It was a room full of professionals with loads of knowledge that eager attendees were ready to pull from. This “How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser Workshop” was hosted in Houston by the Appraiser Diversity Initiative (ADI) on August 24. The series of speakers included Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification (TALCB) Director Melissa Tran (left, pictured at podium). She and the others fielded questions like “What does the future of the industry look like with technology changing?”
“We will always need appraisers,” said Sonja Dinkins, operations supervisor for J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, “data analytics will make that job easier as time goes on.”
Regardless of a changing world, many in the appraiser profession emphasize the career can bring a flexible schedule, stability, and a variety of opportunities.
ADI was created five years ago. The program includes touring the nation with workshops that offer scholarships to aspiring appraisers and supporting them with a pool of close to 100 advisors guide trainees through the process of becoming an appraiser.
Tracy Deng from Alabama (right, pictured with microphone) showed up to the Houston workshop to speak about her experience being selected as an ADI scholarship recipient seven months ago.
“I heard about a workshop because I was bingeing videos on YouTube about how to become an appraiser,” Deng said. “This is the first scholarship I ever got in my life. There is a steep learning curve. Once you make a commitment, you get what you put in.”
Deng balances a full-time job while pursuing her goal of becoming a licensed appraiser. She and others are now struggling to find a supervisor to oversee their trainee field experience. TALCB’s recommendation is the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal, also known as PAREA—an alternative to the traditional supervisor-trainee model for gaining appraisal experience. The PAREA program is still in development. Its first launch by the Appraisal Institute is set for September.
The following is a preview of what to expect on the journey to becoming a licensed Texas real estate appraiser. There are both national and state level requirements.
Preapplication Fitness Determination
If you have a criminal or disciplinary history that you are not sure would disqualify you from licensure, request a Fitness Determination (FD) from TALCB. Requesting a FD can save you time and money on application fees, appraiser education, experience, and exams.
Licensure Requirements
- Qualifying Education (QE)
- College education
- Background check
- Exam
Licensure Levels
There are four licensure levels:
- appraiser trainee
- licensed residential appraiser
- certified residential appraiser
- certified general appraiser
“The different levels you reach unlock different properties you can work. A lot of times this is a second or third career for someone,” said TALCB Director Tran. “Becoming an appraiser is flexible. The education and experience you earn is stackable and can go towards higher license types.”
Resources for Aspiring Appraisers
“Texas was named 1 of 5 states identified by the PAVE Taskforce as not having additional barriers to entry over the federal minimum requirements. We’ve been working hard to develop tools to make getting licensed easier,” said TALCB Director Tran.
TALCB Notebook
- A paperless way to log and track experience hours.
- Your supervisor can digitally approve experience entries.
Voluntary Work Product Review
Request a review of appraisal experience as you gain it, to make sure you are on track and get feedback on your work. TALCB allows appraiser trainees to submit up to two requests for a voluntary work product review.
Contact Us
TALCB is available to answer questions by email.