Are you looking for a job that will let you start up quickly, run your business from home, and be financially stable in Alabama?
If so, you should definitely consider a career in real estate appraisal.
A real estate appraiser is an independent professional who determines the market value of a property based on facts, observations, and statistics.
What’s great about it is, unlike other careers, becoming an appraiser won’t take too long.
However, you do need to take a real estate appraisal course. And, in this article, we’ll talk about the best real estate appraisal courses in Alabama this 2023.
So let’s get started!
Requirements for Real Estate Appraisal License in Alabama
Before we introduce the best real estate appraisal courses in Alabama, let’s walk you through the requirements first:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
- You must complete the education requirements for the level of licensure you are applying for:
- Trainee Real Property Appraiser (75 hours)
- State Registered Real Property Appraiser (same course requirement as above)
- Licensed Real Property Appraiser (150 hours)
- Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser (200 hours)
- Certified General Real Property Appraiser (300 hours)
- You must meet the experience requirement for the level you are applying for:
- Trainee Real Property Appraiser (none required)
- State Registered Real Property Appraiser (1,000 hours)
- Licensed Real Property Appraiser (2,000 hours within two years)
- Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser (2,500 hours within two years)
- Certified General Real Property Appraiser (3,000 hours within 30 months, with at least 1,500 hours of experience in nonresidential appraisals)
- You must pass the licensure examination.
- You must complete your application, submit all required documents, and pay the relevant fees.
The 3 Best Online Real Estate Appraisal Courses in Alabama
These are the 3 best online real estate schools that offer appraisal courses in Alabama:
Let’s take a look at each one in detail.
McKissock
McKissock has established quite a solid reputation in the online learning industry. It belongs to a family of brands called Colibri Group and works in partnership with many online real estate schools, including Colibri Real Estate.
Within the group, McKissock offers real estate appraisal courses across the country, including Alabama.
For two decades, McKissock has served more than 50,000 customers. It has received consistently high ratings from previous students, making it the number one online appraisal school in the US.
Its coursework is comprehensive, created by expert authors and professional appraisers. Plus, its team of instructors is always just a call away to provide learning assistance.
The school also offers hundreds of materials and resources. Students have access to additional downloadable videos and learning aids.
What’s more, the course content is continuously updated to make sure you learn the current developments in the industry.
McKissock’s basic package costs around $900, and it includes the mandatory 75-hour trainee level education, as well as a four-hour supervisor-trainee course. The school also offers other bundles costing around $1,100 to $1,400.
Yes, it’s a bit expensive, but you’ll get the most value with McKissock. Just check out the many freebies each package offers.
Appraisal Institute (Alabama/Mississippi Chapter)
The Appraisal Institute is a global leader in real estate appraisal education. With over 79 chapters all over the US, the organization aims to promote a spirit of friendship among its members.
The Appraisal Institute is not a school, but an organization that consists of professionals who hold high designations in the industry.
Members get to enjoy several perks, such as having connections to career resources, getting access to state-of-the-art software products that will help you with your practice, networking opportunities, and enjoying business services.
They also get to be invited to conferences as well as organization-wide parties.
However, the Appraisal Institute does have a few drawbacks. Because it is not a school, its services are not designed for the students’ or clients’ convenience.
For example, AI does not offer education packages. Their website simply lists all available courses, and you will have to go through them to check if they will satisfy your education requirements. You will also have to confirm if each course is approved in Alabama.
What’s more, you will need to view each course to check the prices. For instance, its 15-hour USPAP online course costs around $315 to $360.
The Appraisal Institute is a well-trusted organization, though, and it offers discounts to its members.
Note: currently, only the above online schools offer approved pre-licensing courses for real estate appraisal. For a full list of approved real estate appraisal courses in Alabama, visit this website and click “View All Courses” for a downloadable PDF.
Hondros College is an Ohio-based school that offers some of the best real estate education programs in the country. It also offers online real estate appraisal courses that are available in other states, including Alabama.
Note: this school doesn’t have an Alabama-approved appraisal pre-licensing course. It ONLY offers an exam prep for Alabama-based aspiring appraisers.
It offers two programs, CompuCram and Appraisal Review Cram. The former, which costs around $150, is an exam prep solution with a proven track record in the industry. It features vocabulary tools, practice questions, and exam simulations that will help prepare you for the real deal.
The crammer course, on the other hand, is designed for those who are planning to take the National Uniform Licensed and Certified Residential Appraiser Exam. It costs around $250.
Real Estate Appraisal Courses in Alabama FAQs
How long does it take to become a real estate appraiser in Alabama?
It depends on the level you are applying for. If you are just starting, you can become a trainee real property appraiser quickly.
It doesn’t require any experience, and you only have to complete the mandatory 75-hour education. You don’t have to pass any state exam either.
What does a trainee real property appraiser do?
As a trainee or apprentice appraiser, you will work under the supervision of a certified appraiser. Your work will be limited to only the tasks assigned to you.
Your supervisor may ask you to do simple jobs such as fill out reports or do research on properties, but they will also mentor you and teach you things you need to know about the appraisal process.
Do trainee real property appraisers make money?
While trainees usually work part-time, they do make money. As a trainee appraiser, you will earn on a per assignment basis. It may range from around $50 to $150 per appraisal.
Per Ziprecruiter.com, the average annual salary of a trainee appraiser in Alabama is around $26,700.
Once you complete 1,000 hours of work experience and pass the state-required exam, you can then hold the title of a State Registered Real Property Appraiser. This license will allow you to earn even more.
Conclusion
While it is true that it may take some time before you finally hold the highest appraiser title, you can start slow.
Consider taking a trainee appraiser course to turn your goals into reality.
To do that, select any of the real estate appraisal courses listed above. We assure you that these are the best in Alabama and you won’t be disappointed.
Good luck!