California
Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements

If you hold a California appraiser credential, California uses a two-year license renewal structure, but the continuing-education framework is tracked on a four-year continuing education cycle. Under Business and Professions Code section 11341, a license issued on or after January 1, 2000 is valid for two years, and Business and Professions Code section 11360 states that continuing education is reported on the basis of a four-year continuing education cycle. The California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) administers those requirements, and its USPAP Requirements page explains that California alternates between a USPAP-only renewal and a full CE renewal within that four-year cycle.

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What California appraisers need

California's current CE cycle is best understood as 56 total hours over four years, reported through two renewals. BREA's USPAP Requirements page states that the first renewal in the cycle is a USPAP Renewal, which requires documentation of the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course taken within the license term. The second renewal is a CE Renewal, which must include documentation of that earlier 7-hour USPAP course plus 49 additional hours, including another 7-hour National USPAP Update Course taken within the second two years of the license term. In practical terms, that is a four-year total of 56 hours.

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The operative continuing-education regulation is 10 CCR § 3543, which requires the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course every two-year renewal period and, for the four-year cycle, an average of 14 accredited hours per year for a minimum of 56 hours. That section also sets out California's additional subject-matter requirements: a minimum 4-hour Bureau-approved course on federal and California appraisal-related statutory and regulatory law, and, for licenses expiring on or after January 1, 2023, at least one hour in cultural competency and at least two hours in elimination of bias training.

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USPAP requirement

California requires USPAP in both halves of the four-year cycle. BREA's USPAP Requirements page explains that the first renewal is the USPAP-only renewal, and the second renewal must include documentation of the earlier USPAP course plus an additional 7-hour National USPAP Update Course completed during the second two years of the CE cycle. That page also notes that USPAP courses taken for basic education credit must be the 15-hour National USPAP Course, taken from an AQB Certified Instructor who is also a Certified Residential or Certified General appraiser in good standing, and approved by BREA.

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Valuation Bias and Fair Housing requirement

California now expressly requires the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course for renewals on and after January 1, 2026. BREA's online renewal system states that renewal requires completion of the 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course, and BREA's home page bulletin states that, beginning January 1, 2026, all Trainee, Licensed Residential, Certified Residential, and Certified General appraisers must complete the 7-hour course to be eligible for renewal.

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BREA's official Valuation Bias and Fair Housing notice further states that the first time you take this course it must be a 7-hour course, and that every two calendar years thereafter you complete a 4-hour course. That notice also confirms the requirement applies both to licensees renewing on or after January 1, 2026 and to applicants whose initial or upgrade license is issued on or after that date, and that the 15-hour National USPAP Course and the 7-hour USPAP continuing education requirement remain separate obligations.

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California's public materials also make clear how this course interacts with the state's preexisting bias-training requirement. BREA states that the 7-hour or 4-hour VBFH course satisfies the 2-hour California Elimination of Bias requirement, but that the 2-hour Elimination of Bias course will not be accepted as a substitute for the VBFH course. The separate 1-hour Cultural Competency requirement must still be completed.

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Important California deadlines

California appraiser licenses renew on a rolling two-year cycle, so the key deadline is the credential's own expiration date rather than a single statewide date. Business and Professions Code section 11341 confirms that appraiser licenses are valid for two years. BREA also advises on its USPAP Requirements page that renewal applications should be submitted 90 days before the expiration date to avoid a possible lapse. BREA's online renewal system further states that renewal may not occur more than six months prior to the existing license expiration date.

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Online and renewal fees

BREA's online renewal page lists current total renewal fees of $850 for a Trainee license, $955 for a Residential license, and $1,030 for Certified Residential and Certified General licenses. That same page states that fees are not refundable, that by statute all fees submitted are deemed earned upon receipt, and that online renewal payment may be made by Visa or MasterCard.

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Approved courses

California uses BREA-approved courses and providers. Under 10 CCR § 3543, a course is deemed "Bureau-approved" if it is accredited pursuant to Article 9 of the Bureau's regulations. BREA's online services include official Course Search and Course Provider Search tools for confirming whether a specific offering is currently accredited.

