Certified General Appraiser Examination Practice Test

Eligibility is strictly defined by state appraisal boards but universally includes: 1) Successful completion of required core curriculum and advanced education courses (minimum 300 hours from an approved provider), 2) Documentation of a minimum of 3,000 hours of acceptable appraisal experience acquired over at least 30 months, with a significant portion in non-residential work, and 3) Holding a Bachelor's degree or higher (or meeting alternative criteria as specified by your state). You must apply for and receive approval from your state's licensing board before registering for the exam.

The Certified General exam delves far deeper into the valuation of income-producing properties and complex asset types. Key distinctions include advanced income capitalization techniques (DCF, yield capitalization), detailed analysis of commercial lease structures, feasibility studies, the valuation of partial interests, and the application of statistical concepts in market analysis. While both exams cover USPAP, the General exam emphasizes its application to complex, non-residential reporting and review assignments. The scope of property types is unlimited, requiring knowledge of specialized assets like industrial facilities, hotels, and agricultural land.

The national exam is a computer-based test typically consisting of 110-125 multiple-choice questions, to be completed within a 4-hour testing period. The questions are derived from the national exam blueprint and cover defined content areas such as Valuation Principles & Procedures (35-45%), Property Analysis & Description (15-25%), Data Collection & Analysis (15-25%), and USPAP & Ethics (10-20%). Many questions are scenario-based, requiring the application of knowledge to solve specific valuation problems.

Yes. In addition to comprehensive review of your core education textbooks, essential resources include: the current USPAP edition and its accompanying Student Manual, the 'Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal' from the Appraisal Institute, and advanced textbooks on income property valuation. Many candidates benefit from structured exam prep courses offered by major appraisal organizations (e.g., Appraisal Institute, McKissock) which focus on test-taking strategy, concept review, and practice questions aligned with the national blueprint.

Retake policies are set by your state appraisal board. Generally, candidates are allowed to retake the exam after a mandatory waiting period (e.g., 30 days) and upon payment of a re-examination fee. You will receive a diagnostic report indicating content areas of weakness, which should guide your focused study for the next attempt. It is critical to analyze your performance gaps rather than simply re-studying all material.