The 6 best real estate appraisal schools to launch your career
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.
Appraisal
Institute:
Best
for
industry
reputation
and
advanced
credentials
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.