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Appraiser Certification Program

Upgrading to a Higher Level of Certification

Midway Review

As of September 20, 2016, administrative rules allow appraisers to submit appraisals for compliance review midway through their experience hours required to upgrade to a higher level of licensure or certification. (A midway upgrade fee applies.)

Upgrade Not Mandatory

Please note: It is not mandatory for a State-Registered Appraiser to upgrade to the State-Licensed Appraiser classification. A State-Registered Appraiser may upgrade to State-Certified Residential or State-Certified General.

Upgrade Procedure

The procedure for an individual who wants to upgrade his or her certification as an appraiser in South Dakota to a higher level of certification is as follows. See our Classifications and Requirements of Appraisers page as needed for more information.

1. Complete the Application for New or Upgrade Credential, Appraisal Experience Log (in Microsoft Excel format*), submit the appropriate fees for the level of certification being sought, and provide documentation verifying the education hours required for the upgrade. (If an applicant is claiming education on the application that has not been claimed previously, verification should be submitted.)

*Only this form will be accepted for assignments and experience hours claimed on or after June 1, 2015. For experience documented prior to June 1, 2015, you may submit the log that you have completed using the "old" log form.

2. The Department reviews the application and supporting documentation.
3. Once the Department has completed its review of the application including the experience page and appraisal experience log, appraisals are requested from each category (residential, multi-family, commercial/industrial and agricultural) for compliance review. The Department will also choose appraisals at random from the appraisal experience log to verify experience.
4. The applicant is requested to sign and submit a Submission of Documents (Adobe PDF format) form to ensure all of the pertinent information (workfile) for each appraisal is submitted for review.

5. The Department reviews the appraisals when they are received in the office for compliance with general laws and rules.
6. The appraisals are copied, blanking out the appraiser’s name, address, license number and any other identifying factors, and mailed to an examiner for review. The examiner is requested to review the appraisals for minimum compliance with the uniform standards and the rules. (See the checklist, in Adobe PDF format.)
7. The examiner returns the review report and supporting comments to the Department. If there are violations cited by the examiner but they do not warrant denial of the upgrade application by the Department, the license/certificate is granted upon successful completion of the Uniform National Appraiser Examination, if applicable. (An explanation of any violation is provided to the applicant for information and corrective purposes.)
8. If the Department determines the violations warrant a denial of the upgrade application, the Department issues an Order to deny the upgrade application and mails it to the applicant.* (The violations are cited with the Order.)
9. The applicant is given the opportunity to petition the Department for a hearing in accordance with South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) Chapter 1-26 which is the standard for administrative procedures with regard to licensing agencies in the State.
10. The petitioner, in accordance with SDCL Chapter 1-26, has the right to an impartial hearing and to be represented by legal counsel. After the evidence in the matter has been heard, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and proposed decision are presented to the Secretary of the Department for a final decision. (The Secretary may hear the proceeding and render his or her decision.)

*An agreed disposition with waiver may be introduced in lieu of the Order.

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