I'm thinking about taking a course in real estate appraisal. I have no experience in real estate. Can anyone tell me if this is a difficult course? Also, could you find work in the field?
The course requirements differ by state. Here in PA you must have 120 hours of classroom study and pass a state exam. It isn't easy by any means and you must apprentice for 2,500 hours over no less than 24 months before you actually qualify for your license.
Yes it can be especially when u never taken rela estate before. i took that course and it was challangeing but it was a good course gave me some ideas. i didnt pass the course but i did learn a lot. i wouldnt mind taking it again and being more serious about it, But it is challenging so if u take the course i recommend that you are serious and do a lot of reading at least 2 hours a day then u will have a chance to pass it.
If you are curious about appraisal and want to take a course about it, I suggest a Basic Appraisal course at a local community college. There are several providers of real estate appraisal education. Most notable are the industry trade groups such as The Appraisal Institute or The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers. While this education is the best quality, it is oriented towards the experienced appraiser, occurs over a short period of time and it very expensive. Another option is a local real estate school. These places typically provide education for Realtors, Appraisers, and Inspectors. The Appraisal courses are usually 1 to 2 consecutive full days. Appraisers are required to have a certain curricullum of specific classes in order to obtain a license, and mandatory continuing education in order to renew the license every 2 years. While many providers will offer a course on the same topic, the course must meet minimum criteria to satisfy the licensure requirement. Therefore, a course in Basic Appraisal offered by The Appraisal Institute would qualify the same as Basic Appraisal offered by your local community college. Of course there is a world of difference in the style, cost and cache' of education, but I'm considering your lack of experience and speculative interest. Taking the class at the community college will cost less, spread the course over several weeks (no rush) and likely provide more interaction with the teacher in a relaxed environment. Prerequisites includes basic math, some technical writing and an eye for analytical detail. Appraisal is definitely a left brain profession.
