The 6 best real estate appraisal schools to launch your career

By Housing News

Have
you
ever
wanted
a
career
in
real
estate,
but
knew
sales
wasn’t
for
you?
Well,
I
have
good
news
for
you–appraisals!
Becoming
a
real
estate
appraiser
can
lead
to
a
rewarding
and
successful
career
without
having
to
make
cold
calls
or
wait
for
a
commission
check.

Whether
you’re
just
starting
out
in
real
estate
or
switching
careers,
finding
the
right
school
to
start
your
real
estate
appraisal
journey
is
the
first
step.
We’ve
handpicked
the
six
best
real
estate
appraisal
schools
in
the
country

whether
you’re
looking
for
affordable,
flexible
options
or
in-person
classes
and
a
strong
support
system.
Let’s
get
started
on
your
new
journey
and
find
the
right
fit
for
you.

6
best
real
estate
appraisal
schools
for
2025:
Our
top
picks

Best
for
industry
reputation
and
advanced
credentials

Appraisal
Institute

From
$1190

Best
for
flexible,
interactive
online
learning

The
CE
Shop

From
$1055

Best
for
career
growth
and
learning
tools

McKissock
Learning

From
$889

Best
for
hands-on
support
and
classroom
learning
style

Champions
School
of
Real
Estate

From
$840

Best
for
affordable
self-paced
courses

VanEd

From
$959

Best
for
live,
online
continuing
education

Appraiser
eLearning

From
$80
for
CE
Only

6
best
real
estate
appraisal
schools
for
2025:
Our
top
picks

Best
for
industry
reputation
and
advanced
credentials

Appraisal
Institute

From
$1190

Best
for
flexible,
interactive
online
learning

The
CE
Shop

From
$1055

Best
for
career
growth
and
learning
tools

McKissock
Learning

From
$889

Best
for
hands-on
support
and
classroom
learning
style

Champions
School
of
Real
Estate

From
$840

Best
for
affordable
self-paced
courses

VanEd

From
$959

Best
for
live,
online
continuing
education

Appraiser
eLearning

From
$80
for
CE
Only

Appraisal
Institute:
Best
for
industry
reputation
and
advanced
credentials

Starting
price:
$1190

The
Appraisal
Institute
is
one
of
the
most
highly
respected
names
in
the
real
estate
appraisal
industry.
It
was
formed
in
1991
through
the
merger
of
two
long-standing
organizations,
and
since
then,
they’ve
been
known
for
their
high
learning
standards
and
advanced
course
offerings.
If
you’re
up
for
it,
they
allow
you
the
ability
to
earn
the
prestigious
Member,
Appraisal
Institute
(MAI)
and
Senior
Residential
Appraiser
(SRA)
credentials.
These
credentials
help
propel
your
career
to
the
next
level
while
demonstrating
your
commitment
to
excellence
as
a
real
estate
appraiser.

While
the
Appraisal
Institute
may
not
offer
as
many
courses
as
some
of
the
other
providers
on
our
list,
its
reputation
speaks
for
itself
through
a
strong
commitment
to
ethics,
professionalism
and
the
desire
to
advance
knowledge
throughout
the
appraisal
profession.
If
you’re
just
starting
your
career
or
if
you’re
a
seasoned
veteran
looking
to
advance
your
career,
the
Appraisal
Institute
is
the
perfect
choice
to
achieve
your
long-term
career
goals.

Appraisal
Institute
on
designations
(Source:

YouTube
)

Pros
&
Cons

  • Highly
    respected
    in
    the
    appraisal
    industry
  • Offers
    advanced
    designations
    like
    MAI
    and
    SRA
  • Specialized
    training
  • Extensive
    resources
  • Interactive
    study
    groups
  • Priced
    a
    bit
    higher
    than
    other
    providers
  • More
    advanced
    learning
    options
    can
    be
    limited
    for
    beginners
  • Not
    as
    user-friendly
    as
    more
    modern
    providers
  • No
    exam
    prep
  • Scheduling
    can
    be
    limited

Features


  • Course
    formats:

