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

Montana Real Estate Appraiser License Requirements

Becoming an appraiser can be a lucrative and rewarding choice for your career – but how do you get started? Your appraisal education begins with 75 hours of Montana Appraiser Qualifying Education coursework, the building blocks of your appraisal knowledge. The best way to complete those hours successfully? By getting your trainee license, the official recommendation of The Appraisal Foundation. Though your state may not require this license level, earning it will help you stand out to future employers, and prepare you for the jobs that require it!

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Quick Overview

Below is a list of the steps required to become a Licensed Appraiser in Montana.

  1. Obtain Your Montana Trainee Appraiser License
  2. Complete Your Appraiser Education
  3. Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience
  4. Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Examination
  5. Submit Your Application for a Montana Licensed Appraiser

We’ll go into more detail about these steps below.

If you've already completed appraiser education or are licensed in another state, visit the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Board of Real Estate Appraisers for more detailed information.

How to Become a Licensed Appraiser in Montana

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

  1. 1. Obtain Your Montana Trainee License

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

    Qualifying Education. Before you can become a licensed residential appraiser in Montana, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Montana 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 Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course. Before signing up for this course, you need to find a supervisory appraiser who 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 Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your trainee application.

    Before applying for your license, take a moment to read through Montana’s detailed trainee application requirements.

    Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you can apply for your Trainee Appraiser license using Montana’s online portal or by submitting a paper application. There is a $400 application fee.

  2. 2. Complete Your Appraiser Education

    After getting your Montana Trainee Appraiser license, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a licensed appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. Take a look at the breakdown of coursework. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these hours through your Trainee 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 who is an approved mentor in Montana; and
    • Over a period of at least six months.

    There are many ways to find a supervisory appraiser. You can use Montana’s licensee search portal to find certified residential and general appraisers who have been approved as mentors. You can also search the list of active certified appraisers in Montana found in the Appraisal Subcommittee’s National Registry of Appraisers.

    Once you’ve completed your appraiser education and experience requirements, you’ll need to submit proof of completion to the Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers for verification. Once approved, the board will notify you that you can schedule your licensing exam.

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

    After the Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers approves your education and experience, you can take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam.

    In Montana, the test is administered by PSI (formerly AMP). There is a $99 fee to take the exam, and 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. In order 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.
  5. 5. Submit Your Application for a Montana Licensed Appraiser

    After passing your exam, it’s time to apply for your license. Generally, candidates can expect this process to take up to six weeks, but it may vary.

    To fill out your application, you first need to create an account on the Montana online citizen portal. You can apply for your license using the online portal or by submitting a paper application to the Montana Board of Real Estate Appraisers. There is a $515 application fee.

    You’ll need to submit your fingerprints and consent to a background check as part of your application. More info on this process can be found here.

    Montana appraiser licenses are valid for one year. You’ll need to renew your license every year by March 31st. Continuing Education (CE) is required to be completed during every other renewal period.

Frequently Asked Questions About Real Estate Appraisal

What is the Average Real Estate Appraiser Salary in Montana?

According to Indeed, the average real estate appraiser salary in Montana is $44,871. A great incentive to working toward a higher license is the ability to make more money. The Certified General license is the highest appraiser license in Montana, and those with this certification make an average salary of around $92,053 per year.*

*March 2023 Salary Data

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Licensed Appraiser License in Montana?

Between course tuition and exam and application fees, you can expect to spend at least $2,400 for your licensed appraiser licensure. The cost will vary slightly depending on the education provider and number of attempts at the exam, but here’s a breakdown of the approximate cost:

Average Course Tuition $1,800 (Residential Appraiser)
Application Fees $515
Exam Fee $106
Total Estimate $2,421

One additional cost to consider occurs during the trainee period. You’ll be conducting 1,000 hours of in-field appraisals to upgrade your license, which means your travel expenses may accumulate. This should be considered when calculating the total approximate cost of obtaining your appraiser license.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Montana Residential Appraiser License?

