How to Get a License or Certification

The following is a brief summary regarding the different levels of appraiser licenses, along with education and experience requirements.

There are three real estate appraiser classifications: State Licensed Appraiser, State Certified Residential Appraiser and State Certified General Appraiser.

• A State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser can appraise noncomplex one to four family residential units having a transaction value less than one million dollars and complex one to four family residential units having a transaction value less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars.  A State Licensed Appraiser can also appraise other types of real property having a transaction value less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Agricultural properties, including agricultural properties with up to two (2) dwelling units, with a value up to, but not including, one million dollars ($1,000,000). (TN Code Ann. 62-39-302)
• A State Certified Residential Appraiser can appraise all types of non-complex one-to-four family residential property without regard to transaction value and other types of real property having a transaction value less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Agricultural properties, including agricultural properties with up to two (2) dwelling units, with a value up to, but not including, one million dollars ($1,000,000). (TN Code Ann. 62-39-302)
• A State Certified General Appraiser can appraise all types of real property. (TN Code Ann. 62-39-302)

Background Checks: Beginning January 1, 2015, All Initial Applicants For A Real Property Appraiser Credential Must Undergo Background Check.

See T.C.A. 62-39-102 for definition of an initial applicant for registration, licensure or certification.

The following is a summary of education and experience requirements for obtaining licensure/certification as a real estate appraiser.

• All education "course providers" and courses must be approved by the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission, except those applicants who are licensed or certified in a Reciprocal State.
• Please view the "Approved Course Listing" on this website prior to taking any courses for qualifying or continuing education.
• Please submit only photo copies of education with applications. All applicants/licensees must maintain a record of their education.
• A listing, by county, of real estate appraisers may be requested on the Appraisal Subcommittee website at www.asc.gov and clicking on the link for "Find an Appraiser".
• Please visit the Appraisal Foundation website at: www.appraisalfoundation.org to learn more about the real property appraiser criteria (Criteria) and the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB).

Go to the following website to download the current list of approved qualifying and continuing education courses: Approved Course Listing

Registered Trainee - A person desiring to become an appraiser must register with the Commission and work under the direct supervision of one or more certified appraisers who have been certified with the Commission for a minimum of 36 months in Tennessee.  Experience gained prior to registration will be not accepted.  Prior to registering with the Commission, a registered trainee applicant must complete 75 hours of qualifying education, within five (5) years preceding the date of application, in the following categories and successfully pass the applicable final examinations:

• 15-hour Appraisal Foundation's National USPAP course, or its equivalent; -and-
• Successful completion of a thirty (30) hour course in Appraisal Principles; -and-
• Successful completion of a thirty (30) hour course in Appraisal Practice or Procedures.
• The five-year requirement does not apply to licensed appraisers or certified appraisers applying to upgrade their license or certificate.
• Successful completion of a four (4) hour course on the requirements and responsibilities of supervisory appraisers and trainee appraisers. The course shall be completed by the registered trainee prior to application.
  

State Licensed Appraiser - An applicant must have 150 hours of approved qualifying appraisal education courses completed with successful passage of course final exams in the following categories and credit hours:

• Course(s) on Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours);
• Course(s) on Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours);
• Course(s) on Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches (30 hours in no less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours)
• The Appraisal Foundation's National USPAP Course or its equivalent (15 hours).

State Certified Residential Appraiser - Applicant must complete one of the six college options listed in the New Appraiser Qualification Criteria: effective 5/1/2018.

In addition to the Bachelor’s degree, 200 hours of qualifying education courses in the following categories and credit hours must be completed, with the successful passage of the course final exams, as specified in these rules:

• Course(s) on Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours);
• Course(s) on Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours);
• Course(s) on Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches (30 hours in no less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours);
• Course(s) on Statistics, Modeling and Finance (15 hours);
• Course(s) on Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies (15 hours);
• Electives (20 hours);
• The Appraisal Foundation's National USPAP Course or its equivalent (15 hours).

State Certified General Appraiser - Applicant must have a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

In addition to the Bachelor's degree, 300 hours of qualifying education courses in the following categories and credit hours must be completed, with the successful passage of course final exams, as specified in these rules:

• Course(s) on Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on Statistics, Modeling and Finance (15 hours);
• Course(s) on General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on General Appraiser Income Approach (60 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Course(s) on General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• Electives (30 hours in not less than 15 hour increments);
• The Appraisal Foundation's National USPAP Course or its equivalent (15 hours).

