Licensed or Certified Appraiser Licensure by Examination
When to Apply by Examination
File the Application for Licensed or Certified Appraiser by Examination when you:
- do not hold current RPA licensure/certification in the classification you want in any jurisdiction (state, U.S. territory or District of Columbia).
- hold current Delaware real property appraiser (RPA) licensure/certification and want to upgrade to a higher classification.
If you hold current RPA licensure/certification in another jurisdiction and the classification is the same as you want in Delaware, apply by reciprocity.
Apply after you have completed the required hours of qualifying education (QE) hours and attained the required degree/college credits for the RPA classification for which you are applying.
Information about Required Qualifying Education Hours
The following are the total initial QE hours you need to apply:
- Licensed RPA – 150 QE hours
- Certified Residential RPA – 200 QE hours
- Certified General RPA – 300 QE hours
If you are already a Trainee, Licensed or Certified RPA and you are applying to upgrade to a higher level, you must complete the following additionalhours of QE:
IF you are at currently at this level: |
THEN you need these QE hours to upgrade to… |
||
Licensed RPA |
Certified Residential RPA |
Certified General RPA |
|
Trainee |
75 |
125 |
225 |
Licensed RPA |
-- |
50 |
150 |
Certified Residential RPA |
-- |
-- |
100 |
Information about Required Degree or College Credits
The educational requirements for each level of appraiser classification are in the process of changing. The requirement you must meet depends on when you file your application. The same requirements apply to both initial and upgrade applications. Refer to the table for the type of licensure/certification you want.
| Licensed RPA |
| ||||||
| Certified Residential RPA |
| ||||||
| Certified General RPA |
| ||||||
Requirements Before Examination
| As of January 1, 2015, you must complete all QE and experience before you can sit for the AQB-approved National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination. |
- Submit completed, signed and notarized Application for Licensed or Certified Appraiser by Examination.
- Enclose non-refundable processing fee or upgrade fee by check or money order made payable to “State of Delaware.”
- If you are applying to upgrade a Delaware license and have already paid the renewal fee for the current license period, pay only the upgrade fee.
- If you are not upgrading or if you have not paid for the current license period, pay the processing fee.
- If you are a Trainee applying for upgrade, submit the Federal Registry fee by check or money order payable to the "State of Delaware.”
- If your license is approved between July 1 of odd years and October 31 of even years, the fee is $80.
- If your license is approved between November 1 of even years and October 31 of odd years, the fee is $40.
- The Federal Registry fee is in addition to the processing fee.
- Whether or not your transcript is required depends on which classification of RPA you’re applying for. Arrange for the Council office to receive an official transcript, sent directly from the school to the Council office in these situations:
- You are applying for Certified General RPA or Certified Residential RPA.
- You are applying for Licensed RPA after 12/31/2013. (If you are applying on or before 12/31/2013, no transcript is required.)
- Submit copies of your QE certificates.
- Each course must consist of at least 15 classroom hours and include an examination.
- At least 15 hours must be the required USPAP course.
- If you are applying to upgrade your current classification, credit for continuing education does not count as QE.
- If you have ever been licensed or certified as an appraiser in another jurisdiction, arrange for the Council office to receive a letter of good standing directly from each jurisdiction where you have ever been an RPA trainee or held RPA certification/licensure.
- Arrange for your supervisor to complete and submit the Verification of Real Estate Appraiser Supervision form directly to the Council office.
- Submit a photocopy of your Experience Log, on 8 ½” x 11” paper, in the format approved by the Council. The Log must show that you meet these requirements:
IF you are applying for…
THEN you are permitted to appraise…
AND you need these hours of experience…
AND the appraisals must span at least…
Certified General RPA
all types of real property
3000 hours,1500 of which must be non-residential
30 months since the first appraisal.
Certified Residential RPA
vacant or unimproved land that is utilized for 1-4 family purposes or for which the highest and best use is for 1-4 family purposes
2500 hours
24 months since the first appraisal.
Licensed RPA
non-complex one to four residential units with a transaction value of less than $1 million and complex one to four residential units with a transaction value of less than $250,000
2000 hours
24 months since the first appraisal.
Requirements After Examination
When the application is considered complete, the Council will review it at its next meeting. If approved, the Council office will send you an authorization to sit for the exam. After you take the exam, the exam service will send the Council your score report. At that point, you must submit sample appraisal reports. The Council will notify you as the number of samples to submit.
- Submit samples of appraisal reports you have completed. Samples are due to the Council office within 15 days of the request.