Become an Appraiser Trainee
Scope of Practice
Appraiser Trainees may:
- Appraise properties under the active, personal and diligent supervision of their supervisory appraiser, which the supervisory appraiser is permitted to appraise.
Qualifications
- Citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
- 18 years of age or older
Requirements
To become an Appraiser Trainee, applicants must find a supervisory appraiser; satisfy education requirements; and pass a background check.
Find a Supervisor
- Applicants must work under a supervisory appraiser.
Voluntary Work Product Review
- As trainees gain experience under their supervisory appraisers, they may request feedback on their work by submitting an Application for Work Product Review.
Complete Qualifying Education
- 75 hours of qualifying appraisal education
- 4 hours the Board approved Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course
All qualifying education must be completed within the five (5) year period immediately preceding the date of application for a Trainee Appraiser credential.
Pass the Background Check
- Satisfy TALCB as to the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity through a background history review.
- Applicants are required to submit fingerprints to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). If a background investigation is required, there may be a delay in processing the application.
- Applicants will be required to submit relevant documents for the background history review, including final orders, judgments, and a written explanation.
- Before applying, individuals may submit a preapplication fitness determination to see if their criminal or disciplinary history may keep them from becoming licensed. More information on this can be found in this article Will Your Criminal Record or Disciplinary History Keep You from Getting Licensed?
File Your Application
Apply Online or by Mail
Submit an application to become an Appraiser Trainee using TALCB Online Services. Once you have applied and paid the fee, submit your course completion certificates and any supporting background documents via email.
You can also apply by mail, although processing will take longer. To apply by mail, send the completed the Appraiser Trainee paper application and supporting documents to Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, TX 78711-2188.
Application Status
Track the status of your application using the Application Status Tracker.
Upgrading from an Appraiser Trainee
Appraiser Trainees holding a valid credential may upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential or Certified General by satisfying a background check and completing additional education, examination, and experience requirements.
Appraiser Trainee to Licensed Residential Appraiser
Additional Education Requirements
- Additional 75 hours of qualifying education courses:
- Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours)
- Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours)
- Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches (30 hours)
- Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours)
Additional Experience Requirements
- Satisfy the experience requirements for a licensed residential certification. More information on experience requirements for this license type can be found on the Become Licensed page for a Licensed Residential Appraiser.
Pass the National Examination
- Pass the National Licensed Residential Real Property exam.
Background History
- Satisfy TALCB as to the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity through a background history review.
Appraiser Trainee to Certified General Appraiser
Additional Education Requirements
- A Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university and
- Additional 225 hours of qualifying education courses:
- General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (30 hours)
- General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach (30 hours)
- General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (30 hours)
- General Appraiser Income Approach (Part I and II) (60 hours)
- General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies (30 hours)
- Statistics, Modeling and Finance (15 hours)
- Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (30 hours)
Additional Experience Requirements
- Satisfy the experience requirements for a certified general certification. More information on experience requirements for this license type can be found on the Become Licensed page for a Certified General Appraiser.
Pass the National Examination
- Pass the National Certified General Real Property exam.
Background History
- Satisfy TALCB as to the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity through a background history review.
Appraiser Trainee to Certified Residential Appraiser
Additional Education Requirements
- One of six college-level education requirements set out by the AQB and
- Additional 125 hours of qualifying education courses:
- Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours)
- Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours)
- Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches (30 hours)
- Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours)
- Statistics, Modeling and Finance (15 hours)
- Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies (15 hours)
- Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (20 hours)
Additional Experience Requirements
- Satisfy the experience requirements for a certified residential certification. More information on experience requirements for this license type can be found on the Become Licensed page for a Certified Residential Appraiser.
Pass the National Examination
- Pass the National Certified Residential Real Property exam.
Background History
- Satisfy TALCB as to the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity through a background history review.