Experience Requirements:
Registered Trainee - No previous experience is required to register as a Trainee.  However, in order to gain experience credit for licensure/certification, an appraiser assistant must have a supervising appraiser and register with the Commission. Experience gained prior to registration will not be accepted. When measuring the beginning and ending of the experience period under AQB criteria (currently 6 months for licensed and 12 months for certified residential and 18 months and for certified general), TREAC will review each appraiser’s experience log and note the dates of the first and last acceptable appraisal activities performed by the applicant. Then, TREAC will calculate the time period spanned between those appraisal activities. The supervisor and trainee have shared responsibility to ensure the appraisal experience log for the Trainee Appraiser is accurate, current, and complies with the requirements of the Laws and Rules of Tennessee.

State Licensed Appraiser – 1,000 hours over a minimum period of six months. Experience must be in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

State Certified Residential Appraiser - 1,500 hours over a minimum period of twelve months. Experience must be in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

State Certified General Appraiser - 3,000 hours (including at least 1,500 hours of non-residential appraisal experience) over a minimum period of eighteen months. Experience must be in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

SEE RULES OF THE TENNESSEE REAL ESTATE APPRAISER COMMISSION CHAPTER 1255-3 (EVALUATION OF APPRAISER EXPERIENCE) FOR ACCEPTABLE APPRAISAL EXPERIENCE.

Experience Log
An experience log (PDF format) documenting acceptable appraisal experience is required for all license/certification applications. The work product claimed for experience credit must conform with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and be verifiable.

SEE RULES OF THE TENNESSEE REAL ESTATE APPRAISER COMMISSION CHAPTER 1255-3 (EVALUATION OF APPRAISER EXPERIENCE) FOR GUIDELINES FOR APPRAISAL EXPERIENCE.

The tests will be administered by an approved provider under contract with the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission.  An electronic examination provides test/fail reports to candidates immediately upon completion of the examinations. The examinations are given at established test center locations.  An applicant will be allowed four opportunities to pass the examination.  The applicant must successfully pass the examination within twelve (12) months of their exam approval date.  Any applicant who has taken and failed four examinations shall be required to submit a new application.

Rescheduling and Excused Absences
An applicant must reschedule examinations and request excused absences directly from the testing agent.

Licensing/Certification Procedures
Upon successful completion of the examination, applicants must send the Commission an original test score sheet from the testing center regarding successful completion of the examination and required fees for licensure/certification. Applicants should keep a very good photo copy of the test sheet for their records.

Download the PSI 'Tennessee Appraisers Candidate Information Bulletin' handbook he

• A registered trainee must obtain the required education and experience to apply for licensure or certification.
• All of the requirements must be accomplished prior to submitting a License/Certification application.
• The upgrade application must be completed, accompanied by education certificates, experience log, and $405 application fee.
• Once the completed application is received, properties will be chosen from the experience log, and the applicant submits three (3) copies of each of the requested appraisals or an e-mail of the pdf files.
• The appraisals should be submitted no later than twenty (20) days prior to the next meeting in order to ensure placement on the agenda.
• An interview will be scheduled with the Commission to discuss those appraisal reports.
• When an applicant is approved, he/she will receive information from the Commission in order to schedule the examination.
• Each applicant shall complete the application and examination requirements with one (1) year of the date the commission grants approval for the applicant to take the required examination.
• A license or residential certificate will be issued to a registered trainee or applicant for registration as a registered trainee who passes the examination, only upon the registered trainee or applicant for registration as a registered trainee completing all requirements for licensure or residential certification.
• If all other requirements are not met prior to the expiration of a trainee's registration and the registered trainee fails to renew, then he or she loses credit for passing the examination.

• An applicant from a reciprocal state may complete the Reciprocal application, completing the entire application which includes a "Consent to Jurisdiction" form.
• Applicants must be AQB compliant in a State/Jurisdiction and be in "Good Standing" in that State/Jurisdiction. A letter of Good Standing is required, contact your State/Jurisdiction for instructions.
• The fee for the application and the licensure/certification fee is $405.
• After receipt of the complete application and after the fees have been processed, the application takes approximately five (5) business days to process.
• A license/certificate will be mailed to the mailing address listed on the application.

• An individual who is performing an appraisal on one assignment, for one client, in Tennessee may apply for a Temporary Practice Permit.
• The fee is $150 per assignment.
• Multiple properties can be considered as one assignment if the assignment is for the same client and reports are for the same intended use and same time period.
• After receipt of the fee and the complete application, the application will take a maximum of five (5) business days to process by the Real Estate Appraiser Commission.
• A certificate will be mailed to the business address.
• There is a maximum of six (6) permits issued each calendar year.