AQB 2026 Licensure Criteria

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the requirements set out by the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) for licensure and certification. (1) Applicants who submit an application that is postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, shall be required to meet the 2026 educational criteria as outlined below. (2) Any trainee holding a valid trainee appraiser credential prior to January 1, 2026, shall in addition to all other requirements for licensure complete at least the eight- (8-) hour qualifying education course, Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations, to be eligible for licensure. (3) State Licensed Real Estate Appraiser. (A) Applicants for a state-licensed real estate appraiser license shall submit verification of completion of one hundred fifty-eight (158) creditable class hours from the core curriculum, including passage of the approved closed-book examination for each course, as follows: 1. Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours 2. Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours 3. National Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP) 15 Hours 4. Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 Hours 5. Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours 6. Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches 30 Hours 7. Residential Report Writing and Case Studies 15 Hours 8. Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations 8 Hours 158 Total Hours (B) Credit toward qualifying education requirements may also be obtained via completion of a degree in real estate from an accredited degree-granting college or university approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or a regional or national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, provided that the college or university has had its curriculum reviewed and approved by the AQB. (C) Appraisers holding a valid state-licensed real estate appraiser trainee license may satisfy the education requirements for a state-licensed real estate appraiser by completing the following additional educational hours: 1. Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 Hours 2. Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours 3. Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches 30 Hours 4. Residential Report Writing and Case Studies 15 Hours 75 Total Hours (D) To obtain a license as a state-licensed real estate appraiser, an applicant shall successfully complete the AQBapproved Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination. There is no alternative to successful completion of the examination. All education and experience hours are required to be completed prior to being allowed to sit for the examination. (E) As a prerequisite for licensure as a state-licensed real estate appraiser, an applicant shall present satisfactory evidence to the commission that the applicant possesses the equivalent of one thousand (1,000) hours of experience obtained over a period of not less than six (6) months under the supervision of a state-certified real estate appraiser and supported by adequate written reports and file memoranda. Hours may be treated as cumulative in order to achieve the necessary one thousand (1,000) hours of appraisal experience. (F) As an alternative to the requirements in subsection (3)(E) above, applicants for licensure or certification may complete the requirements of the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) of the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria as implemented by The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board and shall submit a certificate of completion. As outlined in section 339.517(3), RSMo, an applicant shall furnish a sample of appraisal reports or file memoranda which the applicant has prepared in the course of his or her appraisal practice. (G) As an alternative to the requirements in subsections (2) (E) and (F) above, applicants for licensure or certification may complete the requirements of a practicum course as implemented by The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board and shall submit a certificate of completion. As outlined in section 339.517(3), RSMo, an applicant shall furnish a sample of appraisal reports or file memoranda which the applicant has prepared in the course of his or her appraisal practice. (4) State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser. (A) Applicants for a state-certified residential real estate appraiser certification shall satisfy at least one (1) of the following five (5) options below: 1. Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university. The college or university must be a degree-granting institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges, a regional or national accreditation association, or by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Applicants with a college degree from a foreign country may have their education evaluated for “equivalency” by one (1) of the following: A. An accredited, degree-granting, domestic college or university; B. A foreign degree credential evaluation service company that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES); or C. A foreign degree credential evaluation service company that provides equivalency evaluation reports accepted by an accredited, degree-granting, domestic college or university, or by a state licensing board that issues credentials in another discipline; 2. Possession of an associate’s degree in the field of study related to business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or real estate from an accredited college or university. The college or university must be a degree-granting institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges, a regional or national accreditation association, or by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Applicants with a college degree from a foreign country may have their education evaluated for “equivalency” by one (1) of the following: A. An accredited, degree-granting, domestic college or university; B. A foreign degree credential evaluation service company that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services; or C. A foreign degree credential evaluation service company that provides equivalency evaluation reports accepted by an accredited, degree-granting, domestic college or university, or by a state-licensed board that issues credentials in another discipline; 3. Successful completion of thirty (30) semester hours of college-level courses that cover each of the following specific topic areas and hours: A. English Composition (three (3) semester hours); B. Microeconomics (three (3) semester hours); C. Macroeconomics (three (3) semester hours); D. Finance (three (3) semester hours); E. Algebra, Geometry, or higher mathematics (three (3) semester hours); F. Statistics (three (3) semester hours); G. Computer Science (three (3) semester hours); H. Business or