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Passing the Real Estate Appraiser Exam is one of the requirements for becoming a Real Estate Appraiser in Washington. The exam content outline is based on a job analysis conducted by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB).
The purpose is to ensure exam writers have the necessary knowledge and skills to properly appraise a property. The exam is administered by PSI. There are different appraiser licenses in Washington- Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and there will be distinct exam requirements for each license level.
To pass the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam, the candidate must achieve a score of at least 75/110 on the LR/CR/CG exam. Studying the course materials from a trusted provider, read over the Washington Real Estate Appraisers Program Candidate Handbook and doing exam preps can increase the chance of passing the exam.
In this guide, I will go over the content, sample questions, FAQ, exam preps of the Washington real estate appraiser exam. Although the result is not guaranteed, I’m confident it can help to increase your chance of passing it significantly. So you will be one step closer to starting your real estate career in Washington.
But before we start, I want to give a brief disclaimer. This post is not intended as legal advice or state/federal real estate training. It is for general information only. Please always follow your State laws and best practices.
Table of Contents
- Table Summary of the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam
- How to register for the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam?
- Here is the info about the Washington State Licensed, Certified Residential, Certified General Real Estate Appraiser Exam
- Tips to prepare for the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam
- Let’s Study the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam “Strategically”
- Video with Sample Questions on the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam
- Here are some Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam Preps that can help You
- Where can I take my real estate exam in Washington?
- What should I bring to the exam center?
- When will I know the result?
- Here are more helpful resources to learn about the Washington real estate appraisal career!
Table Summary of the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam
| Appraiser Exam | # of Questions | Writing time | Required Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Licensed | 110 (+15 pretest) | 4 hours | 75 out of 110 |
| Certified Residential | 110 (+15 pretest) | 4 hours | 75 out of 110 |
| Certified General | 110 (+15 pretest) | 6 hours | 75 out of 110 |
How to register for the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam?
You may register for the examination by submitting an application to the Washington Real Estate Appraisers Board. After you receive the confirmation from the Board, you may schedule the exam through AMP.
The Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam is administered by the PSI and to schedule in writing it, you need to create an account on their website. In there, you can choose the testing center and date. The exam fee is $105 and it can be paid through a credit card, debit card or electronic check.
If you have any questions about the Washington real estate appraiser exam, you may contact them at (855) 746-8173.
After you schedule the exam, if you need to make any changes, you must do so at least 2 business days before the exam.
Here is the info about the Washington State Licensed, Certified Residential, Certified General Real Estate Appraiser Exam
The Washington LR/CR/CG Real Estate Appraiser Exam has a total of 125 questions, but 15 of them are pretested and will not be scored. The LR & CR exam has 4 hours of writing time, and CG has 6 hours. The passing score is 75 and higher.
Here is the content of the LR/CR/CG appraiser exam:
| Content Area Description | LR | CR | CG | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Market | 22 | 22 | 22 | A. Types of influences on real estate value B. Types of government power C. Types of real estate value D. Date of value premise E. Market analysis F. Investment analysis G. Tests of highest and best use H. Analysis of highest and best use |
| Property Description | 12 | 13 | 13 | A. Description of land or site B. Description of improvements and building components C. Legal interest D. Rights to use E. Property taxation |
| Land or Site Valuation | 4 | 4 | 4 | A. Land or site valuation methods |
| Sales Comparison Approach | 16 | 24 | 24 | A. Identification of comparable sales B. Units of comparison C. Elements of comparison D. Quantitative adjustments E. Qualitative adjustments F. Reconciliation to indicated value by the sales comparison approach |
| Cost Approach | 14 | 16 | 17 | A. Sources of cost information B. Cost components C. Depreciation D. Methods of estimating depreciation E. Reconciliation to indicated value by the cost approach |
| Income Approach | 22 | 11 | 10 | A. Sources of income generation B. Occupancy / vacancy analysis C. Expenses D. Capitalization E. Estimation of value using income approach F. Reconciliation to indicated value by the income approach |
| Reconciliation of Value Indications | 2 | 2 | 2 | A. Reconciliation of approaches to value |
| Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice | 18 | 18 | 18 | A. Definitions and preamble B. Ethics rule C. Record keeping rule D. Competency rule E. Scope of work rule F. Jurisdictional exception rule G. Standard 1 H. Standard 2 I. Standard 3 J. Standard 4 K. USPAP advisory opinions and FAQs L. Extraordinary assumption M. Hypothetical condition |
Tips to prepare for the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam
Let’s Study the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam “Strategically”
Many people would try to read and memorize all the study materials. Although it could work for some people, it really doesn’t work for me.
