Real Property Appraisers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of real property appraisers 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 real property appraisers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of real property appraisers 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 real property appraisers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Real Property Appraisers?
Do real property appraisers need a degree? What kind of experience do real property appraisers 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 real property appraisers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Real Property Appraisers
Jobs Postings for Real Property Appraisers 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 real property appraisers. 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 Real Property Appraisers
Jobs Postings for Real Property Appraisers 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 real property appraisers. In 38% of job postings for Real Property Appraisers, 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 real property appraisers.
What Kind of Degree Do Real Property Appraisers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for real property appraisers, 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 real property appraisers, 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 real property appraisers.
Top Degree Programs for Real Property Appraisers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Real Property Appraisers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Real Estate. | 7,782 |
| Real Estate Development. | 549 |
What Skills Do Real Property Appraisers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by real property appraisers 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 real property appraisers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Real Property Appraisers
Based on 6,906 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Real Property Appraisers
| 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 Real Property Appraisers
| 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 real property appraisers, 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 real property appraisers, 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 real property appraisers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for real property appraisers.
What do real property appraisers do?
How much do real property appraisers make?
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