Appraisal Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of appraisal specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for appraisal specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of appraisal specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for appraisal specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Appraisal Specialists?
Do appraisal specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do appraisal specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for appraisal specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Appraisal Specialists
Jobs Postings for Appraisal Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 3,525 (45%)
- No Education Listed: 1,907 (24%)
- High School or GED: 1,467 (19%)
- Master's degree: 835 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 102 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of appraisal specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 45% of positions. In 24% of job listings no education level was listed and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Appraisal Specialists
Jobs Postings for Appraisal Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 934 (22%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,610 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,174 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 261 (6%)
- 10+ Years: 234 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for appraisal specialists. In 38% of job postings for Appraisal Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for appraisal specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Appraisal Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for appraisal specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective appraisal specialists, and in 2023 a total of 59,110 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective appraisal specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Appraisal Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Appraisal Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Real Estate. | 7,782 |
| Real Estate Development. | 549 |
What Skills Do Appraisal Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by appraisal specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for appraisal specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Appraisal Specialists
Based on 6,906 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Appraisal Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Real Property | 1,453 | 21% |
| Real Estate Appraisal | 1,401 | 20% |
| Appraisals | 1,230 | 18% |
| Market Value | 984 | 14% |
| Accounting | 887 | 13% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Appraisal Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2,799 | 41% |
| Real Estate | 2,330 | 34% |
| Sales | 1,672 | 24% |
| Research | 1,628 | 24% |
| Management | 1,565 | 23% |
Based on 6,906 job postings related to appraisal specialists, real property was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 21% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for real estate appraisal, appraisals, market value, accounting and auditing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for appraisal specialists, followed by real estate, sales, research, management and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Real Property | 1,453 | 21% |
| Real Estate Appraisal | 1,401 | 20% |
| Appraisals | 1,230 | 18% |
| Market Value | 984 | 14% |
| Accounting | 887 | 13% |
| Auditing | 851 | 12% |
| Property Tax | 822 | 12% |
| Data Collection | 768 | 11% |
| Finance | 718 | 10% |
| Construction | 705 | 10% |
| Property Inspection | 680 | 10% |
| Economics | 572 | 8% |
| Project Management | 546 | 8% |
| Commercial Real Estate | 507 | 7% |
| Roofing | 506 | 7% |
| Legal Hearings | 486 | 7% |
| Office Equipment | 486 | 7% |
| Uniform Standards Of Professional Appraisal Practices | 485 | 7% |
| Site Inspection | 465 | 7% |
| Calculations | 449 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2,799 | 41% |
| Real Estate | 2,330 | 34% |
| Sales | 1,672 | 24% |
| Research | 1,628 | 24% |
| Management | 1,565 | 23% |
| Writing | 1,549 | 22% |
| Microsoft Excel | 1,405 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,401 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 1,389 | 20% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,164 | 17% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 997 | 14% |
| Operations | 900 | 13% |
| Mathematics | 886 | 13% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 864 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 722 | 10% |
| Planning | 684 | 10% |
| Time Management | 678 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 658 | 10% |
| Report Writing | 643 | 9% |
| Consulting | 638 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about appraisal specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for appraisal specialists.
What do appraisal specialists do?
How much do appraisal specialists make?
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