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

How to Become a Licensed Appraiser in Oregon

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 state licensed appraiser in Oregon, you’ll need to complete 75 hours total of Oregon 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 Oregon’s 4-hour Training Course for Supervisory Appraisers and Appraiser Assistants. 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 Oregon Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board. You must complete all Qualifying Education prior to submitting your appraiser assistant application.

   Before applying for your license, take a moment to read through Oregon’s appraiser assistant requirements.

   Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you can apply for your appraiser assistant license using Oregon’s fillable PDF application and emailing it to the board. There is a $166.25 application fee.

2. 2. Complete Your Appraiser Education

   After becoming an Oregon appraiser assistant, it’s time for the next step toward becoming a state 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 Appraiser Assistant license – nice work!)

3. 3. Conduct Your Appraisal Work Experience

   Once you’ve finished your education, you must conduct and log at least 1,500 hours of actual appraisal experience. Those 1,500 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 12 months.

   This means that you must take no less than 12 months to complete your 1,500 hours of appraisal experience. To put things in perspective, if an apprentice works 30 hours per workweek, they will complete their training in a little over 12 months. If, however, they put in any fewer than 30 hours per week, it would take longer.

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

   Once you’ve completed your appraiser education and experience requirements, you’ll need to submit proof of completion to the Oregon Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board 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 Oregon Appraiser Certification and Licensure 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:

   In Montana, the test is administered by PSI (formerly AMP). There is a $106 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 Oregon State 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.

   You'll need to complete the application and email it to the Oregon Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board. There is a $166.25 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 on page 4 of the application.

   Oregon state licensed appraiser licenses are valid for two years. Continuing Education (CE) must be completed during each renewal period.

Appraiser License Types in Oregon

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

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

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

Find extra details on page 4 of the appraiser assistant application regarding Oregon’s fingerprinting background check process.

Registered Appraiser Assistant

Oregon, like most states, recommends a pilot program for potential appraisers to begin their path toward becoming fully licensed. Known as a registered appraiser assistant, 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 an appraiser assistant:

State Licensed Appraiser

The next level up is a state 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 Oregon licensed appraiser:

State Certified Residential Appraiser

State certified residential appraisers may appraise:

• 1-4 unit residential properties without regard to value or complexity
• All other types of real property with a transaction value less than $250,000

State Certified General Appraiser

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