Florida Licensing Requirements for Appraisers

Segmented Approach

On May 14, 2007, FREAB Rule 61J1-3.004 (5) became effective. This rule implements a segmented approach for the new AQB’s 2008 Requirements. The rule states that “Effective January 1, 2008, the education and experience for all applicants requesting appraiser certification must conform to the AQB’s education and experience criteria effective January 1, 2008.”

The requirements are broken down into three segments(or components): education, experience, and examination. An applicant would have to meet the Criteria in effect at the time he or she completes a particular component. Any component completed prior to January 1, 2008, would have to satisfy the current Criteria. Any component not completed by January 1, 2008, would have to conform to the 2008 Criteria.

Example of Segmented Scenario:

An applicant for a Certified Residential credential completes all of the currently required hours of qualifying education and passes the state’s Certified Residential examination in 2007, but does not possess the required 2,500 hours of experience. Since the applicant completed the education and examination components before January 1, 2008, he or she would be deemed to have satisfied those components. Therefore, the only component which the applicant would have to satisfy under the new Criteria would be experience.

Experience- 50% can be case studies- i.e.: producing credible appraisals on an actual subject property performing actual market research, and applying and reporting applicable appraisal approaches in conformity with USPAP.

An applicant must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma (more detailed information is available in Chapter 475.615, Florida Statutes) and fulfill the following:

Registered Trainee Appraiser

1. Successfully complete 100 classroom hours of Board-approved courses covering the topics required by the FREAB in subjects related to real estate appraisal. Past courses may be approved by the Board and substituted on an-hour-for-hour basis. However, a course on Uniform Standards of Professional Practice (or the USPAP portion of a course) will not be accepted after two years from the successful completion of the course.

2. Submit a completed application, electronic fingerprinting, and appropriate fee.

3. Click HERE for a hard copy of the application.

Mail all applications to:
DBPR Central Intake Unit
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783

4. Submit a completed RE-2060-1 form with employment information if the information was not provided on the application, or visit DBPR's Online Services to apply online.

All appraisers are now required to register the firm or business name where they conduct appraisal services. To do so, you must submit a completed Change of Status RE-2065-1 form to the Department.

Pre-License Courses Approved by the State of Florida that American Business College teaches include the following:

Basic Appraisal Principles 30 hours

Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 hours

Residential Report Writing 15 hours

Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches 15 hours

USPAP 15 hours*pending approval*

Appraisal License Renewal Information

In Florida, all appraisers renew on the same date regardless of the date they obtained their initial registration, license, or certification. The two-year licensing cycle is set by rule and is from December 1 of an even year to November 30 of an even year. For example, a cycle would be from December 1, 2000 to November 30, 2002. Those who have their registration, license, or certification for less than a year prior to renewal, will not have to take the continuing education requirements, but will have to pay the renewal fee. Please review the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board rules for further information, and click HERE to renew online at your convenience, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All registered trainee appraisers are required to complete 45 hours of Post-Licensing education prior to the end of their second renewal cycle. The 45-hours of Post-Licensing education must be completed within one renewal cycle and cannot carry over from one renewal cycle to the next. The 45 hours must include:

15-hour National USPAP course with an end of course exam, as taught by an AQB approved instructor;

3 hours of Florida Law Update

30-hour ABII course, or its equivalent, with an end of course exam.

Appraiser Fees	Initial	Renewal
Registered Trainee	$ 230.00	$ 180.00

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Continuing Education Requirements:

61J1-4.003 Actual Rule

Florida requires 30 hours of CE every two years. Trainees don’t have to complete the CE requirement until after they have satisfied the Post License Education and renewed their license.

American Business College, Inc. currently offers the following CE Courses:

Classroom Offerings:

Florida Appraisal Law Update (3 hours) Classroom

AB 2 (20 hours) Classroom

Indoor Environmental Issues (5 hours) Classroom

Outdoor Environmental Issues (5 hours) Classroom

Red Flags (5 hours) Classroom

AB 3 (17 hours) Classroom

Basic Appraisal Principles (17 hours) Classroom

Basic Appraisal Procedures (17 hours) Classroom

Residential Report Writing (15 hours) Classroom

Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approach (15 hours) Classroom

Online Offerings:

Property Management & Managing Risks (6 hours) Online

Red Flags in Property Inspection (6 hours) Online

Environmental Issues (6 hours) Online

Real Estate Finance Today (6 hours) Online

National USPAP Update (7 hours) Online *Pending*

Sales Comparison Approach (7 hours) Online *Pending*

Residential Cost Approach (7 hours) Online *Pending*

Income Approach (7 hours) Online *Pending*

Florida Appraisal Law Update (3 hours) *Pending*

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Certified Residential Appraiser

1. Successfully complete 200 classroom hours of board-approved courses covering the topics required by the FREAB in subjects related to real estate appraisal. This must include 15 hours of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Past courses may be approved by the board and substituted on an-hour-for-hour basis.

