Become an Appraiser Trainee

Scope of Practice

Appraiser Trainees may:

• Appraise properties under the active, personal and diligent supervision of their supervisory appraiser, which the supervisory appraiser is permitted to appraise.

Qualifications

• Citizen of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien
• 18 years of age or older

Requirements

To become an Appraiser Trainee, applicants must find a supervisory appraiser; satisfy education requirements; and pass a background check.

Find a Supervisor

• Applicants must work under a supervisory appraiser.

Voluntary Work Product Review

• As trainees gain experience under their supervisory appraisers, they may request feedback on their work by submitting an Application for Work Product Review.

Complete Qualifying Education

• 75 hours of qualifying appraisal education
• 4 hours the Board approved Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course

All qualifying education must be completed within the five (5) year period immediately preceding the date of application for a Trainee Appraiser credential.

Pass the Background Check

• Satisfy TALCB as to the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity through a background history review.
• Applicants are required to submit fingerprints to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). If a background investigation is required, there may be a delay in processing the application. 
• Applicants will be required to submit relevant documents for the background history review, including final orders, judgments, and a written explanation.
• Before applying, individuals may submit a preapplication fitness determination to see if their criminal or disciplinary history may keep them from becoming licensed.  More information on this can be found in this article Will Your Criminal Record or Disciplinary History Keep You from Getting Licensed?

File Your Application

Apply Online or by Mail

Submit an application to become an Appraiser Trainee using TALCB Online Services. Once you have applied and paid the fee, submit your course completion certificates and any supporting background documents via email.

You can also apply by mail, although processing will take longer. To apply by mail, send the completed the Appraiser Trainee paper application and supporting documents to Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, TX 78711-2188.

Application Status

Track the status of your application using the Application Status Tracker.

License Reinstatement

If your license has been expired more than six months, you may apply for reinstatement of the license by submitting the Application for Approval or Reinstatement as an Appraiser Trainee and meeting the following education requirements.

• Option 1:
  • Complete 14 hours of appraiser continuing education for each year since the last active renewal of your previous license, including the most recent USPAP Update Course; or
• Option 2:
  • Complete 79 hours of qualifying appraisal education within the last five years, including the 4 hour Board approved Appraiser Trainee/Supervisory Appraiser Course

Upgrading from an Appraiser Trainee

Appraiser Trainees holding a valid credential may upgrade to Licensed Residential, Certified Residential or Certified General by satisfying a background check and completing additional education, examination, and experience requirements.