Real Estate Law (three (3) semester hours); and I. Two (2) elective courses in any of the topics listed above or in accounting, geography, agricultural economics, business management, or real estate (three (3) semester hours each); 4. Successful completion of at least thirty (30) semester hours of College Level Examination Program® (CLEP®) examinations from each of the following subject matter areas: A. College Algebra (three (3) semester hours); B. College Composition (six (6) semester hours); C. College Composition Modular (three (3) semester hours); D. College Mathematics (six (6) semester hours); E. Principles of Macroeconomics (three (3) semester hours); F. Principles of Microeconomics (three (3) semester hours); G. Introductory Business Law (three (3) semester hours); and H. Information Systems (three (3) semester hours); or 5. Any combination of paragraphs (4)(A)3. and (4)(A)4. above that ensures coverage of all topics and hours identified in paragraph (4)(A)3. (B) As an alternative to the requirements in subsection (4) (A) above, individuals who have held a state license for a minimum of five (5) years may qualify for a certified residential credential by satisfying all of the following: 1. No record of any adverse, final, and non-appealable disciplinary action affecting the state-licensed appraiser’s legal eligibility to engage in appraisal practice within the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application for a certified residential credential; 2. Successful completion of the additional required AND INSURANCE qualifying education as specified in subsection (4)(G) below; 3. Successful completion of the required experience as specified in subsection (4)(E) below; and 4. Successful completion of the Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser examination as specified in subsection (4) (D) below. (C) Applicants for a state-certified residential real estate appraiser license shall submit verification of completion of two hundred (200) creditable class hours from the core curriculum, including passage of the approved closed-book examination for each course, as follows: 1. Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours 2. Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours 3. National Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or its equivalent 15 Hours 4. Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 Hours 5. Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours 6. Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches 30 Hours 7. Residential Report Writing and Case Studies 15 Hours 8. Statistics, Modeling, or Finance 15 Hours 9. Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 Hours 10. Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations 8 Hours 11. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (may include hours over minimum shown above in other modules) 12 Hours 200 Total Hours (D) Credit toward qualifying education requirements may also be obtained via completion of a degree in real estate from an accredited degree-granting college or university approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or a regional or national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, provided that the college or university has had its curriculum reviewed and approved by the AQB. (E) To obtain a state-certified residential real estate appraiser license, an applicant shall successfully complete the AQBapproved Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser Examination. There is no alternative to successful completion of the examination. All education and experience hours are required to be completed prior to being allowed to sit for the examination. (F) As a prerequisite for licensure as a state-certified residential real estate appraiser, an applicant shall present satisfactory evidence to the commission that the applicant possesses the equivalent of one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of experience obtained over a period of not less than twelve (12) months under the supervision of a state-certified real estate appraiser and supported by adequate written reports and file memoranda. Hours may be treated as cumulative in order to achieve the necessary one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of appraisal experience. As outlined in section 339.517(3), RSMo, an applicant shall furnish a sample of appraisal reports or file memoranda which the applicant has prepared in the course of his or her appraisal practice. (G) As an alternative to the requirements in subsections (3)(E) and (F) above, applicants for licensure or certification may complete the requirements of a practicum course as implemented by The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board and shall submit a certificate of completion. As outlined in section 339.517(3), RSMo, an applicant shall furnish a sample of appraisal reports or file memoranda which the applicant has prepared in the course of his or her appraisal practice. (H) As an alternative to the requirements in subsection (4)(F) above, applicants for licensure or certification may complete the requirements of the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) of the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria as implemented by The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board and shall submit a certificate of completion. (I) Appraisers holding a valid trainee appraiser credential may satisfy the educational requirements for the certified residential real property appraiser credential by successfully completing the following additional educational hours: 1. Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 Hours 2. Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours 3. Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches 30 Hours 4. Residential Report Writing and Case Studies 15 Hours 5. Statistics, Modeling, or Finance 15 Hours 6. Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 Hours 7. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 12 Hours 117 Total Hours (J) Appraisers holding a valid state-licensed real estate appraiser license may satisfy the educational requirements for a certified residential real property appraiser credential by successfully completing the following additional educational hours: 1. Statistics, Modeling, or Finance 15 Hours 2. Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies 15 Hours 3. