One of the requirements to become a Trainee Appraiser in Indiana is completing 75 hours of Appraisal Education, and this is just the first step to becoming a Certified Appraiser.
With the amount of Appraisal education expected to be completed by those who choose this career path, it is crucial to find the best real estate appraisal school to satisfy all your course requirements.
This is why I’m here to help.
Below, I’ve listed the best real estate appraisal courses in Indiana. Plus, I’ve also listed the number of course hours required for each Indiana Appraisal Licensure Level.
So without further ado, let’s dive in!
Education Requirements for Each Appraisal Licensure Levels in Indiana
Before we embark on reviewing course providers, here’s a brief overview of how many appraisal education hours is required for each of Indiana’s Appraisal Licensure Levels.
- Trainee Appraiser
- No experience is required
- No examination requirement but the Trainee Appraiser must pass all end-of-course examinations in prerequisite courses to earn credit.
- Certificate of completion for the prerequisite courses (75 hours) – must be completed within five (5) years upon submission of application.
*A section is to be completed by your supervising appraiser, who must also have completed the supervisor/trainee course and must have been licensed in Indiana for at least 3 years.
- Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
- Should have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university.
- 200 credit hours of Required Core Curriculum, see list of required courses here.
- Needs to complete the AQB-approved Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser examination successfully.
- 2,500 hours of qualifying experience within no fewer than 24 months is required.
- Certified General Real Property Appraiser
- Should have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university.
- 300 credit hours of Required Core Curriculum, see list of required courses here.
- Needs to complete the AQB-approved Certified General Real Property Appraiser examination successfully.
- 3,000 hours of qualifying experience within no fewer than 30 months (minimum of 1,500 hours must be obtained in non-residential appraisal work).
Note: all AQB-approved courses are also approved by Indiana. And, applicants with a college degree from a foreign country may have their education evaluated for ‘equivalency.
3 Best Real Estate Appraisal Courses in Indiana
Now that you’re familiar with the number of courses you’re expected to complete, it’s time to look at the best course providers that offer approved appraiser courses.
These providers are:
- McKissock Learning
- Appraisal Institute
- Dynasty School (elicenseschool)
Let’s review each one.
McKissock Learning
If you try searching online, you’ll find that McKissock Learning is one of the best online real estate schools.
For more than 20 years, they have worked to deliver high-quality education solutions. In turn, they received more than 50,000 positive customer reviews that put them at the top of all appraisal schools in the US.
McKissock appraisal education offers webinars, live classes, and professional development to help you achieve your goals. Plus, they have courses available for you whether you’re just getting started or already a professional appraiser.
If you want the best package, their IN QE Unlimited Learning Subscription includes up to 300 hours of Indiana Online Required Licensing and Upgrade Education Courses (including USPAP).
This also includes customer phone and email support 7 days a week, Completion Certificates, weekly 1-hour Instructor-Led Q&A Sessions, Monthly Pro-Series Webinars, Appraisal Professional Development Content Library, and a lot more.
If you only need the 75-Hours of Indiana Online Required Trainee Level Courses PLUS Supervisor-Trainee Course (including USPAP), you can get their 79-hr Advanced Pro Package for a much cheaper price. Or, you can also go for their 79-hr The Basics Package if you only need the basic course requirements.
Appraisal Institute
Although not a school per se, the Appraisal Institute is a global professional association of real estate appraisers. It has helped provide education to nearly 17,000 professionals in almost 50 countries throughout the world.
It is an established community of appraisers who have done an extensive research to come up with courses based on the real-world experience of practicing appraisers.
So, whatever the state of your career, you can rely on the efforts of the Appraisal Institute and its instructors to provide thorough education.
The only downside here is that you might find its website a bit difficult to navigate – you’ll have to know the course you are looking for to be able to search for it.
You can check this Education Chart to have a clear overview of their education pathways.
Now, you can search for courses by category, licensure levels, or course format. You may want to check this list of available courses per state first to see if they are offering what you’re looking for.
Dynasty School (elicenseschool)
Though they are less popular, Dynasty school or elicenseschool offers AQB-approved appraisal education. They offer their pre-licensing and continuing education at a cheaper price than other schools.
It’s affordable because you get to pay in installments of $100 a month. You do this until you fully pay off the $897 price.
What’s more, you can choose from qualifying education to different license level packages. You can even go for individual courses.
And if you want, you can purchase Printed Textbooks and/or State Exam Prep for around $100. This will help you be more than prepared to pass the exam.
So though it doesn’t offer any fancy bells and whistles, it gives you what you need. And this, to some, is more than enough.
FAQs
Still have questions about becoming an appraiser in Indiana? Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
What are the requirements to become a Trainee Appraiser in Indiana?
The basic requirements to become an Appraiser Trainee in Indiana includes:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- No prior related experience is needed
- Certificate of completion for the prerequisite courses (75 hours) – must be completed within five (5) years upon submission of application.
Does Indiana offer a temporary permit for out-of-state appraisers?
Yes, Indiana offers a temporary permit for out-of-state appraisers. However, you need to complete an application process and pay around $150. This permit will be good for the length of the assignment, with a maximum of 1 year.
How long does it take for a trainee to become a certified general appraiser in Indiana?
Starting as a trainee working under a supervisor will take a minimum of 24 months. Then you can become a certified residential appraiser. From there, it may take up to 30 months to become a certified general appraiser.
Conclusion
Aspiring Indiana appraisers are lucky to have several educational options to choose from. The best part is that they can study it all from the comfort of their home.
Appraisers are a very crucial part of the real estate industry, and getting the best education to satisfy all your course requirements will play a vital role in ensuring your success in this career path.
Good luck!