49 Pa. Code § 36.12 – Qualifications for certification as general real estate appraiser.

(a) General qualifications. An applicant for certification as a general real estate appraiser shall:
1. (1) Be of good moral character.
2. (2) Satisfy the education and experience requirements prescribed by this section as of the date of the examination.
3. (3) Pass an AQB-approved examination for certification as a general real estate appraiser.
4. (4) Satisfy all the requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria for certification as a general real estate appraiser.
(b) Appraisal classroom hours. An applicant for certification as a general real estate appraiser shall submit evidence to the Board of having completed the classroom hours required by the AQB Qualification Criteria as of the date of application.
1. (1) Length of classroom hour and courses; course examination requirement.
  1. (i) The length of classroom hours and courses must comply with the requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria.
  2. (ii) Credit toward the classroom hour requirement will be granted only if the applicant successfully completes an examination pertinent to the course and attends at least the minimum length of time, as required by the AQB Qualification Criteria, to receive course credit.
  3. (iii) The course examination must comply with the requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria.
2. (2) Providers of appraisal courses. Credit for the classroom hour requirement may be obtained from the types of providers set forth in the AQB Qualification Criteria subject to all of the following:
  1. (i) Credit for the classroom hour requirement may be obtained from accredited colleges or universities and community or junior colleges.
  2. (ii) Real estate appraisal or real estate related organizations, State or Federal agencies or commissions, proprietary schools, and other providers are subject to Board approval under § 36.31 (relating to provider registration/appraisal courses).
3. (3) Distance education. Distance education courses must comply with the requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria. A distance education course is acceptable to meet the classroom hour requirement if the course complies with paragraphs (1) and (2), is approved by the Board and meets all of the following conditions:
  1. (i) The course is presented in one of the following ways:
    1. (A) Synchronous distance education.
    2. (B) Asynchronous distance education that meets the requirements of § 36.45 (relating to asynchronous distance education).
    3. (C) Hybrid distance education that meets the class hour requirements of its component parts, whether in-person, synchronous or asynchronous.
  2. (ii) The applicant successfully completes a written, closed-book final examination proctored in person or remotely by an official approved by the college, university or other course provider. Biometric proctoring is acceptable.
  3. (iii) The length and content of the course meet the requirements of paragraph (1) and subsection (c), respectively.
(c) Content of appraisal education.
1. (1) The content of an applicant’s appraisal education must comply with the qualifying education requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria and as specified in the Required Core Curriculum in the AQB Qualification Criteria.
2. (2) All courses must consist of instruction in the subject areas outlined in Guide Note 1 of the AQB Qualification Criteria or any successor Guide Note.
(d) Postsecondary education. An applicant for certification as a general real estate appraiser shall satisfy the postsecondary education requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria.
(e) Experience. An applicant’s experience must comply with all of the following:
1. (1) An applicant for certification as a general real estate appraiser shall satisfy the experience requirements in the AQB Qualification Criteria.
2. (2) At least 50% of the total experience requirement must be in the actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports, which includes physical inspections of the interior and exterior of the subject properties, in accordance with § 36.13 (relating to experience options for preparation of appraisal reports; experience logs).
3. (3) Effective January 1, 2008, experience must be acquired after January 30, 1989, and must comply with USPAP. Experience acquired after August 2, 1993, will not be accepted unless the applicant completed 45 classroom hours of appraisal education, including 15 hours on USPAP prior to acquiring the experience. Effective January 1, 2020, experience credit can be obtained only by individuals who possess a license as an appraiser trainee or a certification as a residential real estate appraiser.
4. (4) Acceptable categories of appraisal experience include:
  1. (i) Fee and staff appraisals.
  2. (ii) Ad valorem tax appraisals, if the applicant can demonstrate that the applicant used techniques to value properties similar to those used by appraisers and that the applicant effectively used the appraisal process.
  3. (iii) Review appraisals.
  4. (iv) Appraisal analysis (synonymous with an appraisal).
  5. (v) Real estate counseling, if the counselor can satisfactorily demonstrate that:
    1. (A) The client clearly asked for counseling services.
    2. (B) The client was informed that the counselor’s time would be devoted to counseling services, which are separate from other real estate functions such as appraising, sales management and mortgage lending.
    3. (C) A file memorandum was prepared on each assignment, indicating the nature of the assignment, recommendations and disposition.
    4. (D) Compensation for the counseling services was separate from other real estate services rendered.
  6. (vi) Highest and best use analysis.
  7. (vii) Feasibility analysis/study.
  8. (viii) Real estate experience such as that of an officer of a lending institution, if the experience consists of the actual performance or professional review of real estate appraisals.
  9. (ix) Evaluations under FIRREA in accordance with requirements of Federal financial institution regulatory agencies.
  10. (x) Case studies or practicum courses that are approved by the AQB Course Approval Program.
  11. (xi) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (3), an applicant can meet 50% of the experience requirement by successfully completing an AQB-approved certified residential PAREA program, under the following conditions:
    1. (A) The applicant must comply with the prerequisites for entry into a PAREA program contained in the AQB Qualification Criteria.
    2. (B) The PAREA program must be approved by the AQB and continuously comply with the requirements of the AQB Qualification Criteria.
    3. (C) The PAREA program must provide the applicant with a mentor who meets the requirements of the AQB Qualification Criteria.
    4. (D) The applicant shall successfully complete the entire certified residential PAREA program and submit a certificate of completion to the Board to receive credit for 50% of the experience requirement. There is no credit for partial completion of the program.
    5. (E) The completed certified residential PAREA program may only count towards the residential portion of the certified general real estate appraiser experience requirement.
    6. (F) To complete the nonresidential portion of the experience requirement, the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:
      1. (I) Obtain licensure as an appraiser trainee.
      2. (II) Be under the direct supervision of a supervisory appraiser.
      3. (III) Comply with the requirements of subsection (e), § 36.13 (relating to experience options for preparation of appraisal reports; experience logs), and the AQB Qualification Criteria.

Authority

The provisions of this § 36.12 issued under sections 5(2), 6(h) and 10(b) of the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act (63 P.S. § § 457.5(2), 457.6(h) and 457.10(b)); amended under the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act (63 P.S. § § 457.1—457.19); and sections 3, 4(d) and 12 of the Assessors Certification Act (63 P.S. § § 458.3, 458.4(d) and 458.12).

Source

The provisions of this § 36.12 adopted July 24, 1992, effective July 25, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 3864; corrected August 7, 1992, effective July 25, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 4098; amended December 3, 1993, effective December 4, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 5713; amended December 23, 1994, effective December 24, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 6421; amended August 4, 2000, effective August 5, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 3934; amended July 20, 2007, effective July 21, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 3367; amended July 16, 2010, effective July 17, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 3956; amended October 12, 2012, effective October 13, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 6541; amended November 1, 2019, effective November 2, 2019, 49 Pa.B, 6667; amended June 20, 2025, effective June 21, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 4180. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (398574) to (398576).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § § 36.1 (relating to definitions); 49 Pa. Code § 36.2 (relating to application process); 49 Pa. Code § 36.13 (relating to experience options for preparation of appraisal reports; experience logs); and 49 Pa. Code § 36.31 (relating to provider registration/appraisal courses).