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

How to Become a Licensed Residential Appraiser in Nevada

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

1. 1. Obtain Your Nevada Registered Intern 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 Nevada, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Nevada 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’ll need to find a supervisory appraiser who will act as your mentor as you gain appraisal work experience. (Step 3).

   In Nevada, you must also:

   • Complete a 3-hour course on Nevada appraisal law
   • Attend 6 hours of meetings of the Nevada Commission of Appraisers of Real Estate

   All Qualifying Education must be approved by either the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) or the Nevada Department of Business & Industry's Real Estate Division. You must complete all education hours prior to submitting your registered intern application.

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

   Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you will need to apply with the state for your Registered Intern license, which requires a $305 fee.

2. 2. Complete Appraiser Education

   After becoming a registered intern, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a licensed residential appraiser in Nevada: 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 Intern license – nice work!)

3. 3. Conduct Appraisal Work Experience

   Once you’ve finished your education, you must conduct and log at least 2,400 hours of actual appraisal experience. These 2,400 hours must be completed:

   • Under the supervision of a certified appraiser; and
   • Over a period of at least two years.

   There are many ways to find and enter into a working relationship with a supervisory appraiser. A great way to begin your search is to use the list of active certified appraisers in Nevada found in the Appraisal Subcommittee’s National Registry of Appraisers.

   Once you’ve completed your appraiser education and experience hours, you’ll need to submit proof of completion to the Nevada Real Estate Division for verification. Once approved, the division will notify you that you can schedule your licensing exam.

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

   After the Nevada Real Estate Division approves your education and experience, you can take the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam.

   In Nevada, the test is administered by Pearson VUE. There is a $125 fee to take the exam. You’ll need to create an account on the Pearson VUE site to find a test center and schedule your test. The Appraisal Foundation publishes tips on the exam structure that can help you prepare. Pearson VUE also provides helpful documents to help you prepare for the test. 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 Nevada Licensed Residential Appraiser License

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

   To apply, you’ll need to download and complete the application, print it, and submit it in person to the Nevada Department of Business & Industry's Real Estate Division. When submitting your application, you’ll also need to complete fingerprinting using one of Nevada’s approved vendors. Alternatively, you can submit a fingerprint card and a fee of $40.25 to the Nevada Department of Public Safety.

   When you apply for your license, you’ll need to pay $435 in total fees. This includes a $100 application fee, a $240 license fee, an $80 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council fee, and a $15 technology fee.

   Nevada appraiser licenses are valid for two years. At the end of your renewal period, you’ll need to complete the required Continuing Education (CE) to renew your license.

Appraiser License Types in Nevada

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

• Registered Intern
• Licensed Residential Appraiser
• Certified Residential Appraiser
• Certified General Appraiser

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

Find extra details here regarding citizenship and criminal history.

Registered Intern

Nevada, like most states, requires a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a registered intern, 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 registered intern:

Before applying, registered interns must also attend at least six hours of meetings of the Nevada Commission of Appraisers of Real Estate. More info on this requirement can be found here.

Licensed Residential Appraiser

The next level up is a Nevada licensed residential 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 licensed residential appraiser:

Certified Residential Appraiser

Nevada certified residential appraisers may appraise:

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

Certified General Appraiser

Nevada certified general appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals. They can appraise all types of real estate properties without regard to value or complexity.