2. Submit a completed application, fingerprint card, and appropriate fee. Click HERE for the paper application.

3. Provide evidence of 2,500 hours of real property appraisal experience obtained over a 24-month period in real property appraisal by furnishing under oath a detailed statement of the experience for each year of experience claimed. The experience claimed must have been acquired in no less than 24 months. Upon request, the applicant must provide the appraisal board, for its examination, copies of appraisal reports to support the claim for experience.

Pass the Florida Certified Residential Appraiser Examination with a grade of at least 75.

5. All appraisers are now required to register the firm or business name where they conduct appraisal services. To do so, you must submit a completed Change of Status RE-2065-1 form to the Department.

6. College-Level Course Requirements:

Associate degree or higher. In lieu of the required degree, 21 semester credit hours covering the following subject matter courses: English Composition, Principles of Economics(Micro or Macro), Finance, Algebra, Geometry or higher mathematics, Statistics, Introduction to computers- Word Processing/Spreadsheets, and Business or Real Estate Law.

7. Courses:

1. AB 2 (30 hours) Classroom *If not used for Post License Course or CE

2. Residential market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours) Classroom *Pending*

3. Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours) Classroom *Pending*

4. Statistics, Modeling and Finance (15 hours) Classroom *Pending*

5. Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours) Classroom *Pending*

6. Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies (15 hours) *Pending*

7. Appraisal Subject matter Electives (20 hours) *Pending*

8. Fees:

Certified Residential: Initial Application Fee$ 330.00 Renewal Fee $ 230.00

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Certified General Appraiser

1. Successfully complete 300 classroom hours of board-approved courses covering the topics required by the FREAB in subjects related to real estate appraisal. This must include 15 hours of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Past courses may be approved by the board and substituted on an-hour-for-hour basis.

2. Submit a completed application, fingerprint card, and appropriate fee. Click HERE for application.

3. Provide evidence of 3,000 hours of real property appraisal experience obtained over a 30-month period in real property appraisal by furnishing under oath a detailed statement of the experience for each year of experience claimed. The experience claimed must have been acquired in no less than 30 months. At least 50% (1,500 hours) of the claimed experience must be in nonresidential appraisal work. Upon request, the applicant must provide the appraisal board, for its examination, copies of appraisal reports to support the claim for experience.

4. Pass the Florida Certified General Appraiser Examination with a grade of at least 75.

All appraisers are now required to register the firm or business name where they conduct appraisal services. To do so, you must submit a completed Change of Status RE-2065-1 form to the Department.

6. College-Level Course Requirements:

Bachelors degree or higher. In lieu of the required degree 30 semester credit hours covering the following subject matter courses: English Composition, Principles of Economics(Micro or Macro), Finance, Algebra, Geometry or higher mathematics, Statistics, Introduction to computers- Word Processing/Spreadsheets, and Business or Real Estate Law, and two elective courses in accounting, geography, ag-economics, business management or real estate.

7. Courses:

1. AB 3 Income Approach (60 hours) Classroom

2. General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (30 hours) *Pending*

3. General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach (30 hours) *Pending*

4. General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (30 hours) *Pending*

5. General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies (30 hours) *Pending*

6. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (30 hours) *Pending*

8. Fees:

Certified General Initial Application Fee $ 330.00 Renewal Fee $ 230.00

Examination

Successful completion of an examination with a passing grade of 75 percent or higher is required of all candidates for licensure or certification as a real estate appraiser. An approved vendor, Promissor, administers all exams for appraiser applicants. There are various testing centers throughout Florida. Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive notification from Promissor with instructions on how to schedule an examination.

The examination will consist of questions to demonstrate that he or she possess a knowledge of technical terms commonly used in real estate appraisal; an understanding of the principles of land economics, real estate appraisal processes, reliable sources of appraising date, and problems likely to be encountered in the gathering, interpreting, and processing of date in carrying out appraisal disciplines; an understanding of the standards for the development and communication of real estate appraisals; an understanding of the types of misconduct for which disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against a licensed or certified appraiser, as set forth in law; and knowledge of the theories of depreciation, cost estimating, methods of capitalization, and the mathematics of real estate appraisal that are appropriate for the level of licensure or certification sought.

Upgrade

An individual who is registered, licensed or certified as a residential appraiser under Florida Statutes may upgrade to a higher level. Include with the application a photocopy of current registration, license or certification and/or photocopies of proof of successful completion of the prior pre-registration, pre-licensure or per-certification education. Include original proof of the balance of the current appraiser education requirements.

Mutual Recognition Agreements

Florida has mutual recognition agreements for certified appraisers with 3 states: Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky.

Attention Real Estate Applicants:

Pursuant to Chapter 475, Florida Statutes, electronic fingerprinting became mandatory beginning July 1, 2006, for all real estate applicants. More information is available on this electronic fingerprinting FAQ .

Appraiser Fees	Initial	Renewal
Registered Trainee	$ 230.00	$ 180.00
Certified Residential	$ 330.00	$ 230.00
Certified General	$ 330.00	$ 230.00
Temporary Practice	$ 50.00
Late Fee		$ 25.00
Letter of Licensure		$ 25.00

Fees Effective: 07/01/06

Mail all applications to:

DBPR Central Intake Unit
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1027

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