Here are the exact steps I have been using to prepare for exams. It has worked wonderfully for me throughout high school and university, and they still work well when I wrote exams in my field of work.
- Review the exam outline to see which topics will be heavily weighted
- Skim through a practice exam to get a sense of the questions
- Read over the course materials. Focus more on the sections you’ve seen in the practice exam and those that will be heavily scored.
- Try writing a practice test.
- For the parts that you got wrong, you should review them carefully. I usually would create a document file and take notes on those topics.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you can score at least 10% more of the required passing mark for at least two practice exams. (Some people would get nervous during the actual exam writing, so it’s better to have a buffer room on the score. In this case, try to aim for over 85% on the practice exam.)
Doing practice questions indeed can help you prepare for the real estate exam. They help you understand what type of questions you’re likely going to see during the test and give you an idea of what topics might come up, making studying more efficient.
Here’s another tip: Studying for the sack of passing the real estate appraiser exam could be dreadful. Remember that a specific question appears in the test because it could actually be applied in your real estate practice. When you study, just imagine that you’re applying this knowledge to an appraisal assignment.
Video with Sample Questions on the Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam
Here are some Washington Real Estate Appraiser Exam Preps that can help You
McKissock has exam prep packages for those who wish to become a licensed and certified residential appraisers. It helps you to prepare for the exam through self-paced online prep and live crammer sessions. You will also able to identify your strengths and weaknesses, so you may focus on areas that needs improvement. Click here for McKissock Exam Prep (**)
Where can I take my real estate exam in Washington?
There are multiple testing centers where you can take the Washington real estate appraiser exam.
- Bellevue – Brainseed Testing Center: 4122 Factoria Blvd. S.E, Suite 303 Newport Place Bellevue, WA 98006 US
- East Wenatchee – HRB: 636 Valley Mall Parkway, Suite A4, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 US
- Everett – Brainseed Testing Center: 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 208, Everett, WA 98208 US
- Kennewick – HRB: 4018a W. Clearwater Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336 US
- OLYMPIA: 3435 MARTIN WAY E, STE I, OLYMPIA,WA 98501 US
- Spanaway – HRB: 15633 Pacific Ave South, Tacoma, WA 98444 US
- SPOKANE: 920 N Argonne Rd, Suite 202, Spokane Valley, WA 99212 US
- Yakima – Brainseed Testing Center: 3611 River Rd, Suite 120, Yakima, WA 98902 US
It’s better to do a search in Google Map beforehand. I usually would do a street view tour to have a better idea of the testing location. And also find out where you can park your car.
On the testing day, you should account for the time to sign in and go through the identification process. It’s better to arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your exam.
What should I bring to the exam center?
You are required to bring two pieces of valid ID. The primary ID needs to be a government issued ID with photograph and signature. Keep in mind that temporary ID will not be accepted.
- driver’s license with photo;
- state identification card with photo;
- passport;
- military identification card with photo.
The Secondary ID needs to have signature and not expired.
- U.S. Social Security card with signature
- Credit card with signature
- employment/student ID card with signature
When will I know the result?
Once you finish writing the real estate appraiser exam, you will receive a score report that mark either “pass” or “fail”.
- If you pass, you will be provided with information on how to apply for a license.
- If you fail, you will be provided with a diagnostic report of the exam. You will also receive information about reexamination. You may schedule for a retake and there is no limit on the number of attempts within your six-month eligibility period. Additional exam fee will apply.
Here are more helpful resources to learn about the Washington real estate appraisal career!
This article is part of the “Washington Real Estate Appraiser Career Series.” If you want to know more about being a real estate appraiser in Washington, I invite you to check out the following articles:
- How Much do Real Estate Appraiser Make in Washington?
- How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in Washington?
(**) Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. Our company, JCHQ Publishing will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. Some of the posts on this site may contain views and opinions from individual not related to JCHQ Publishing. They do not necessarily reflect our view or position.
Reference:
- Appraisal Subcommittee- Active Appraiser Credentials Summary Report (Source)
- The Appraisal Foundation- National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examinations (Source)
- Washington Real Estate Appraisers Program Candidate Handbook (Source)
- Appraisal Subcommittee- Active Appraiser Credentials Summary Report (Source)
- Appraisal Institute – State Appraisal Regulatory Agencies (Source)
- Washington State Department of Licensing, Real Estate Appraiser Section (Source)
