How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in Arkansas: Your
5-Step Guide

How to Become a State Licensed Appraiser in Arkansas

Now let's take a more in-depth look at the steps recommended to really start your appraisal career as a state licensed appraiser.

1. 1. Obtain Your Arkansas Registered Apprentice License (Recommended)

   NOTE: Your state may accept PAREA or Practicum as an alternative to Trainee license with Trainee/Supervisory model.

   Qualifying Education. Before you become a state licensed appraiser in Arkansas, it’s recommended that you complete 75 hours of  Arkansas Appraiser Qualifying Education (QE), broken up as follows:

   • 30 hours of appraisal principles
   • 30 hours of appraisal procedures
   • The 15-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course, or an equivalent course

   You’ll also need to complete a 4-hour Training Course for Supervisory and Registered apprentices.

   Before signing up for the Supervisory and Registered Apprentice training course, you need to find a sponsoring appraiser. This person will act as your mentor through completion of your experience hours (Step 3).

   All Qualifying Education must be approved by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your state registered apprentice application.

   You must apply for your Registered Apprentice license via mail along with your $200 application fee.

2. 2. Complete Your State Licensed Appraiser Education

   After becoming an Arkansas registered apprentice, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a state licensed appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these course hours through your Registered apprentice license – nice work!)

3. 3. Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience

   Once you’ve finished your education, you must conduct and log at least 1,000 hours of actual appraisal experience. Those 1,000 hours must be completed:

   • Under the supervision of a certified appraiser; and
   • Over a period of at least 6 months.

   To find a sponsoring appraiser, you can search the Arkansas appraiser database to find active certified residential and general appraisers who may be open to working with you.

4. 4. Submit Your Application for Arkansas State Licensed Appraiser

   Once you've completed your education and experience, it’s time to apply for your State Licensed Appraiser license. Generally, candidates can expect this process to take up to a month, but it may vary.

   You’ll need to provide proof of your passing exam score, completed education requirements, and completed experience hours. There is a $100 application fee, and a $50 license/certificate upgrade fee.

5. 5. Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination

   After the Arkansas Appraisal Board approves your education and experience, you can take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam. You will receive a candidate handbook and instructions for contacting the testing company to schedule your exam. The Appraisal Foundation publishes tips on the exam structure that can help you prepare. Here’s an overview:

   • The exam is four hours long. The Licensed Residential Examination can take up to four hours to complete.
   • There are 125 questions on the test. The National Uniform Licensing and Certification exam is composed of 125 total questions. Fifteen of these questions are considered practice, and answering those questions wrong does not negatively affect your score.
   • A score of 75 points is passing. Scores for the National Uniform Licensing and Certification exam range between 0 and 110 points. Each question carries an equal weight of 1 point. To pass, you must earn a minimum of 75 points.
   • You can take the test more than once. The Appraisal Foundation allows you to take the test up to three times.

Appraiser License Types in Arkansas

It’s important to understand how Arkansas classifies real estate appraisers across four separate categories, each with their own qualifications for licensure:

• Registered Apprentice
• State Licensed Appraiser
• Certified Residential Appraiser
• Certified General Appraiser

After receiving your Registered Apprentice license, you can “upgrade” to any of the subsequent license levels. Today, we’ll be focusing on how to become a state licensed appraiser. First, here’s a quick overview of the eligibility requirements for all license levels.

Registered Apprentice

Arkansas, like most states, requires a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a registered apprentice, this first level of licensure is recommended before you can become fully licensed and start appraising real estate on your own.

Here's a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become an appraiser assistant:

Licensed Appraiser:

The next level up is the licensed real estate appraiser. At this level, you can provide appraisal services in transactions with:

• Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $1,000,000)
• Complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $250,000)

Here’s a quick overview of everything you’ll need to become a licensed appraiser:

Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

In Arkansas, the next level of licensure is the State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser license. Certified residential appraisers may provide appraisal services in transactions with:

• 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity

Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

State certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals. They can provide appraisal services in transactions with all types of residential or commercial real property without regard to value or complexity.