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Stay on track with your California CE

We offer appraisal education designed to help appraisers satisfy California continuing education requirements with practical, current instruction and approved course options. BREA's official USPAP Requirements page, online renewal system, home page bulletin, and Valuation Bias and Fair Housing notice are the best places to confirm current renewal expectations and course planning.​​​

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Legal Authority / Compliance References

California's continuing-education framework rests on two layers. The statutory layer is the Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Certification Law: Business and Professions Code section 11341 makes a license valid for two years, and Business and Professions Code section 11360 requires the director to adopt renewal regulations including continuing education reported on a four-year cycle, and requires at least two hours of elimination of bias training for licensees renewing on or after January 1, 2023, plus a minimum of four hours of federal and California appraisal-related statutory and regulatory law every four years. The current language of section 11360 was set by AB 948 (2021).  The regulatory layer is 10 CCR § 3543, Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal, which is the section that actually states the 7-hour USPAP requirement per two-year period, the 56-hour four-year total, the 4-hour law course, the 1-hour cultural competency requirement, and the 2-hour elimination of bias requirement.

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Appraisers should be aware that this regulation is in active rulemaking. BREA's Notice of Proposed Action states that the Bureau is considering amending sections 3542, 3543, and 3681 of title 10 of the California Code of Regulations to implement the AQB education updates. Until those amendments are final, the current text of section 3543 remains operative.  BREA's current public implementation guidance appears on its official USPAP Requirements page, online renewal system, home page bulletin, and Valuation Bias and Fair Housing notice.

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State Appraisers Board Contact Information

California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
Website: brea.ca.gov
Online renewal: BREA Online License Renewal System
Main phone: (916) 552-9000
General email: info@brea.ca.gov
Licensing email: licensing@brea.ca.gov
Education email: education@brea.ca.gov
Enforcement email: enforcement@brea.ca.gov
Address: 3075 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 190, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.

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How to Renew

California appraisers may renew online through BREA's online renewal system, but that system will not accept applications from licensees who have an out-of-state address, were licensed through reciprocity, hold a temporary license, have a license that has been suspended, resigned, or revoked, have had their right to renew revoked, or are subject to Enforcement monitoring. Renewal may not occur more than six months before the existing license expiration date.

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BREA's How to Renew a License guidance sets out what a CE Renewal must include: the 7-hour National USPAP Update Course completed since the last USPAP submission, the second 4-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course within the most recent two-year period, a minimum 4-hour course on federal and California appraisal-related statutory and regulatory law, a 1-hour cultural competency course, a 2-hour elimination of bias course, and enough elective BREA-approved coursework to reach 56 hours total.

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That same guidance notes that applicants whose address of record is outside California must submit a completed Consent to Service of Process form (REA 3006) with the renewal application, and that the applicable fee must be submitted with the application. BREA recommends filing 90 days before expiration.

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Pro-Tips for 2026

• Do not confuse California's older 2-hour Elimination of Bias course with the federally driven Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course. BREA's renewal system states plainly that the 2-hour course will not be accepted as a substitute — though completing the VBFH course does satisfy the elimination-of-bias requirement.

• Keep the 1-hour Cultural Competency requirement on your checklist. It is a separate obligation under 10 CCR § 3543 and the VBFH course does not satisfy it.

• Treat 90 days before expiration as the practical renewal target. California's rolling two-year renewal dates can sneak up on appraisers, and BREA specifically recommends filing that early to avoid a lapse. Note that you also cannot renew more than six months early.

• Check whether your next renewal is a USPAP-only renewal or a full CE renewal before registering for courses. California's four-year CE cycle is unusual, and the requirements for the two renewals are completely different.

• If your address of record is outside California, plan for the extra paperwork. You cannot use the online renewal system, and you must file the Consent to Service of Process form (REA 3006) with your application.

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Important Disclaimer

This page is provided for general informational purposes only. Continuing education and renewal requirements can change. Appraisers should verify current requirements directly with the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.

 

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026.