    Online
    and
    in-person
    at
    local
    chapters

  • Course
    access:

    Up
    to
    180
    days,
    depending
    on
    the
    course

  • Refund
    policy:

    Within
    90
    days
    and
    less
    than
    25%
    complete;
    $60
    cancellation
    fee
    applies

  • Guarantees:

    No
    pass
    guarantee
    or
    satisfaction
    guarantee

  • Exam
    prep:

    Offered
    on
    select
    courses

  • Student
    support:

    National
    support
    for
    online
    courses;
    Local
    support
    dependent
    on
    local
    resources

  • Final
    exam:

    Proctored
    exams
    required
    for
    prelicensing
    education

  • Mobile
    Access:

    None

Pricing

The
Appraisal
Institute
provides
a
high-quality
education
for
both
those
aspiring
to
be
an
appraiser
and
seasoned
professionals.


  • Prelicensing
    courses
    ($1190):

    The
    75-Hour
    Appraiser
    Trainee
    Licensing
    Package
    includes
    courses
    like
    Basic
    Appraisal
    Principles
    (30
    hours),
    Basic
    Appraisal
    Procedures
    (30
    hours),
    and
    the
    15-Hour
    National
    USPAP
    Course.

  • Continuing
    education
    ($195):

    USPAP
    Update
    Course
    is
    offered
    at
    $250
    for
    non-members
    and
    $195
    for
    Appraisal
    Institute
    members.

  • Exam
    prep
    ($60):

    The
    “Practice
    Examination
    Questions
    for
    Real
    Estate
    Appraisers”
    guidebook
    is
    available
    for
    $75,
    with
    a
    discounted
    price
    of
    $60
    for
    members.

The
CE
Shop:
Best
for
flexible,
interactive
online
learning

Starting
price:
$1055

The
CE
Shop
is
a
trusted
name
in
real
estate
education,
and
they’ve
added
real
estate
appraisal
licensing
to
their
roster.
Their
courses
are
fully
online
and
self-paced,
allowing
you
to
learn
where
you
want
and
how
you
want.
Each
course
is
designed
to
meet
state-specific
requirements
while
keeping
you
engaged
with
interactive
content
and
progress
tracking.

If
you’re
looking
to
take
it
slow,
The
CE
Shop
offers
stand-alone
courses
that
will
allow
you
to
learn
at
your
own
pace.
If
you’re
looking
to
get
the
most
bang
for
your
buck,
they
offer
bundled
packages
that
offer
discounts
and
bonus
features
like
e-books
and
exam
prep.
They
don’t
offer
CE
courses
in
every
state
just
yet,
but
The
CE
Shop
is
still
a
great
overall
pick
for
students
looking
for
affordability
and
flexibility.

Appraisal
courses
overview
(Source:

YouTube
)

Pros
&
Cons

  • Mobile-friendly,
    interactive
    platform
  • High
    pass
    rates
  • Available
    in
    multiple
    states
  • Excellent
    customer
    service
    and
    student
    support
  • Promotions
    and
    discounts
    available
  • Limited
    CE
    options
  • Not
    available
    in
    all
    states
  • No
    live
    or
    virtual
    classroom
    courses
    available
  • No
    mentorship
    or
    coaching
    opportunities
    available
  • Newer
    school
    in
    the
    industry

Features


  • Course
    formats:

    100%
    online,
    self-paced
    courses

  • Course
    access:

    6
    months
    from
    the
    date
    of
    purchase

  • Refund
    policy:

    Full
    refund
    within
    30
    days
    of
    course
    purchase
    and
    less
    than
    50%
    complete

  • Guarantees:

    Pass
    guarantee
    available
    in
    select
    states

  • Exam
    prep:

    Included
    in
    course
    packages

  • Student
    support:

    Available
    via
    phone,
    email,
    or
    live
    chat

  • Final
    exam:

    Required
    to
    pass
    the
    course

  • Mobile
    Access:

    Yes

Pricing

Specializing
in
online
real
estate
education,
The
CE
Shop
offers
real
estate
appraisal
courses
in
various
states
with
a
focus
on
flexibility
and
interactive
learning.


