Online Schools for a Home Appraising Career: How to Choose

There are no online degrees available in real estate appraising. Prospective students can earn a professional certificate or a bachelor's degree in finance or economics. Online degree programs can provide students with the training necessary to prepare for a state licensing exam.

How to Choose an Online School for a Home Appraisal Career

Award Levels

Real estate appraisers assess the value of commercial and residential properties. Every time a piece of property is sold, mortgaged, developed or insured, appraisers factor in market value, unique architectural features, location and any other factors that might affect its value.
There are no set degree majors for a career in real estate appraising. Many professional appraisers prepare for the position with a professional certificate or a bachelor's degree in a field such as finance, business or economics. Students also prepare for the required appraising license exam by taking classes in real estate, completing a required training in an appraiser's office and passing the State licensing exam.

License

The specific requirements for licensed appraisers vary by state and level of certification. There are four main levels of real estate licensing. A State Registered Appraisal Assistant license serves an entry-level license for appraisers looking to enter a training position in an appraisal office.
Intermediate licenses like the Residential License and the Certified Residential License offer a chance for a higher level position in residential real estate appraising. The most competitive license is the State-Certified General Appraiser's license. The General License requires over a 100 credit hours in appraisal coursework, 3000 hours of experience and successful completion of the Certified General Appraiser exam.

Program Type

Online programs offer two options of enrollment, fully online and low-residency (hybrid) programs. Online immersion programs provide course instruction though video and e-mail correspondence and generally don't require students to take classes on campus. These programs are well suited for working professionals or students who may not require much hands-on training.
Online certificate programs in appraising as well as bachelor's degree programs in finance or economics are mostly full immersion programs. Hybrid programs, which offer a selection of courses online, but also require students to spend at least part of the time on campus are also available.

Technical Requirements

In order to participate in online programs students are required to have a minimum of 56K modem and enough memory to accommodate the transmission of large media files like video and live streaming. Students will need some level of technical fluency to feel comfortable uploading, opening and accessing files on the Internet.

Popular Online Programs for Home Appraisers

Online Professional Certification For Appraisers

Professional certification programs must be approved by a state's Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB). Online programs can help students fulfill the necessary educational requirements required for a trainee or internship position in a appraising office. Typical courses usually include appraisal principles, residential report writing, standards of appraisal practice, real estate, finance and statistics.
Successful completion of the required courses can help students prepare for the licensing exam and an internship position in the appraising office. It's important that students to check with their state about specific educational and internship requirements necessary to qualify for the state licensing exam in their State before enrolling in a program

Online Bachelor of Science in Finance

A bachelor's degree program satisfies the basic credit hour requirement for the General Appraiser Exam. An online bachelor's degree program takes an average of 3-4 years to complete and requires students to complete a core of liberal arts that include courses in mathematics, social science, English and writing. Students in the program will be introduced to a variety of topics in business, law, ethics, economics, finance and accounting. Additional courses in real estate can help students address specific issues in real estate law, marketing and appraising.
Most online programs in finance allow students to advance though the course material at their own pace. Students stream on-line lectures, view demonstrations and complete online assignments. Competency is measured though successful lesson completion, quizzes and final exams.