What are the educational requirements?

 

Appraiser license/certification applicants must satisfy the education requirements by completing the prescribed courses indicated for each classification or by presenting evidence of equivalent education, completed prior to January 1, 1992, which is satisfactory to the NYS Board of Real Estate Appraisal.

In accordance with sections 1103.8, 1103.9, and 1103.10 of the Department's rules and regulations (19NYCRR), the following courses must be completed sequentially for the residential and general appraisal classifications:

State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser (90 hours)

 

Introduction to Real Estate Appraisal R-1 30 hours
Valuation Principles and Procedures R-2 30 hours
Fair Housing, Fair Lending, and Environmental Issues AQ-1 15 hours
National USPAP Course (or its equivalent) E/S 15 hours

State Certified Residential Appraiser (120 hours)

 

Introduction to Real Estate Appraisal R-1 30 hours
Valuation Principles and Procedures R-2 30 hours
Applied Residential Property Valuation R-3 30 hours
Introduction to One-Four Family Income Capitalization R-4 15 hours
National USPAP Course (or its equivalent) E/S 15 hours

State Certified General Appraiser (180 hours)

 

Introduction to Real Estate Appraisal R-1 30 hours
Valuation Principles and Procedures R-2 30 hours
Introduction to Income Property Valuation G-1 30 hours
Principles of Income Property Appraising G-2 30 hours
Applied Income Property Valuation G-3 30 hours
Fair Housing, Fair Lending, and Environmental Issues AQ-1 15 hours
National USPAP Course (or its equivalent) E/S 15 hours

Credit by Challenge Examination
 

Applicants may receive education credit for courses where they obtained credit from a course provider by challenge examination without attending the course provided that such credit was granted by the course provider prior to July 1, 1990, and the Department of State is satisfied with the quality of the challenge examination administered.

What are the experience requirements?

 

State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser
2,000 hours of experience over a period of not less than 24 months is required, 75% (1,500 hours) of which must be from appraisals of residential properties listed on the Appraisal Experience Report (Attachment C).

State Certified Residential Appraiser
2,500 hours of experience over a period of not less than 24 months is required, 75% (1,875 hours) of which must be from appraisals of residential properties listed on the Appraisal Experience Report (Attachment C). Residential experience must contain experience in single family (including single co-op or condo), two-four family, or other residential experience (vacant lot/farm). 80% (1,500 hours) of the residential experience must be in the single family category. 10% (187.5 hours) of the residential experience must be in each of the two remaining categories.

State Certified General Appraiser
3,000 hours of experience over a period of not less than 30 months is required, 75% (2,250 hours) of which must be from appraisals of general properties listed on the Appraisal Experience Report (Attachment C). General experience must contain experience in multi-family, commercial/industrial, or other (land/manufacturing/institutional). 60% (1,350 hours) of the general experience must be in one of the above categories. 20% (450 hours) of the general experience must be in each of the two remaining categories.

Note: Experience must be obtained within the 5-year period prior to submission of your application. To assure consistency and fairness in evaluating appraisal experience, the Department of State will use an "hourly system" that will serve as a guideline. The hourly system takes into consideration the number and type of appraisals performed and hours worked (including travel). However, applicants who claim mass appraisal experience have a waiver of the 5-year rule if they apply for licensure or certification before January 1, 2001.

Do I have to provide experience documentation at the time of application?

No. However, applicants may be asked to verify claimed experience following initial licensure/certification. Therefore, you must have documentation in your possession to support all "claimed experience."

What is considered acceptable experience?

  1. Standard Appraisals:
    If you performed at least 75% of the work associated with an appraisal (including preparation of the appraisal report), you will receive full credit for that appraisal, even if your work was reviewed by a supervising appraiser who signed the appraisal report. You must complete Attachments C and D.

     

  2. Review Appraisals:
    If you performed a "review appraisal," whether defined as a "field review" or a "documentary review" or a combination of both, you will receive 25% of the hours normally assigned for that appraisal. You must complete Attachments C and D.

    Note: Review Appraisals may be used for qualifying experience credit only up to a maximum of 25% of the required hours.