  • Prelicensing
    courses
    ($1055):

    State-specific;
    broker
    prelicensing
    package
    that
    includes
    exam
    prep
    and
    career
    essentials.

  • Continuing
    education
    ($79):

    Various
    course
    topics
    available
    to
    satisfy
    your
    CE
    requirements
    with
    automatic
    reporting
    available.

McKissock
Learning:
Best
for
career
growth
and
learning
tools

Starting
price:
$889

McKissock
Learning
has
been
a
go-to
provider
in
real
estate
appraisal
education
for
over
35
years.
Over
the
years,
they’ve
expanded
their
course
offerings
into
other
areas
of
the
industry,
including
real
estate
licensing
and
home
inspectors.
McKissock
offers
a
wide
variety
of
course
options
to
qualify
you
to
become
a
licensed
real
estate
appraiser.

In
addition
to
typical
course
offerings
and
exam
prep,
McKissock
Learning
also
offers
professional
development
tools
and
career
coaching.
They
also
provide
a
CE
membership,
which
gives
you
access
to
an
unlimited
number
of
CE
courses
for
one
yearly
fee.
It’s
clear
that
McKissock
is
committed
to
your
success,
and
they
have
the
reputation
to
back
it
up.

Appraiser
career
path
(Source:

YouTube
)

Pros
&
Cons

  • Over
    35
    years
    of
    experience
  • Extensive
    course
    offerings
  • CE
    Membership
    with
    unlimited
    access
    to
    CE
    courses
    year-round
  • Career
    coaching
    included
    in
    premium
    packages
  • Available
    in
    most
    states
  • Higher
    price
    point
  • Interface
    is
    less
    modern
    than
    some
    other
    providers
  • No
    in-person
    course
    options
  • No
    interactive
    study
    groups
  • No
    24/7
    support

Features


  • Course
    formats:

    100%
    online,
    self-paced

  • Course
    access:

    Typically
    6-12
    months,
    depending
    on
    the
    course

  • Refund
    policy:

    Full
    refund
    within
    30
    days
    of
    purchase

  • Guarantees:

    Satisfaction
    guarantee
    or
    refund
    per
    the
    terms
    described

  • Exam
    prep:

    Available
    for
    most
    course
    packages

  • Student
    support:

    Available
    by
    phone
    or
    email
    during
    business
    hours

  • Final
    exam:

    Required
    for
    prelicensing
    education;
    online
    proctoring
    may
    be
    required

  • Mobile
    Access:

    Yes

Pricing

McKissock
Learning
offers
a
variety
of
real
estate
appraiser
courses,
including
prelicensing
education,
continuing
education
and
exam
prep
at
competitive
prices.


  • Prelicensing
    courses
    ($889):

    State-specific;
    broker
    prelicensing
    education
    basic,
    subscription
    and
    pro
    packages
    available.

  • Continuing
    education
    ($825):

    Unlimited
    Learning
    Membership,
    granting
    access
    to
    a
    wide
    array
    of
    CE
    courses
    for
    a
    single
    price. 

  • Exam
    prep
    ($229):

    Prepare
    yourself
    for
    the
    exam
    with
    self-paced
    online
    prep
    and
    live
    crammer
    sessions.

Champions
School
of
Real
Estate:
Best
for
hands-on
support
and
classroom
learning
style

Starting
price:
$840

Champions
School
of
Real
Estate
has
a
strong
presence
in
Texas,
especially
for
aspiring
appraisers
who
prefer
in-person
learning.
They
have
expanded
their
virtual
classroom
courses
to
include
Alabama,
Arizona,
California,
Colorado,
Idaho,
Iowa,
Maine,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
New
Jersey,
Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania,
Texas,
Utah,
Virginia,
Washington
and
Wisconsin.
If
you
prefer
a
fully
online
option,
Champions
School
of
Real
Estate
has
partnered
with
McKissock
Learning
for
expanded
course
options.

