How to Become a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser in Georgia

To become a commercial real estate appraiser in Georgia, you must pass the certified general real property appraiser examination administered by Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc. (AMP) and meet education and experience requirements established by the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board (GREAB). With certification, you can appraise any type of property in Georgia for any reason. GREAB does not offer a license or certification for appraising only commercial property. Nationwide, commercial real estate appraisers have an average yearly income of $48,000 to $87,000, according to PayScale.com.

Things You'll Need

• Criminal history report
• College transcript
• Precertification education transcript
• Experience log and affidavit
• Examination application
• Certification of accuracy statement
• Examination and application fees

Instructions

1. Obtain a certified criminal history report dated no more than 60 days before you apply for certification. Visit your local sheriff’s office or police station to order the report, and inform the office that the report will be used to obtain a license and should be run as a “purpose Code E.” The law enforcement office can charge up to $25 for the report.

2. Download and print the candidate handbook from the AMP website.

3. Complete at least 300 classroom hours of Board-approved education, including 15 hours covering the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, and obtain a transcript.

4. Obtain transcripts showing completion of a bachelor's or higher degree or provide college transcripts documenting successful completion of college-level courses required by GREAB. Visit the GREAB website for a list of required coursework.

5. Complete the appraisal experience log and affidavit. Download the forms from the GREAB or AMP website, or call 404-656-3916 to order the forms. You must demonstrate 3,000 hours of real property appraisal experience over a period of at least 30 months.

6. Complete AMP’s examination application. Download the application form from AMP’s website or call 800-345-6559.

7. Register for the AMP examination. Send your transcripts, experience log and affidavit, examination application and $125 exam fee by cashier’s check or money order payable to “AMP” to AMP Examination Services, 18000 W. 105th St., Olathe, Kansas, 66061-7543. You can pay the exam fee instead by MasterCard, Visa or American Express when you call to schedule the exam after your registration packet has been received.

8. Schedule your exam by calling 800-345-6559 or schedule online at AMP’s website. Wait at least 10 business days after sending your application package before scheduling the exam.

9. Take the eight-hour computer-administered exam at the AMP assessment site. You will receive a certification of accuracy statement with your photo image at the test site if you pass. Do not sign the certification of accuracy statement until you apply for your appraiser certification.

10. Apply for your appraiser certification in person at an AMP assessment office listed in the candidate handbook. Bring one form of photo ID, your unsigned certification of accuracy statement, your criminal history report and the application fee, which was $120 to $145 as of January 2011.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply for certification within 90 days of passing the test to avoid an increase in the application fee.

References

• Georgia Real Estate Commission Real Estate Appraisers Board: The Application Process
• Applied Measurement Professionals: Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Candidate Handbook
• Georgia Real Estate Commission Real Estate Appraisers Board: Criminal History Report
• Georgia Real Estate Commission Real Estate Appraisers Board: Appraiser Applicant Education Requirements

Resources

• Appraisal Institute Atlanta: Georgia's Registered Real Estate Appraiser Curriculum