If you hold a Washington appraiser credential, Washington uses a two-year renewal cycle tied to your birthday. Under RCW 18.140.130, each original and renewal certificate, license, or registration expires on the applicant’s second birthday following issuance. Washington’s Department of Licensing also states that you may renew up to 120 days before expiration

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What Washington appraisers need

Washington’s current continuing-education rule is WAC 308-125-090. That rule requires 28 hours of instruction in director-approved courses or seminars during the term immediately preceding renewal. The rule also states that courses must be completed within the current credential term and that the credential holder must present satisfactory evidence of successful completion before renewal.

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USPAP requirement

As part of the required 28 hours, Washington requires successful completion of the 7-hour National USPAP Update course or its equivalent. That requirement appears directly in WAC 308-125-090, and the Department’s current renewal page also lists the 7-hour USPAP Update course as one of the required components of renewal CE.

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Valuation Bias and Fair Housing requirement

Washington now expressly requires the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course. The current rule, WAC 308-125-090, states that the first time an appraiser completes this continuing-education requirement, the course must be 7 hours, and every two calendar years afterward the course must be at least 4 hours. The Department’s current renewal page also states that, effective January 1, 2026, every trainee, licensee, and certificate holder must complete a course meeting the VBFH content requirements, that the course must be at least 7 hours, and that any VBFH-related course taken before January 1, 2026 does not meet the requirement.

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Washington’s current news page adds one important practical detail: new and existing appraisers must complete the 7-hour course plus 1-hour exam before licensing beginning January 1, 2026, and after completing the full 7-hour course, subsequent continuing-education renewals will include a 4-hour refresher VBFH course.

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Important Washington deadlines

Washington appraisers may renew no earlier than 120 days before expiration. If a credential holder fails to renew before expiration and no more than one year has passed, the person may still renew by satisfying all renewal requirements and paying late-renewal fees. If a certificate or license is not renewed within one year after expiration, the director must place it in inactive status. A state-licensed, state-certified residential, or state-certified general appraiser may then seek reinstatement within eight years of placement in inactive status if statutory conditions are met. A trainee registration that expires may not be reinstated; the trainee must reapply. Those rules appear in RCW 18.140.130.

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Renewal and reinstatement fees

Washington’s current fee page lists the certification or licensure renewal fee as $980, the trainee registration renewal fee as $400, and the late renewal penalty as $76. The same page lists the fee to reinstate an inactive license as $1,200 and notes that $80 from certification, licensure, renewal, reinstatement, and reciprocal fees goes to the Appraisal Subcommittee.

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Approved courses

Washington’s official Approved appraiser courses page directs licensees to use the online Course Search to find approved offerings. The Department specifically cautions appraisers to make sure the courses they take are approved for their licensure level and notes that courses must be approved for online/distance learning where applicable.

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Stay on track with your Washington CE

We offer appraisal education designed to help appraisers satisfy Washington continuing education requirements with practical, current instruction and approved course options. Washington’s official Renew or update your license, Approved appraiser courses, and News and updates pages are the best places to confirm current renewal expectations and approved-course details.

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Legal Authority / Compliance References

Washington’s current renewal statute is RCW 18.140.130, which establishes the two-year expiration cycle, the 120-day early-renewal window, late renewal within one year, inactive status after one year for licenses and certificates, reinstatement rules, and separate treatment for trainees. Washington’s current continuing-education rule is WAC 308-125-090, which requires 28 hours of approved CE, the 7-hour USPAP Update, and the current Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course structure. Washington’s practical renewal guidance appears on the Department’s official Renew or update your license page, its Approved appraiser courses page, its Fees page, and its News and updates page.

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State Appraisers Board Contact Information

Washington State Real Estate Appraiser Commission / Department of Licensing
Website: Washington Appraisers
Commission page: Real Estate Appraiser Commission
Email: reappraisers@dol.wa.gov
Phone: 360-664-6504
Fax: 360-586-0998
Forms with payments: Real Estate Appraiser, Department of Licensing, PO Box 3777, Seattle, WA 98124-3777
Mail without payments: Real Estate Appraiser Section, Department of Licensing, PO Box 3917, Seattle, WA 98124-3917
UPS/FedEx: 1125 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504-2283
Call center hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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How to Renew

Washington appraisers can renew online through SecureAccess Washington or renew by mail using the Real Estate Appraiser/Appraiser Trainee Renewal Affidavit. Before renewing, complete your required continuing education, gather your license number, certificates of completion, any needed legal background documents, and payment for the renewal fee. If renewing by mail, Washington directs licensees to send the renewal form and payment to PO Box 3777, Seattle, WA 98124-3777.

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Pro-Tips for 2026

• Complete the first 7-hour VBFH course before your next renewal, and make sure it is a course taken on or after January 1, 2026. Washington’s renewal page expressly says earlier VBFH-related courses do not satisfy the new requirement.

• Do not wait until the last month of your cycle. Washington lets you renew 120 days early, which gives you time to correct missing course certificates or background-question documents before the credential expires.

• Before registering for any course, verify it in Washington’s official Course Search. The Department specifically says each appraiser level has its own approved-course requirements and that online courses must be approved for online/distance learning.

• If you are a trainee, be especially careful with deadlines. Washington law allows expired licenses and certificates to move into inactive status and potentially be reinstated, but an expired trainee registration may not be reinstated and requires a new 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 Washington State Department of Licensing.

 

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026.