Licensing Frequently Asked Questions

For USPAP-related questions, see the Appraisal Standards Board's Frequently Asked Questions.

Licensing

Question: What is the status of my (upgrade, renewal, initial) application?

Answer: Check Your Application

Question: What courses and requirements do I need in order to upgrade my license to a Residential, Certified or General License?

Answer: OREA Licensing Handbook (pages 2-3)

Question: What continuing education courses do I need to complete for my renewal?

Answer: OREA Licensing Handbook (pages 11-12)

Question: What do I need in order to apply for an initial trainee license, initial residential license, initial certified residential license, or certified general license?

Answer: OREA Licensing Handbook (pages 4-5)

Question: What can be counted as logged hours?

Answer: OREA Licensing Handbook (pages 14-17)

Question: What can be counted towards work experience?

Answer: OREA Licensing Handbook (pages 14-17)

Question: What courses are acceptable for basic education?

Answer: OREA Licensing Handbook (page 22) also see the Find Education search feature of our website.

Question: What courses are acceptable for continuing education?

Answer: See the Find Education search feature of our website.

Question: What do the License Levels mean (i.e. AT, AL, AR, AG)?

Answer: There are four levels of real estate appraiser licensing. They are:

• AT - Trainee License
• AL - Residential License
• AR - Certified Residential License
• AG - Certified General License

Question: Can I e-mail my change of address?

Answer: Our law currently requires you to submit a specific form to update your information. Therefore, to change your address, telephone number(s), business name, etc., on OREA records, please submit the Change Notification and Miscellaneous Requests (REA 3011) form, which you can download by visiting our Forms page.

Since an original signature is required, please mail the completed form to our office at:

OREA
1102 Q St., Suite 4100
Sacramento, CA 95811

Question: What is the current schedule for exams and where are the exam locations?

Answer: Prior to taking the exam for a License, you must first submit the required application and fee to our office. If you are approved to take the examination, we will send you an Admission to Examination Letter and booklet on how to schedule your examination.

The examination is currently offered several times per week, at the following six (6) locations in California and two (2) locations in Nevada: San Diego, Riverside, Glendale, Oakland, Sacramento, Bakersfield, Las Vegas (NV) and Reno (NV).

You may download the Licensing Requirements Handbook and the Forms required to apply for a license by visiting those pages.

Question: How can I verify the validity of a license or find a licensed appraiser in my area?

Answer: For information on California licensed individuals, you may wish to check our Find An Appraiser page. You may also wish to check the Appraisal Subcommittee's website at www.asc.gov to search for licensees in other states.

Question: How do I obtain publications and application forms from OREA?

Answer: You may access our handbook, forms, and a complete listing of OREA approved schools via our website.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is available free via a link on our website. However, if for any reason you are unable to obtain the information from our website, you may call our office at (916) 552-9000 and we will be happy to mail any of the information that you request.

Question: Will a criminal conviction prohibit me from obtaining a real estate appraiser license?

Answer: You may review the Investigation of Offenses section in the Licensing Requirements Handbook, which is available on our website. As mentioned in that section, before an application is approved, OREA is required by law to determine whether an applicant has committed any crimes or acts which constitute grounds for denial of an application for licensure.

Any recent felony conviction may create a significant obstacle to obtaining a license. However, misdemeanor convictions that are not substantially related to the duties and qualifications of being an appraiser may not prevent an individual from getting a license. We are unable to determine whether or not an individual will be approved for licensure until all of the required information regarding any conviction(s) is submitted along with an application.

Question: How long will it take to process my application?

Answer: Although we make every effort to process all applications as quickly as possible, processing times can vary. Therefore, we are unable to estimate a general turnaround time for applications.

If any additional information is needed you will receive correspondence requesting the necessary information. If we have any questions that do not require your written response, we will contact you by telephone.

Question: How can I obtain a list of course providers? Are any distance education courses approved?

Answer: You may perform a search of currently approved courses and providers. (Please note, these lists do not include all accredited colleges and universities, who also offer courses that can be used for appraisal education).

The schools approved to offer distance education (i.e., correspondence) courses have the "IDECC" designation on the OREA approved list of courses and providers.

Question: Why do I have to submit documentation of legal presence? Didn't I submit this with my original application?

Answer: All applications received on or after September 1, 1998, require that the applicant provide acceptable documentation of their legal presence in the United States. Therefore, if you applied for licensure prior to this requirement going into effect, you were not required to submit this information with your previous application(s).

Please note, once we have this information on file, you will not be required to submit it again. In addition, you may submit this information at any time; you are not required to wait until you submit an application.

Question: What if lenders won't let me sign appraisals as a Trainee licensee although I have a co-signer who is certified at the appropriate level for the type of property being appraised and in good standing with OREA?

