Essential Information
Few public or non-profit schools in Tennessee offer training in real estate appraisal. The pair that do offer a program that does not lead to the award of a formal educational award, but does qualify graduates to take the appropriate licensing exam. Curriculum included in an appraisal program includes classes in topics such as residential construction, site valuation, and mortgage fraud.
Greater Tennessee Chapter Appraisal Institute
The Appraisal Institute is a global membership of real estate appraisers with nearly 91 chapters around the world and the Tennessee chapter's main classes are found in Nashville. The Tennessee chapter offers real estate appraisal training and continuing education courses in Chattanooga and Knoxville for those who are interested in starting out in the field. Some of these courses include mortgage fraud, appraiser identity theft, evaluating residential construction, evaluating commercial construction, appraising for alternate uses, general appraisal income approach, appraising convenience stores and business practice and ethics.
The Columbia Institute
Courses offered at The Columbia Institute in Knoxville are designed to provide students with insight into ways to kick start or build a business as a real estate appraiser in the state. The program is also offered in Memphis and Nashville. The courses are offered by instructors who have extensive, real-world experience in the real estate appraisal industry. Some particular courses offered at the institute include residential report writing and case study, property management, risk management, appraiser site valuation, practice of condemnation appraisal, environmental issues in real estate, red flags on property inspection and national code updates.
Career Requirements
Individuals who are interested in becoming real estate appraisers in the state of Tennessee must complete a series of courses at an approved location before becoming a state licensed real estate appraiser, a state certified residential appraiser or a state certified general appraiser. These real estate appraisal classes are not typically offered by universities or colleges, but associations and institutions approved by the Tennessee Real Estate Appraisal Committee.
Below are short summaries of the two institutes in Tennessee providing real estate courses, as well as a comparison table providing class offerings and tuition fees.
School Comparison: At a Glance
| School Name | School Type & Setting | Real Estate Courses Offered | Program Fees (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Tennessee Chapter of the Appraisal Institute | Public; large city | Real Estate Appraisal Program | $195-$1,200 per course* |
| The Columbia Institute | Public; midsize city | Real Estate Appraisal Program | $350** |
Sources: *Greater Tennessee Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, **The Columbia Institute.
