Real Estate Degree Review Program
An alternate way for students with real estate college degrees to receive credit for Qualifying Education.
Overview
The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) created a program to help students who earn a degree in real estate get credit toward becoming a real property appraiser.
Instead of reviewing each course individually, the AQB evaluates the entire associate, bachelor’s, or graduate real estate degree from a college or university to see how much of the Required Core Curriculum it covers under the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria).
If the degree doesn’t cover everything, the review will show which topics still need to be completed.
Key features of the program:
- Retroactive approval: Once a program is approved, past graduates may also benefit—starting from when the degree was first offered
- Up to 300 hours of credit: Graduates can receive credit for up to 300 hours of qualifying education (depending on the program’s content)
Click here to see the list of approved degree review programs.
Read our Fact Sheet for more detailed information.
Information for State Regulators
The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) reviews real estate-related college degrees to determine how much of the Required Core Curriculum they fulfill under the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria).
The results of these reviews are published to help state appraiser regulatory agencies evaluate the educational qualifications of the applicants who have earned these degrees. This allows states to see which curriculum areas have been met through the degree and where, if any, additional course work is needed.
Information for Students
While the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) may approve a real estate degree program for credit toward appraiser licensing, approval by the AQB does not guarantee that a specific state will accept it.
Each state appraiser regulatory agency has the authority to set its own requirements and may choose not to accept the AQB’s evaluation of a degree program.
If you’re thinking about enrolling in a real estate degree program and plan to pursue an appraiser credential, be sure to contact your state regulatory agency first to understand their specific policies and whether they accept AQB-reviewed degree programs.
Information for Colleges & Universities
By participating in the Appraiser Qualification Board's (AQB) Degree Review Program, colleges and universities can offer their students a direct pathway into the real property appraisal profession—with no additional cost to the institution. Approved degree programs provide students with credit toward the Required Core Curriculum, helping them meet the educational requirements for licensure upon graduation.
Key program details:
- Approval is valid for three years
- Programs may be renewed every three years as long as no changes have been made to the curriculum
- If any changes occur—such as adding or removing courses—the AQB must be notified for re-evaluation to ensure continued alignment with the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria)
Ready to apply?
Review the program policies and fill out the Degree Review application to begin the process.
AQB-Approved Degree Programs
A current list of all AQB-approved degree programs can be found on our Lookup Tools page.
