Real Estate Appraiser

To become a Real Estate Appraiser, an applicant must file an upgrade application with the Commission and meet the minimum requirements set forth by the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Appraisal Foundation.

A Real Estate Appraiser can appraise noncomplex one to four-family residential units having a transaction value of less than one million dollars and complex one to four-family residential units having a transaction value of less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars.

They 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.

Requirements

Licensing Requirements

Eligibility Verification Attestation and Identification

Education Requirements

An applicant must complete 158 hours of approved qualifying appraisal education courses, with successful passage of course final exams in the categories and credit hours below. Certificates of the completed courses must be attached to the upgrade application.

• 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 not 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
• Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations Course – 8 hours
   

Experience Requirements

• 1,000 hours over a minimum period of six months. An experience log in a PDF format documenting acceptable appraisal experience must be submitted with the upgrade application. A copy of this form can be found under “Forms and Downloads” in the drop-down menu to the left. Experience must be in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
• Experience obtained before trainee registration will not be accepted. When measuring the beginning and ending of the experience period under AQB criteria (currently 6 months for licensed), the Commission will review each appraiser’s experience log and note the dates of the first and last acceptable appraisal activities performed by the applicant. Then, the Commission 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.
   

Application & Fees

Complete the upgrade application online at core.tn.gov. The fee for an initial application is $405.

Next Steps

Examination: The exam is scheduled after receipt of the upgrade application. More information can be found under “PSI & Exam Information” in the drop-down menu to the left.

Interview: Appraisals will be requested from the applicant after receipt of a complete application. An interview will be scheduled with the Commission to discuss those appraisal reports.
 

Reciprocity

An applicant from a reciprocal state may complete the reciprocal application online at core.tn.gov. The fee associated with this application is $405.

Applicants must be AQB compliant and in “good standing” in a state/jurisdiction. Contact your state/jurisdiction for a Letter of Good Standing – this must accompany your online application. After receipt of the complete application and fees, the application takes approximately five (5) business days to process.