Champions
offers
the
most
structured
learning
environment
out
of
all
our
picks
for
the
best
real
estate
appraisal
schools.
In
Texas,
you
can
choose
from
in-person
or
virtual
classroom
options.
All
other
states
are
only
available
in
the
virtual
classroom
format,
where
you
are
in
a
live
course
at
scheduled
times
throughout
the
length
of
the
course.
If
you’re
looking
to
get
the
most
out
of
your
education,
they
also
offer
bundled
packages
with
additional
features
and
exam
prep
included.

Appraisal
career
overview
(Source:

YouTube
)

Pros
&
Cons

  • Strong
    student
    support
  • Virtual
    classroom
    learning
    available
  • High
    pass
    rates
  • Career
    services
    available
  • Exam
    prep
    offered
    with
    some
    course
    packages
  • Primarily
    available
    in
    Texas
  • Less
    modern
    platform
  • Class
    time
    required;
    not
    self-paced
  • Limited
    CE
    options
  • Online
    options
    are
    only
    offered
    through
    McKissock
    Learning

Features


  • Course
    formats:

    In-person
    or
    virtual
    classroom
    (Online
    available
    through
    McKissock)

  • Course
    access:

    Typically
    six
    months,
    but
    dependent
    on
    course
    format

  • Refund
    policy:

    Available
    within
    five
    days
    from
    the
    date
    of
    purchase

  • Guarantees:

    None

  • Exam
    prep:

    Included
    in
    each
    course
    format

  • Student
    support:

    Phone,
    in-person,
    and
    email
    support
    during
    regular
    business
    hours

  • Final
    exam:

    Required
    for
    prelicensing
    education;
    proctoring
    may
    be
    required

  • Mobile
    Access:

    Limited
    for
    virtual
    courses

Pricing

Champions
School
of
Real
Estate
tailors
its
course
offerings
to
each
stage
of
an
appraiser’s
career.
Whether
you’re
just
starting
out
or
have
years
of
experience,
their
in-person
and
virtual
classroom
courses
are
priced
competitively
to
get
you
where
you
need
to
be.


  • Prelicensing
    courses
    ($840):

    State-specific;
    broker
    prelicensing
    education
    packages
    available.

  • Continuing
    education
    ($135):

    Stand-alone
    courses
    or
    bundled
    CE
    packages
    that
    count
    towards
    your
    renewal
    requirements.

  • Exam
    prep
    ($250):

    Included
    in
    every
    prelicensing
    education
    purchase,
    but
    can
    be
    purchased
    separately.

VanEd:
Best
for
affordable
self-paced
courses

Starting
price:
$959

If
affordability
is
at
the
top
of
your
radar,
but
you
don’t
want
to
sacrifice
a
quality
education,
be
sure
to
take
a
look
at
VanEd.
They
specialize
in
state-approved
real
estate
and
appraisal
education
delivered
on
their
simple,
easy-to-use
platform
that
is
designed
specifically
for
self-paced
learners.
You
can
purchase
courses
individually
or
in
a
package,
allowing
you
to
tailor
your
learning
experience
to
your
needs.

VanEd’s
pricing
tends
to
be
lower
than
competitors
as
it
focuses
on
self-paced,
text-based
learning
rather
than
interactive
elements
or
live
support.
However,
if
you’re
an
independent
learner
on
a
budget
who
craves
a
simple
learning
experience,
you’ll
have
no
problem
completing
your
coursework
with
VanEd.

Overview
of
real
estate
and
appraisal
school
(Source:

YouTube
)

Pros
&
Cons

  • Affordable
    course
    options
  • 100%
    self-paced
    and
    online
    content
  • Easy
    to
    follow
    course
    content
  • Mobile-friendly
    access
  • Q&A
    with
    instructors
  • Prelicensing
    education
    only
    available
    in
    seven
    states
  • No
    exam
    prep
    available
  • Limited
    interactive
    features
  • No
    live
    support
  • No
    professional
    development
    tools

Features


  • Course
    formats:

    100%
    online
    and
    self-paced

  • Course
    access:

