93E-1-6. Qualifications for registration, licensure, and certification; applications; application fees; examinations.

(a) Any person desiring to be registered as a trainee or to obtain licensure as a licensed real estate appraiser or certification as a certified real estate appraiser shall make written application to the Board on the forms as are prescribed by the Board setting forth the applicant's qualifications for registration, licensure, or certification. Each applicant shall satisfy the following qualification requirements:

(1) Each applicant for registration as a trainee shall:

a. Have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent; and

b. Demonstrate to the Board that the applicant possesses the knowledge and competence necessary to perform appraisals of real property, by: (i) having satisfactorily completed within the five-year period immediately preceding the date application is made, a course of instruction, approved by the Board, in real estate appraisal principles and practices consisting of at least 90 hours of classroom instruction in subjects determined by the Board; and (ii) satisfying any additional qualification the Board imposes by rule, not inconsistent with any requirements imposed by the Appraisal Foundation.

(1a) Each applicant for licensure as a licensed real estate appraiser shall:

a. Hold an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college, community college, or university;

b. Demonstrate to the Board that the applicant possesses the knowledge and competence necessary to perform appraisals of real property by having satisfactorily completed a course of instruction consisting of at least 150 hours of classroom instruction in subjects determined by the Board. All instructional courses must be completed on or after January 1, 2008;

c. Present evidence satisfactory to the Board of at least 2,500 hours, or the minimum requirement as imposed by the federal government, whichever is greater, of experience in real estate appraising within the eight-year period immediately preceding the date the application is made and over a period of at least two calendar years; and

d. Satisfy the additional qualifications criteria as may be imposed by the Board by rule, not inconsistent with any requirements imposed by the federal government, or shall possess education and experience which is found by the Board in its discretion to be equivalent to the above requirements.

(2) Each applicant for certification as a certified residential real estate appraiser shall:

a. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;

b. Demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge and competence necessary to perform appraisals of real property as the Board may prescribe by having satisfactorily completed a course of instruction, approved by the Board, in real estate appraisal principles and practices consisting of at least 200 hours. All instructional courses shall have been completed on or after January 1, 2008;

c. Present evidence satisfactory to the Board of at least 2,500 hours or the minimum requirement as imposed by the Appraisal Foundation, whichever is greater, of experience in real estate appraising within the eight-year period immediately preceding the date application is made, and over a period of at least two calendar years; and

d. Satisfy the additional qualifications criteria as may be imposed by the Board by rule, not inconsistent with any requirements imposed by the Appraisal Foundation; or

e. Possess education and experience which is found by the Board in its discretion to be equivalent to the above requirements.

(3) Each applicant for certification as a certified general real estate appraiser shall:

a. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university;

b. Demonstrate that the applicant possesses the knowledge and competence necessary to perform appraisals of all types of real property by having satisfactorily completed a course of instruction, approved by the Board, in general real estate appraisal practices consisting of at least 300 hours. All instructional courses shall have been completed on or after January 1, 2008;

c. Present evidence satisfactory to the Board of at least 3,000 hours or the minimum requirement as imposed by the Appraisal Foundation, whichever is greater, of experience in real estate appraising within the eight-year period immediately preceding the date application is made, and over a period of at least two and one-half calendar years, fifty percent (50%) of which must be in appraising nonresidential real estate; and

d. Satisfy the additional qualifications criteria as may be imposed by the Board by rule, not inconsistent with any requirements imposed by the Appraisal Foundation; or

e. Possess education or experience which is found by the Board in its discretion to be equivalent to the above requirements.

(4) Repealed by Session Laws 2001-399, s. 1.

(b) Each application for registration as a trainee or for licensure or certification as a real estate appraiser shall be accompanied by a fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00), plus any additional fee as may be necessary to defray the cost of any competency examination administered by a private testing service.

(c) Any person who files with the Board an application for licensure or certification as a real estate appraiser shall be required to pass an examination to demonstrate the person's competence.

(c1) The Board shall also make an investigation as it deems necessary into the background of the applicant to determine the applicant's qualifications with due regard to the paramount interest of the public as to the applicant's competency, honesty, truthfulness, and integrity. All applicants shall consent to a criminal history record check. Refusal to consent to a criminal history record check may constitute grounds for the Board to deny an application. The Board shall ensure that the State and national criminal history of an applicant is checked. The Board shall be responsible for providing to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety the fingerprints of the applicant to be checked, a form signed by the applicant consenting to the criminal history record check, and the use of fingerprints and other identifying information required by the State or National Repositories of Criminal Histories and any additional information required by the Department of Public Safety in accordance with G.S. 143B-961. The Board shall keep all information obtained pursuant to this section confidential. The Board shall collect any fees required by the Department of Public Safety and shall remit the fees to the Department of Public Safety for expenses associated with conducting the criminal history record check.

(c2) In addition, the Board may investigate and consider whether the applicant has had any disciplinary action taken against any other professional license in North Carolina or any other state, or if the applicant has committed or done any act which, if committed or done by any real estate trainee or appraiser, would be grounds under the provisions hereinafter set forth for disciplinary action including the suspension or revocation of registration, licensure, or certification, or whether the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal act. If the results of the investigation shall be satisfactory to the Board, and the applicant is otherwise qualified, then the Board shall issue to the applicant a trainee registration or certificate authorizing the applicant to act as a registered trainee real estate appraiser or certified real estate appraiser in this State.

(d) If the applicant has not affirmatively demonstrated that the applicant meets the requirements for registration or certification, action on the application will be deferred pending a hearing before the Board.