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. BREA’s current USPAP guidance 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 current USPAP 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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California law also imposes additional subject-matter requirements within the CE cycle. Business and Professions Code section 11360 requires continuing education on a four-year cycle and, for licensees renewing on or after January 1, 2023, includes at least two hours of elimination of bias training, at least one hour of cultural competency every four years, and at least four hours of federal and California appraisal-related statutory and regulatory law every four years.

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USPAP requirement

California requires USPAP in both halves of the four-year cycle. BREA’s current 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.

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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 current renewal page states that a renewal requires completion of the 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course, and BREA’s current 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. BREA’s official VBFH notice further states that the course must be completed every two years, that the first CE course must be 7 hours, and that every two years thereafter the course must be at least 4 hours.

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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 it does not satisfy the separate 1-hour Cultural Competency requirement, which 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. BREA’s license search records show active licenses with two-year renewal periods, and Business and Professions Code section 11341 confirms that appraiser licenses are valid for two years. BREA also advises on its current USPAP page that renewal applications should be submitted 90 days before the expiration date to avoid a possible lapse.

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Online and renewal fees

BREA’s current 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 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. The Bureau’s online services include official Course Search, Course Provider Search, and related education-search tools, and BREA’s current public materials show approved VBFH and USPAP offerings appearing in licensee course histories for 2026 renewals.

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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. California’s official USPAP Requirements, renewal page, contact page, and BREA’s current 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 current licensure and continuing-education statutes appear in BREA’s official 2026 California Laws PDF. The most important current provisions for renewal and CE are Business and Professions Code section 11341, which makes a license valid for two years, and Business and Professions Code section 11360, which requires CE to be reported on a four-year continuing education cycle and includes California’s current elimination of bias, cultural competency, and law-course requirements. BREA’s current public implementation guidance appears on its official USPAP Requirements, online renewal page, home page bulletin, and Valuation Bias and Fair Housing notice. Those official BREA materials currently establish the practical renewal structure for California appraisers, including the alternating USPAP-only and full CE renewals and the current VBFH requirement for renewals on and after January 1, 2026.

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State Appraisers Board Contact Information

California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
Website: brea.ca.gov
Contact page: Contact BREA
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 the system will not accept online renewals for licensees with an out-of-state address, reciprocity licensees, temporary licensees, suspended, resigned, or revoked licensees, licensees whose right to renew has been revoked, or licensees subject to enforcement monitoring. Before renewing, make sure you have completed the CE required for your particular point in the cycle. If your next renewal is a USPAP renewal, complete the required 7-hour USPAP course within the license term. If your next renewal is a full CE renewal, be sure the entire cycle is complete, including the two required USPAP courses across the four-year cycle, the required VBFH course, the required law hours, and the required cultural competency hour. BREA recommends submitting the renewal application 90 days before expiration.

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Pro-Tips for 2026

• Do not confuse California’s older 2-hour Elimination of Bias requirement with the newer federally driven Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations requirement. BREA expressly states that the 2-hour California course does not replace the 7-hour VBFH course, although the VBFH course does satisfy the elimination-of-bias requirement.

• Keep the 1-hour Cultural Competency requirement on your checklist. BREA’s current VBFH notice states that the VBFH course does not satisfy that separate requirement.

• 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.

• 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 BREA’s system tracks whether the next renewal is “USPAP” or “Full CE.”

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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.