     

    Class Required Experience Maximum Credit Allowed for Appraisal Review
    State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser 2,000 hours 500 hours
    State Certified Residential Appraiser 2,500 hours 625 hours
    State Certified General Appraiser 3,000 hours 750 hours

     

  3. Mass Appraisal Experience:
    In accordance with regulation 1102.7, applicants for licensure/certification may receive credit for mass appraisal experience. Please refer to and complete Attachment E of the application.

What if I have a combination of traditional and mass appraisal experience?
 

If you have combined experience, please refer to and complete Attachments C, D, E, and F.

What is considered unacceptable experience?

  1. Market value estimates as a real estate licensee in connection with the listing and/or sale of real estate (i.e., "comparative market analysis") are unacceptable.
  2. Business appraisals are unacceptable. (Credit will be given for appraisals of individual parcels of commercial real estate.)
  3. Personal property appraisals are unacceptable.
  4. Feasibility or market analysis is unacceptable, except to the extent that the "market value" of a proposed real estate project is being estimated.

What if I don't meet the necessary experience qualifications?

If you do not meet the experience qualifications, you may apply for an Appraiser Assistant license.

How do I qualify as a State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser Assistant?

State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser Assistant applicants must do the following:
  1. File an appraiser application with the $250 fee,
  2. Meet the minimum education requirements of a State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser,
  3. Be supervised in the conduct of their services by a New York State licensed or certified appraiser who must cosign any appraisal report involving a federally related transaction over the deminimus level, and
  4. Utilize the same Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice as a state licensed or certified appraiser.

Upon satisfaction of the application requirements of the Department of State, the Department will issue a renewable 2-year State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser Assistant license.

Should an appraiser assistant acquire experience for licensed or certified appraiser, his or her application must comply with whatever examination and education requirements exist for that category at that time.

When you have met the experience qualifications, submit the appropriate application, any required additional education, the original "Passed" examination form, $300 fee, and a copy of your appraiser assistant license.

Is there reciprocity with other states?

Yes. An applicant may be certified/licensed in New York State without examination and further qualification if the applicant is certified/licensed in another state or territory

 

Reciprocity applicants must submit the following:

 

The term for a reciprocal license/certification is 2 years.

How do I apply for a temporary license/certification?

 

On occasion, a nonresident appraiser may wish to conduct business of a temporary nature in New York State. The applicant may be issued a temporary license/certificate to perform appraisals in New York State if the applicant is certified/licensed in another state or territory

 

Nonresident temporary applicants must submit the following:

 

NOTE: Applicants May Not Maintain an Office That Provides Appraisal Services to Clients in New York State.

The term is for 1 year and cannot be renewed.

I am a licensed real estate appraiser. Am I required to identify my license status on an appraisal report or contract?

 

Section 160-r of the Executive Law provides that any written instrument provided by an appraiser in the conduct of his or her real property appraisal activities, including the appraisal report and contract for services, must include the title, "State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser," "State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser," or "State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser," as appropriate. Additionally, the certification or license number of the appraiser must be set forth adjacent to or immediately below such title.

How do I renew my real estate appraiser license/certification?

 

The renewal application is posted to the appraiser approximately three months prior to the expiration of his or her license/certification. The application must be completed and submitted with a $300 fee to the Department of State. Instructions for proper submission are included with the renewal application. To avoid an additional $200 penalty fee, the renewal must be received by this office no later than 30 days after the expiration date of your current license/certification.

Additionally, all real estate appraisers and assistants are required to successfully complete 28 hours of approved appraiser continuing education courses within their two year license/certification period. In addition, all real estate appraisers with a license or certification expiring on or after January 1, 2004, must complete the 7 hour National USPAP course in order to renew. This course must be completed every two years prior to renewal and may be applied toward the 28 hour requirement.

What if it has been more than 2 years since my last license/certification expired?

 

If it has been more than 2 years since the expiration of the applicant's last license, the applicant must file a new application, meet the current qualifying education requirements, meet the current experience requirements, and pass the appropriate appraiser examination.

Note: Qualifying experience can never be more than 5 years old. See §1102.1 of the regs.

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