To work as an appraiser trainee, you must follow the laws governing the practice of appraisal in your jurisdiction, which can vary greatly depending on the types of property you will be appraising. You might be able to become an appraiser trainee by apprenticing with a seasoned appraiser if you’ll be appraising personal property. Completing a formal training program offered by industry experts or professional organizations that serve appraisers in your field of interest may also be beneficial. However, the laws governing real estate appraisers are much stricter, and in order to become an appraiser trainee in the United States, you must meet your state’s requirements, which typically include finding a local appraiser to supervise you, completing a training course, and, in some cases, passing a licensing exam.
If you want to work as a personal property appraiser, such as for books, jewelry, or other valuables and collectibles, your best bet is to apply for a trainee position with an insurance company, government agency, or independent appraiser. You may have the opportunity to attend professional training workshops and continuing education programs that can provide you with additional expertise in appraising property during the training process, and you may also have the opportunity to become familiar with the types of property that you are appraising. Before you can begin training, some supervising businesses and agencies may require you to have an associate’s or even a bachelor’s degree. Government agencies that hire trainee appraisers to determine the taxable value of property may be more stringent than private appraisers when it comes to formal educational credentials.
Becoming licensed or recognized as a real estate appraiser trainee can be a lengthy process. Each country has its own laws and regulations for real estate appraiser training and licensing, and most of these regulations require a combination of education and experience before someone can be licensed as an independent real estate appraiser. In order to become an appraiser trainee in the United States, you must first learn about the licensing requirements in your own state. Before you begin a formal education program, you may be required to find an appraiser who is willing to act as your training supervisor. In other places, you might start by taking a real estate appraisal course and then looking for a supervisor who will take responsibility for your work.