Answer: As a licensed Trainee appraiser, you may accumulate experience hours without signing the appraisal in the following ways:

1. By providing "significant professional assistance" to another appraiser and having the duties you performed identified in the report. If you perform at least 75% of the professional appraisal work and the appraisal conforms to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), this experience would qualify under Category 10 (Assistance in the Preparation of Appraisals) for up to a maximum of 400 hours of credit; and/or
2. By performing the entire appraisal process under the direct supervision of a California licensed appraiser. The final conclusion as to value is made by and the appraisal is signed by the licensed appraiser, with you and the duties you performed identified in the report. If you perform all appraisal methods customarily used for a particular property type and the appraisal conforms to the USPAP, this experience would qualify under Category 1 (Fee and Staff Appraisal) with an unlimited number of hours.

Question: How can I gain acceptable experience as an unlicensed appraiser?

Answer: Acceptable experience may be accumulated as an unlicensed appraiser in any of the following ways:

1. By providing "significant professional assistance" to another appraiser and having the duties you performed identified in the report. If at least 75% of the professional appraisal work is performed by the unlicensed person and the appraisal conforms to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), this experience would qualify under Category 10 (Assistance in the Preparation of Appraisals) for up to a maximum of 400 hours of credit;
2. By performing the entire appraisal process under the direct supervision of a California licensed appraiser. The final conclusion to value is made by and the appraisal is signed by the licensed appraiser, with you and the duties you performed identified in the report. If the unlicensed person performs all appraisal methods customarily used for a particular property type and the appraisal conforms to USPAP, this experience would qualify under Category 1 (Fee and Staff Appraisal) with an unlimited number of hours; and
3. By the unlicensed person completing appraisals him or herself in non-federally related transactions. In California, any appraisal completed for a federally related transaction requires a licensed appraiser. However, work performed for attorneys, private individuals, etc., are generally not federally related transactions and can be performed by anyone. If the appraisal conforms to USPAP, this experience would qualify under Category 1 (Fee and Staff Appraisal) with an unlimited number of hours.

Question: As a Trainee licensee, how can I find a supervising appraiser?

Answer: We are unable to provide any "recommendations" for locating supervising appraisers. However, you may wish to consider contacting some of the professional appraisal organizations (Appraisal Institute, American Society of Appraisers, etc.) in your area to see if any of their members are looking for trainee appraisers. If not, ask to get on their newsletter mailing list because opportunities for trainees may arise.

You may also consider contacting the County Assessor's office to see if there are any opportunities there.

You may also find appraisers by checking our Find An Appraiser page. You may perform a search of licensees by license level, in a specific city or by zip codes if you prefer.

Question: What states have reciprocity with California, and how do I apply for a reciprocal license?

Answer: A list of reciprocal states is available by visiting our Reciprocity page.

The following forms, all of which can be found on our Forms page, are required to apply for a Reciprocal license:

1. A completed Application for Reciprocal License (REA 3025) and all required fees;
2. A completed Consent to Service of Process (REA 3006) if your business, mailing or residence address is outside of California; and
3. A completed Statement of Citizenship, Alienage, and Immigration Status for State public Benefits (REA 3030), along with your proof of legal presence in the United States.

You must also be fingerprinted. If you are in or plan to visit California, you may be fingerprinted via the Live Scan method (please contact our office for the required form). If you are outside California, you must submit two completed FD-258 fingerprint cards, which are not available on our website. If you are unable to obtain the fingerprint cards, you may contact our office and we will send them to you.

In addition, applicants are responsible for ensuring that a Letter of License History, not more than 30 days old, is forwarded directly to OREA from the applicant's home state.

The license will be valid until the expiration of the license issued in the applicant's home state. The home state license must then be renewed in order for the applicant to reapply for another California reciprocal license.

Question: What is the definition of "Transaction Value?"

Answer: The answer, or definition, can be found in federal and state laws and regulations, which all licensed appraisers are required to read, but which are difficult to understand.

First, transaction value limits pertain only to federally related transactions, that is those transactions involving the Office of Thrift Supervision, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve Board, Office of the Controller of the Currency, and the National Credit Union Administration. These organizations regulate most lending institutions.

Second, the transaction value varies from assignment to assignment depending on the intended use of the appraisal. In most assignments, the transaction value is the loan amount, but not always. For example, if the assignment involves estimating the value of a foreclosed property, the transaction value is the market value.

We recommend that appraisers subject to limits imposed by their license level expand on their intended use statement when the appraisal is to be used in a federally related transaction. The statement should qualify the limitation of the transaction value (e.g., the intended use is not for loan amounts, or extensions of credit, of a million dollars or more).