Becoming a Montana licensed appraiser takes at least six months. This includes the 1,000 hours of mandatory logged appraisal experience and 150 hours of appraisal education. This table gives you a general idea of how long it will take to complete this process.

Trainee Education Requirements 79 hours
Residential Appraisal Education Requirements 75 hours
Required Appraisal Experience 1,000 hours (in at least 6 months)
Full-Time Pace: (40 hrs/week) ≈ 8-10 months
Part-Time Pace: (20 hrs/week) ≈ 16-18 months

If I Have an Out-of-State Appraiser License, Can I Appraise Real Estate in Montana?

Yes, as long as you meet these requirements, summarized below:

  • Must be a licensed or certified appraiser in good standing in another state or territory and submit proof of licensure (reciprocity doesn’t apply to trainees)
  • Must be listed as AQB-compliant on the Appraisal Subcommittee National Registry of Appraisers
  • Must complete and submit Montana's reciprocal license application and pay the required $515 application fee
  • Must submit fingerprints and consent to a background check

Montana reciprocal appraiser licenses or certifications are valid for one year.

Appraiser License Types in Montana

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

  • Trainee Appraiser
  • Licensed Appraiser
  • Certified Residential Appraiser
  • Certified General Appraiser

After receiving your Trainee license, you can “upgrade” to any of the subsequent license levels. Today, we’ll be focusing on how to become a Licensed Appraiser. But first, here’s a quick overview of the requirements for the first four licensing levels.

Appraiser Eligibility Highlights
Be at least 18 years old
Hold a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency
Proof of U.S. Citizenship, U.S. National Status, or Alien Status
Have fingerprints on file, pass a background check, and answer criminal history questions

Find extra details here regarding Montana’s fingerprint and background check process.

Trainee Appraiser

Montana, like most states, requires a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a trainee appraiser, this first level of licensure is required 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 a trainee:

Qualifying Education Hours Required Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser College Degree Requirement Exam Requirement Background Check
75 hours of qualifying appraisal education

4 hours of a Trainee/Supervisor Appraiser course
None required, though you will need to associate with a Supervisory Appraiser before receiving your trainee license. (You’ll work under your Supervisory Appraiser to earn experience hours after receiving your trainee license.) Not required Not required Required

Licensed Appraiser

The next level up is a licensed appraiser. At this level, you can appraise:

  • Non-complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $1,000,000)
  • Complex 1-4 unit residential properties (transaction value < $400,000)

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

Qualifying Education Hours Required Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser College Degree Requirement Exam Requirement Background Check
150 hours (only 75 hours are required to upgrade after receiving your Trainee license) 1,000 hours in no less than six months Not required Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers Required

Certified Residential Appraiser

Certified residential appraisers may appraise:

  • 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
  • Non-residential properties (transaction value < $250,000)
Qualifying Education Hours Required Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser College Degree Requirement Exam Requirement Background Check
200 hours (only 125 hours are required to upgrade after receiving your Trainee license) 1,500 hours in no less than 12 months Must have completed some college coursework. See Montana’s four options to meet this requirement here. Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified Residential Appraisers Required

Certified General Appraiser

Certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals in Montana. They can appraise all types of residential or commercial property without regard to value or complexity.

Qualifying Education Hours Required Required Experience Hours Working Under a Certified Appraiser College Degree Requirement Exam Requirement Background Check
300 hours (only 225 hours are required to upgrade after receiving your Trainee license) 3,000 hours in no less than 18 months Must have bachelor's degree or higher in any field and from any accredited college or university Must pass National Uniform Licensing Examination for Certified General Appraisers Required

Montana Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

Montana has a few rules regarding its appraiser CE requirements.

Licensed and certified appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE during every other renewal cycle (every two years). This includes the mandatory 7-hour National USPAP update course that must be taken every two years, as required by the AQB.

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