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 12 Hours 42 Total Hours (K) Appraisers holding a valid trainee appraiser credential wishing to change to the certified residential classification must also satisfy the college-level education requirement as specified in subsection (4)(A) above. (L) Appraisers holding a valid state-licensed real estate appraiser license wishing to change to the certified residential classification who do not meet the requirements outlined in subsection (4)(B) must also satisfy the college-level education requirements as specified in subsection (4)(A). (5) State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. (A) Applicants for a state-certified general real estate appraiser certification shall possess a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field of study from an accredited college or university. The college or university must be a degreegranting institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges, a regional or national accreditation association, or by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Applicants with a college degree from a foreign country may have their education evaluated for “equivalency” by one (1) of the following: 1. An accredited, degree-granting, domestic college or university; 2. A foreign degree credential evaluation service company that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES); or 3. A foreign degree credential evaluation service company that provides equivalency evaluation reports accepted by an accredited, degree-granting, domestic college or university, or by a state licensing board that issues credentials in another discipline. (B) Applicants for a state-certified general real estate appraiser shall submit verification of completion of three hundred (300) creditable class hours from the core curriculum, including passage of the approved closed-book examination for each course, as follows: 1. Basic Appraisal Principles 30 Hours 2. Basic Appraisal Procedures 30 Hours 3. National Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or its equivalent 15 Hours 4. General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 30 Hours 5. General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 30 Hours 6. General Sales Comparison 30 Hours 7. General Appraiser Income Approach 60 Hours 8. Statistics, Modeling, or Finance 15 Hours 9. General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies 30 Hours 10. Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations 8 Hours 11. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives (may include hours over minimum shown in other modules above) 22 Hours 300 Total Hours (C) Credit toward qualifying education requirements may also be obtained via completion of a degree in real estate from an accredited degree-granting college or university approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or a regional or national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, provided that the college or university has had its curriculum reviewed and approved by the AQB. (D) To obtain a state-certified general real estate appraiser license, an applicant shall successfully complete the AQB-approved Certified General Real Property Appraiser Examination. There is no alternative to successful completion of the examination. All education and experience hours are required to be completed prior to being allowed to sit for the examination. (E) As a prerequisite for licensure as a state-certified general real estate appraiser, an applicant shall present satisfactory evidence to the commission that the applicant possesses the equivalent of three thousand (3,000) hours of experience obtained over a period of not less than eighteen (18) months. One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must be in nonresidential appraisal work. Hours may be treated as cumulative in order to achieve the necessary three thousand (3,000) hours of appraisal experience. (F) An applicant seeking to obtain licensure as a statecertified general real estate appraiser shall receive credit towards the experience required by 20 CSR 2245-6.017(4)(E) for having successfully completed a Licensed Residential PAREA program or a Certified Residential PAREA program of the Real Property Appraisal Qualifications Criteria as implemented by The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board and shall submit a certificate of completion. As outlined in section 339.517(3), RSMo, an applicant shall furnish a sample of appraisal reports or file memoranda which the applicant has prepared in the course of his or her appraisal practice. (G) As an alternative to the requirements in subsections (4)(E) and (F) above, applicants for licensure or certification may complete the requirements of a practicum course as implemented by The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board and shall submit a certificate of completion. As outlined in section 339.517(3), RSMo, an applicant shall furnish a sample of appraisal reports or file memoranda which the applicant has prepared in the course of his or her appraisal practice. (H) Appraisers holding a valid trainee appraiser license may satisfy the educational requirements for certified general real estate appraiser by successfully completing the following additional educational hours: 1. General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 30 Hours 2. Statistics, Modeling, or Finance 15 Hours 3. General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach 30 Hours 4. General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 30 Hours 5. General Appraiser Income Approach 60 Hours 6. General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies 30 Hours 7. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 22 Hours 217 Total Hours (I) Appraisers holding a valid state-licensed real estate appraiser license may satisfy the education requirements for the certified general real estate appraiser license by successfully completing the following additional educational hours: 1. General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 Hours 2. General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours 3. General Sales Comparison 15 Hours 4. General Appraiser Income Approach 45 Hours 5. Statistics, Modeling, or Finance 15 Hours 6. General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies 15 Hours 7. Appraisal Subject Matter Electives 22 Hours 142 Total Hours (J) Appraisers holding a valid certified residential real estate appraiser license may satisfy the educational requirements for the certified general real estate appraiser license by successfully completing the following additional educational hours: 1. General Appraiser Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use 15 Hours 2. General Appraiser Sales Comparison 15 Hours 3. General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach 15 Hours 4. General Appraiser Income Approach 45 Hours 5. General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies 10 Hours 100 Total Hours (K) Trainee appraisers, state-licensed real estate appraisers, and state-certified residential real estate appraisers wishing to upgrade to certified general real estate appraiser must also satisfy the requirements in subsections (5)(A) and (5)(B) above. AUTHORITY: sections 339.509 and 339.544, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed May 9, 2024, effective Nov. 30, 2024. Amended: Filed May 6, 2025, effective Dec. 30, 2025. *Original authority: 339.509, RSMo 1990, amended 1998, 2012, and 339.544, RSMo 1998. AND INSURANCE