Real Estate Appraiser License in Oregon - the Process to Consider

Congratulations, you want to join the forces of the real estate appraisers trade. What an excellent opportunity awaits you in the state of Oregon. While it is a regulated field, the initial time commitment is similar to an associate's degree. Keep in mind though, like any other professional career, becoming a real estate appraiser will require education and will begin at an entry-level position. Therefore, the following are three key things to consider before you make this leap.

The first is to ask, is real estate appraising the right business for my personality? Important traits of real estate appraisers (or real property appraisers as they are also known) are as follows:

• Possess strong mathematical skills
• A good ability to analyze data
• Excellent communication and social skills for customer interactions
• Independent self-starter

The second key concept is to analyze the time commitment. In the state of Oregon, the Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board (ACLB) licenses and regulates real estate appraisers and real estate appraiser assistants. There are four different types of certificates and different requirements for each level. The first title is the real estate appraiser assistant, following with three statuses of real estate appraiser licenses: State Licensed Appraiser, State Certified Residential Appraiser, and State Certified General Appraiser. The specific differences of these types can be found at the ACLB web site www.oregonaclb.org. For a more general idea, the Licensed Appraiser requires the least education and experience but with the maximum limit on what they have the authority to appraise. In comparison, the highest level is the General Appraiser who has no limits, but requires the most hours of education and experience.

The state of Oregon also requires each potential licensed real estate appraiser to pass a state exam. These exams can be taken at a variety of locations throughout Oregon and are electronic with immediate test results given. Each individual is given three opportunities within six months to pass the test.