Becoming a real estate appraiser in Alaska is a lucrative job that doesn’t require much educational background or work experience to start.
If you aren’t convinced, how about this:
Zippia.com, an online career expert site, listed the best states for real estate appraisers for 2020, and guess which state landed on the 6th spot?
That’s right, Alaska.
With an average annual salary of around $68,500, lowest and highest 10% earning potentials of $45,000 and $103,000 respectively. No doubt, Alaska is a good place to be an appraiser.
So while we’re on the topic, let us introduce you to some of the best real estate appraisal courses in Alaska that you should check out once you start your career journey.
Real Estate Appraisal Requirements for Trainees in Alaska
Before we get to that, it’s important to know the requirements.
So to qualify as a real property trainee appraiser, you must satisfy the following:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have a valid social security number.
- You must complete the mandatory 75-hour qualifying education and the AQB Supervisor-Trainee course. It consists of 60 hours in Basic Appraisal Principles and Procedures, and 15 hours in National USPAP update courses or their equivalent.
- You must earn work experience under the mentorship of a supervisory appraiser. You must document it in an approved log.
- You must submit your Registered Trainee application to the Alaska Real Estate Appraisers Program.
The 3 Best Online Real Estate Appraisal Courses in Alaska
Below are the 3 best online schools that offer real estate appraisal courses in Alaska:
Appraisal Institute
The Appraisal Institute is a professional association consisting of over 22,000 real estate appraisers all over the globe. It started in 1932 and since then has advocated professionalism and ethics, as well as equal opportunity in the appraisal profession.
Apart from providing advocacy programs, national conferences, and other benefits to its members, the Appraisal Institute also offers pre-licensing appraisal courses.
Since the Appraisal Institute is a highly reputable institution, it only offers course materials that are of high quality. However, its services are not made to bring convenience to students or users, as a majority of its clients are its organization members.
What we mean by this is that the website simply lists the courses available and does not offer education packages.
However, if you sign up for their courses and later register as a member, you will enjoy several perks that will come in handy, particularly when you obtain your appraisal license.
Remember, being a part of a professional association will help you build a strong network and business relationships.
McKissock is a highly reputable online learning company that offers various real estate education courses, including appraisal. It has more than 20 years of experience in producing top appraisal professionals in the country.
Currently, McKissock doesn’t offer the complete 75-hour qualifying education programs required for trainee appraisers.
Although, they have available non-credit live webinars to help you pass your exam or expand your knowledge in the field.
If you want additional study tools to prepare for your exam, you can check out VanEd’s Alaska exam prep offerings.
Note: VanEd does NOT have an approved curriculum for Alaska appraisal license courses, but it does provide good learning materials for when you are studying for the exam.
With VanEd’s appraisal exam prep program, you can be confident to pass the exam on your first try.
There aren’t that many approved courses for online real estate appraisal in Alaska, but you can look up a school or a course to confirm if they will satisfy the state’s requirements via the Alaska Department of Commerce webpage.
Real Estate Appraisal Courses in Alaska FAQs
What is a real estate appraiser?
A real estate appraiser is an expert whose job is to determine the market value of real estate properties. An appraiser’s services are used in purchasing or selling homes, refinancing, mortgages, tax assessment, investment analysis, estate sales, etc.
Can I take online real estate appraisal courses in Alaska?
The state allows Trainee, General, and Residential Appraiser applicants to complete online qualifying education as long as the following conditions are met:
- The course allows communication between applicant and instructor, written or verbal.
- The course is approved by the AQB (Appraisal Qualifications Board) and the Alaska Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers.
- The course is in a format that is IDECC (International Distance Education Certification Center) - approved.
- The course is at least 15 hours in length.
Do trainee appraisers in Alaska make money?
Yes. Beginner or trainee appraisers typically work part-time and receive payment per appraisal job. They usually make between $50 and $150 per assignment, but the rates increase with experience.
Do I need to register as a trainee appraiser in Alaska?
It is not mandatory. But if you are working under a supervisory appraiser, registering as a trainee will help you receive full experience credit, and will allow you to apply to be certified.
What are the requirements for a trainee appraiser to become certified in Alaska?
If you want to transition to a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, you will need to complete 225 core curriculum hours and earn 2,500 hours of work experience.
If you wish to become a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, you need 125 additional core curriculum and 3,000 experience hours, half of which should be in non-residential work.
Conclusion
Becoming a real estate appraiser in Alaska is a good career move.
To get started, check out these best real estate appraisal courses in Alaska.
Rest assured, with each course, you will get great resource materials to help you succeed in the industry.
So what are you waiting for?
Apply today!
We hope that this article has helped you find the right course for you.