    6-12
    months
    depending
    on
    the
    course

  • Refund
    policy:

    Within
    72
    hours
    of
    purchase,
    and
    have
    not
    completed
    any
    exams.
    Must
    be
    under
    50%
    complete

  • Guarantees:

    No
    pass
    guarantee

  • Exam
    prep:

    Included
    in
    most
    packages

  • Student
    support:

    By
    phone,
    email,
    and
    live
    chat
    during
    regular
    business
    hours

  • Final
    exam:

    Required
    for
    prelicensing
    education;
    proctoring
    may
    be
    required

  • Mobile
    Access:

    Yes

Pricing

VanEd
offers
budget-friendly
online
appraisal
courses
with
a
focus
on
simple,
self-paced
learning.


  • Prelicensing
    courses
    ($959):

    Offers
    Basic
    Appraisal
    Procedures
    courses
    that
    meet
    the
    standards
    set
    by
    The
    Appraisal
    Foundation’s
    required
    core
    curriculum.

  • Continuing
    education
    ($195):

    Offers
    a
    range
    of
    online
    appraisal
    CE
    courses,
    including
    the
    mandatory
    USPAP
    7-Hour
    Update
    Course,

  • Exam
    prep
    ($59):

    Online
    real
    estate
    appraisal
    exam
    prep
    course
    is
    priced
    at
    $59
    and
    includes
    over
    300
    pages
    of
    review
    material
    and
    1,500
    practice
    exam
    questions.

Appraiser
eLearning:
Best
for
live,
online
continuing
education

Starting
price:
$80
for
CE
Only

Appraiser
eLearning
is
best
known
for
its
live
Zoom
and
self-paced
online
continuing
education
courses
for
real
estate
appraisers.
Each
course
is
taught
by
experienced
appraisers
with
real-world
experience,
allowing
them
to
go
beyond
the
basics
and
hold
meaningful
conversations
with
their
students.
With
hundreds
of
CE
classes
with
topics
like
the
newest
tech,
legal
issues
and
industry
trends

there
is
sure
to
be
one
(or
several!)
that
piques
your
interest.

Appraiser
eLearning
doesn’t
currently
offer
prelicensing
education,
but
we
felt
they
were
still
worth
mentioning.
These
courses
are
great
for
the
everyday
working
appraiser
to
gain
the
knowledge
and
skills
to
grow
their
career.
To
top
it
off,
you’ll
have
an
opportunity
to
learn
from
the
best
leaders
in
the
industry
by
attending
one
of
their
live,
in-person
events.

Appraiser
eLearning
overview
(Source:

YouTube
)

Pros
&
Cons

  • High-quality,
    self-paced
    or
    live
    Zoom
    courses
  • Experienced
    appraiser
    instructors
  • Advanced
    topics
    available
  • Refund
    guarantee
  • Affordable
    pricing
  • No
    prelicensing
    education
    courses
    available
  • No
    exam
    prep
  • Limited
    customer
    support
    hours
  • Mainly
    focused
    on
    intermediate
    and
    advanced
    CE
    courses
  • Some
    courses
    available
    at
    specific
    times
    only

Features


  • Course
    formats:

    Online
    video
    courses
    and
    live
    webinars

  • Course
    access:

    Typically
    six
    months

  • Refund
    policy:

    Full
    refund
    within
    14
    days
    if
    the
    course
    has
    not
    been
    started

  • Guarantees:

    None

  • Exam
    prep:

    No
    exams;
    CE
    Only

  • Student
    support:

    Available
    via
    email
    or
    live
    chat

  • Final
    exam:

    Yes,
    for
    reported
    CE
    credit

  • Mobile
    Access:

    None

Pricing

Appraiser
eLearning
offers
competitively
priced
continuing
education
courses,
depending
on
the
topic
and
format.


  • Continuing
    education
    ($119.95):

    Self-paced
    online
    and
    live
    Zoom
    course
    formats
    offering
    CE
    on
    topics
    such
    as
    appraisal
    review,
    market
    analysis,
    compliance,
    and
    other
    industry-specific
    topics.

