If you need help studying for the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) exam or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free USPAP practice test!
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the USPAP exam, you’ll have to meet the eligibility requirements that match the appraiser level of your test:
- Licensed Residential (LR): To qualify for this level, you need 150 hours of education and at least 1,000 hours of experience, which must be completed in at least six months. The Appraisal Foundation has set six months as the minimum time needed to learn the required skills.
- Certified Residential (CR): For this level, you must complete 200 hours of education and at least 1,500 hours of experience over a minimum of 12 months. You also have to meet certain college requirements (passing the applicable CLEP exam counts).
- Certified General (CG): To qualify for this level, you need 300 hours of education, a bachelor’s degree (in any field), and at least 3,000 hours of experience over a minimum of 18 months. Out of those 3,000 hours, at least 1,500 must be in non-residential appraisal work.
If you meet the applicable requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 125 multiple-choice questions total, but only 110 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 25 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the LR and CR levels is 4 hours, while the CG level takes 6 hours.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the USPAP exam.
1. Real Estate Market
LR 18% CR 18% CG 18%
- Types of influences on real estate value
- Types of government power
- Types of real estate value
- Date of value premise
- Market analysis
- Investment analysis
- Tests of highest and best use
- Analysis of highest and best use
2. Property Description
LR 11% CR 12% CG 11%
- Description of land or site
- Description of improvements and building components
- Legal interest
- Rights to use
- Property taxation
3. Land or Site Valuation
LR 3% CR 3% CG 4%
- Land or site valuation methods
4. Sales Comparison Approach
LR 22% CR 18% CG 13%
- Identification of comparable sales
- Units of comparison
- Elements of comparison
- Quantitative adjustments
- Qualitative comparisons
- Reconciliation to indicated value by the sales comparison approach
5. Cost Approach
LR 13% CR 14% CG 11%
- Sources of cost information
- Cost components
- Depreciation
- Methods of estimating depreciation
- Reconciliation to indicated value by the cost approach
6. Income Approach
LR 4% CR 8% CG 18%
- Sources of income generation
- Occupancy/vacancy analysis
- Expenses
- Capitalization
- Estimation of value using income approach
- Reconciliation to indicated value by the income approach
7. Reconciliation of Value Indications
LR 2% CR 2% CG 2%
- Reconciliation of approaches to value
8. Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
LR 20% CR 18% CG 17%
- Definitions and preamble
- Ethics rule
- Record keeping rule
- Competency rule
- Scope of work rule
- Jurisdictional exception rule
- Standards 1-4
- USPAP advisory opinions and FAQs
- Extraordinary assumption
- Hypothetical condition
9. Emerging Appraisal Methods
LR 3% CR 4% CG 3%
- Application of online property information database and technological tools
- Use and limitations of the hybrid/bifurcated appraisal method
- Use and limitations of automated valuation models
10. Appraisal Statistical Methods
LR 4% CR 3% CG 3%
- Statistical measures of central tendency
- Statistical measures of variation
- Inferential statistical techniques used in appraising
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam.
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application via your state licensing authority. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the application fee, which varies from state to state (it’s often $200-$500).
Once you’re approved for testing, you’ll need to register for the exam and pay the testing fee.
USPAP Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
For every question you answer correctly, you get one point added to your raw score. At the end of the test, your final raw score will be converted to a scaled score. This scaled score will range somewhere between 0 and 110.
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the test is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test up to two more times.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay a $165 retesting fee each time you retake the test.
FAQs
How many questions are on the USPAP exam?
The exam contains 125 questions.
What is the time limit for the USPAP exam?
The Licensed Residential and Certified Residential levels are each timed at 4 hours. The Certified General level is timed at 6 hours.
What is the passing score for the USPAP exam?
You’ll need to get a final scaled score of at least 70 to pass.
How much does the USPAP exam cost?
The application and testing fees vary from state to state.