How to Verify a Real Estate Appraiser License

Quick answer

Verify real estate appraiser licenses at asc.gov (Appraisal Subcommittee National Registry) → Appraiser Search. The registry covers all licensed and certified appraisers in every state and territory. Confirm the license level, status, and any enforcement actions on file.

The ASC National Registry

The Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) is a federal agency that oversees state appraiser regulatory programs. Its National Registry is the authoritative source for appraiser credential verification in the United States.

Using the ASC National Registry

Go to asc.gov
Select National Registry → Search
Search by name, state, or license number
Confirm: license type, status (active/inactive/expired), expiration date, and enforcement actions

The ASC registry covers all credentialed real property appraisers required for federally related transactions. All states must report license data to the ASC. If an appraiser is not in the registry, they are not authorized to appraise federally related transactions.

Appraiser credential levels

The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of The Appraisal Foundation establishes minimum qualification criteria. States issue credentials at four levels:

Credential	Scope of Practice	Education / Experience
Trainee Appraiser	All property types under supervision of a certified appraiser	75 hours qualifying education; no experience required
Licensed Residential	Non-complex 1–4 unit residential; loan value under $400K threshold; complex residential under $250K	150 hours education; 1,000 hours experience; no degree required
Certified Residential	All 1–4 unit residential without value or complexity limits	200 hours education; 1,500 hours experience; associate's degree or 21 college credit hours
Certified General	All real property types including commercial, industrial, and multi-family; required for most commercial assignments	300 hours education; 3,000 hours experience (1,500 in non-residential); bachelor's degree

Verify the candidate holds the level appropriate for the work they will be performing. A Licensed Residential appraiser cannot independently appraise commercial property.

State appraiser regulatory agencies

While the ASC National Registry provides a single lookup point, state appraiser boards hold detailed disciplinary records and complaint history. For hiring due diligence, check both the ASC registry and the state board.

Selected state appraiser board portals

California: CA Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) — brea.ca.gov → License Lookup
Texas: TX Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board (TALCB) — talcb.texas.gov → License Search
Florida: FL Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — myfloridalicense.com
New York: NY Department of State, Division of Licensing Services — dos.ny.gov → License Search
Illinois: IL Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) → License Lookup

Professional designations: AI and MAI

Many experienced appraisers hold professional designations from the Appraisal Institute (appraisalinstitute.org), the largest professional appraisal organization in the U.S.:

SRA (Senior Residential Appraiser): Residential specialty; verify at appraisalinstitute.org → Find an Appraiser
MAI (Member, Appraisal Institute): Commercial and complex property focus; same verification portal
AI-GRS (Appraisal Institute General Review Specialist): Review appraiser designation
AI-RRS (Appraisal Institute Residential Review Specialist): Review appraiser designation

Appraisal Institute designations are voluntary credentials in addition to the required state license. They indicate additional education, experience, and examination above the state minimum. Verify designations at appraisalinstitute.org.

Common red flags

Not in the ASC National Registry: Any appraiser performing federally related transactions must be in the registry. Absence is a disqualifying deficiency.
Trainee performing unsupervised work: Trainees must work under a certified appraiser. Independent work without supervision is an ethics and regulatory violation.
License level mismatch: A Certified Residential appraiser cannot appraise a commercial warehouse. Verify the credential level covers the property type.
Enforcement actions in ASC registry: The ASC registry includes enforcement actions. Filter results to show whether any formal action has been taken in any state.
Reciprocal license not confirmed: Some appraisers hold licenses in multiple states via reciprocity. Verify the license is active in the specific state where work will be performed.

Verification checklist

1. Verify license status and level at asc.gov → National Registry → Appraiser Search
2. Confirm the license level (Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, or Certified General) is appropriate for the property types to be appraised
3. Check for enforcement actions in the ASC registry results
4. Verify at the state appraiser regulatory agency for full disciplinary history
5. If the candidate claims an Appraisal Institute designation (SRA, MAI), verify at appraisalinstitute.org
6. Confirm the license is active in each state where appraisals will be performed

Verify real estate education credentials

Certified General appraisers must hold a bachelor's degree. Use VerifyED to confirm that the awarding institution was regionally accredited and to screen for diploma mills before accepting an applicant's educational credentials.

Search Schools and Accreditation →