Methodology:
How
we
chose
the
best
online
real
estate
appraisal
schools

To
find
the
best
online
real
estate
appraisal
school,
we
have
evaluated
dozens
of
appraisal
schools,
reviewing
both
online
and
in-person
programs.
We’ve
chosen
schools
with
interactive
content,
hands-free
audio,
mobile
learning
and
other
convenient
formats
that
will
fit
your
studies
into
a
busy
schedule.
Our
real
estate
experts
possess
in-depth
knowledge
of
licensing
and
online
courses
and
evaluate
real
estate
licensing
programs
based
on
pricing,
course
packages,
course
materials,
teaching
styles,
online
user
experience,
exam
success
rates,
customer
reviews
and
more.

The
best
real
estate
appraisal
schools
on
our
list
are
not
only
widely
available

they
offer
economies
of
scale
that
make
their
course
packages
affordable

using
tech
that
makes
their
online
courses
way
more
convenient
than
having
to
commute
to
attend
in-person
classes
at
a
brick-and-mortar
location.
Unlike
your
local
school,
they
have
the
scale
to
invest
in
leading-edge
technology
that
makes
getting
prepped
for
your
state
real
estate
exam
a
snap.

Don’t
believe
us?
Check
out

our
real
estate
education
page

for
more
information
about
getting
licensed
and
the
best
real
estate
schools
available
in
your
state.
We
recommend
the
schools
on
this
list
for
their
convenience,
value
for
money,
excellence
in
course
materials
and
thoughtful
user
experience.

FAQs:
Best
real
estate
appraisal
schools
for
2025

Is
now
a
good
time
to
become
a
real
estate
appraiser?

Yes,
now
is
a
great
time
to
become
a
real
estate
appraiser.
If
you’re
looking
for
a
stable
career
and
longevity
in
this
industry,
becoming
a
real
estate
appraiser
will
give
you
a
good
return
on
your
investment.
Experienced
appraisers
are
in
demand
in
both
the
residential
and
commercial
markets.

Mortgage
lenders
and
homeowners
rely
on
real
estate
appraisals
for
more
than
just
home
purchases,
they
also
have
them
ordered
for
refinances,
home
equity
decisions,
personal
use
and
more.
With
virtual
learning
on
the
rise,
it’s
never
been
easier
to
complete
your
licensing
education.

On
average,
how
much
does
a
real
estate
appraiser
make?

Is
an
appraisal
better
than
a
CMA?

This
depends
on
the
situation,
but
in
most
cases
it
is
more
reliable.
A
comparative
market
analysis,
or
CMA,
is
conducted
by
a
real
estate
professional
using
comparable
properties
that
have
recently
sold
in
order
to
price
a
property
for
sale.
They
cannot
be
used
as
a
true
valuation
of
a
property
by
a
mortgage
lender.
On
the
other
hand,
appraisals
are
a
formal,
non-biased
valuation
conducted
by
a
licensed
appraiser
with
no
little
to
no
prior
knowledge
of
the
existing
circumstances.
Lenders
can
legally
use
these
valuations
to
make
decisions
for
lending
purposes.

The
full
picture:
Best
real
estate
appraisal
schools

Choosing
the
right
real
estate
appraisal
school
can
feel
a
bit
overwhelming,
especially
if
you’re
new
to
the
real
estate
industry.
It’s
important
to
take
your
time
and
find
a
school
that
not
only
matches
your
career
goals,
but
also
your
learning
style.
Whether
you
like
to
study
at
your
own
pace
from
the
comfort
of
your
own
home
or
you
like
to
be
in
a
classroom
to
learn
hands-on,
we’re
sure
that
one
of
these
schools
is
sure
to
be
the
perfect
fit.

These
schools
will
give
you
the
tools
you
need
to
become
a
successful
real
estate
appraiser
by
providing
you
with
quality
prelicensing
education,
continuing
education,
and
thorough
exam
prep.
Now
that
you’ve
seen
the
best
real
estate
appraisal
schools,
the
only
thing
left
to
do
is
enroll
in
your
classes.

 

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