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

How to Become a State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser in Oklahoma

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

1. 1. Obtain Your Oklahoma Trainee Appraiser 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 appraiser in Oklahoma, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Oklahoma 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 Appraisers and Trainee Appraisers. Before signing up for the 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 Oklahoma Real Estate Appraiser Board. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your trainee appraiser application.

   You can apply for your Trainee Appraiser license using this application or by creating a user account and applying through Oklahoma’s online application portal. There is a $300 application fee.

2. 2. Complete Your Appraiser Education

   After becoming an Oklahoma trainee appraiser, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a state licensed real estate appraiser: 150 total hours of Appraisal Foundation-approved appraiser education. Review the required coursework here. (Please Note: You’ve already satisfied 75 of these course hours through your Trainee Appraiser 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 six months.

   This means that you must take no less than six months to complete your 1,000 hours of appraisal experience. To put things in perspective, if an apprentice works 40 hours per workweek, they will complete their training in a little over six months. If, however, they put in any fewer than 40 hours per week, it would take longer.

   To find a supervisory appraiser, you can search Oklahoma’s appraiser database to find certified residential and general appraisers who have been approved as supervisory appraisers.

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

4. 4. Submit Your Application for an Oklahoma Residential Real Estate Appraiser Certification

   Now that you've completed your education and logged your experience, it’s time to apply for your certification. Generally, candidates can expect the entire application process to take four to six weeks. Factors that affect the processing time are the completeness of the application when filed and the number and nature of any character issues or questions with respect to fitness for certification. You will need to apply by mail or deliver your application to the Real Estate Appraisers Program in Anchorage in person.

   When you first apply for your certification, you’ll need to pay a $350 initial certification fee along with the $150 application fee and the $80 National Registry Fee.

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

   After the Oklahoma Real Estate Appraiser 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.

6. 6. Submit Your Application for Oklahoma State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser

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

   You'll need to complete the application (or use the online portal to apply) and submit it to the Oklahoma Real Estate Appraiser Board along with proof of your passing exam score, completed education requirements, and completed experience hours. There is a $150 application fee.

   You’ll also need to complete a criminal history record and background check as part of your application. More info on this process can be found here.

   Licenses are valid for three years, and Continuing Education (CE) must be completed once during every three-year renewal cycle.

Appraiser Certification Types in Oklahoma

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

• Trainee Appraiser
• State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser
• State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser
• State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

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

Learn more about Oklahoma’s background check and fingerprinting process here.

Trainee Appraiser

Oklahoma recommends 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 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 a trainee appraiser:

State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser

The next level up is a state licensed real estate 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 an Oklahoma licensed appraiser:

State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser

State certified residential real estate appraisers may appraise:

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

State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser

State certified general real estate appraisers are the highest level of appraiser professionals in Oklahoma. They can appraise all types of residential or commercial property without regard to value or complexity.