How to Get a Job As a Real Estate Appraiser
Although the exact credentials needed to successfully secure a position as a real estate appraiser vary from state to state, a combination of education, specialized coursework, license certification and experience are all essential components a person must pursue to start their career in real estate appraisal. Real estate appraisers find work through local and county governments or through private real estate firms. Appraisers are required to research property data, visit residential neighborhoods, collect demographic information, perform inspections, prepare tax information and create detailed reports to help them determine the value of properties. With the right experience, training and certification, the real estate appraisal business can be a lucrative career path.
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Instructions
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Complete a bachelor's degree. Since real estate appraisers require a license that varies by state, a bachelor's degree at minimum is required to obtain an appraisal license. Any degree that relates to real estate or land management would be ideal to pursue. To prepare for your career as a real estate appraiser, focus on taking university courses in real estate assessment, real estate law, building engineering and property tax law.
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Apply for an internship position with your local government or with a real estate firm. You may be able to find real estate internships through your college or university if you are attending school. You can also search online for internship opportunities. Practical experience in the field is required by most governments or real estate firms that look to hire prospective real estate appraisers. As an intern, you will work as an assistant or coordinator with a strong focus on working on property management, data reporting, investment property and private equity.
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Work as an employee in the real estate field for two or more years. Real estate appraisers seldom are not hired right out of school or even after an internship due to the expertise required for the job's tasks. Focus on securing an assistant job or entry-level position in the real estate field so you can work there for a few years, gain valuable experience and make connections with other real estate appraisers and personnel for future career growth opportunities.
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Take the appropriate training to become a Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser. This certification is federally required for you to work as a real estate appraiser, although training and minimum requirements to obtain the certification vary from state to state. Most states require a bachelor's degree, approximately 200 hours of real estate class training and about 2,500 hours of work experience in the prior two years. Contact your state's department of licensing and registration to obtain the information you need to start training to get your license.
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Take the certification exam. You will need to register through your state's department of licensing and registration and you will need to pay the required application fees, examination fees and license fees to take the exam. You may take the exam as many times as you want as long as you pay the related fees.
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Apply for real estate appraisers positions and use your network connections to find out about career opportunities. Highlight your unique experience, certification and skills on your resume and when you have person-to-person interviews.
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