The Georgia Application for Appraiser Classification is the official form you send to the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board (GREAB) to get your legal authority to appraise real property in the state. Every person who wants to value real estate for a fee in Georgia must file one of these applications and earn a classification before doing a single paid appraisal. The form pictured here is the Application for State Registered Appraiser, revision GREAB St Reg (06-2017), and the same rules and sections apply across all five Georgia classification levels.
This application solves one core problem: it proves to the state that you meet the age, education, background, and residency rules in O.C.G.A. § 43-39A-7 and Rule 539-1-.16 before you ever sign an appraisal report. Get it wrong and the Board returns your packet unprocessed, charges you a $25 fee, and your start date slides back by weeks. The Board is clear that incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed and result in a $25 charge, so accuracy here protects both your time and your money.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to complete every Section (A through E) of the classification application line by line, in plain language.
- 🎓 The exact education, residency, and background documents you must gather before you open the form.
- 🧾 How to handle the GCIC background report, the criminal disclosure box, and the notarized Lawful Presence form without tripping a hold.
- 🏷️ How the five Georgia classifications differ, and which form and fee applies to each one.
- ⚠️ The most common field-level mistakes that get applications bounced, and how to avoid each one.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Application for Appraiser Classification is the gateway document for the real estate appraisal profession in Georgia. It is received and reviewed by the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board, a division housed with the Georgia Real Estate Commission at 229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1000, Atlanta, GA 30303-1605. The Board uses the form to confirm you meet the legal standards set out in the Georgia Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act before it issues your wall certificate.
You must file this form if you want to act as a real estate appraiser in Georgia at any level. The statute, O.C.G.A. § 43-39A-7, states that any person who wants to act as a real estate appraiser must file an application for the classification they seek. This covers brand-new entrants, people moving up to a higher level, and appraisers transferring in from another state.
Georgia has five classifications, and each one has its own version of this application and its own requirements under Rule 539-1-.16. The base level is State Registered, followed by State Trainee, then State Licensed, State Certified Residential, and State Certified General. The State Registered and State Trainee levels need only 90 hours of education and no exam, while the Licensed and Certified levels add college credit, thousands of supervised experience hours, and a national exam.
The form ties five things together: its purpose (proving you qualify), the agency that receives it (the Board), the statute that requires it (the Appraiser Act), the deadline that governs renewal (the last day of your birth month the year after you register), and the penalty for getting it wrong (a returned packet and a $25 charge). Each piece depends on the others, so a single missing signature can stall the whole chain.
State Registered vs. State Trainee: Which One Do You File?
Many new applicants confuse these two entry-level paths because they share the same 90-hour education rule and the same $125 application. The key difference is supervision and intent. A State Trainee must complete an extra AQB Supervisory/Trainee course and work under a state-certified Supervisory Appraiser to build experience toward a higher license.
| Feature | What It Means |
|---|---|
| State Registered | Can appraise most property but not federally related transactions on its own; no separate trainee course needed. |
| State Trainee | Built to gain experience hours under a Supervisory Appraiser; requires the extra AQB Supervisory/Trainee course before classification. |
If your goal is to climb to Licensed or Certified, the Trainee path collects the supervised hours you will need later, a point spelled out in Rule 539-1-.16.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. The Board returns incomplete packets unprocessed and charges $25, so a missing item is not a small delay, it is a restart.
- A GCIC background report less than 60 days old. Georgia residents attach a Georgia Crime Information Center report; out-of-state residents attach the equivalent report from their home state. A report from anyone other than a law enforcement agency is not accepted, and a stale report forces a do-over.
- A notarized Lawful Presence Verification form plus a verifiable ID. This proves you are lawfully present in the United States under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011; without the notary stamp, the Board cannot process you.
- Proof of 90 hours of qualifying education, including the 15-hour USPAP course. If you studied at a GREAB-approved school, the school sends your transcript directly; if you studied out of state, you must attach proof for every required course.
- Your Social Security number. The form requests it under a notice that the Board will not release it to third parties except as required by law, and the agency cross-checks it for identity.
- Your full legal name as it appears on your ID. Name mismatches between the form, your ID, and your education records trigger holds while the Board sorts out who you are.
- A cashier’s check or money order for $125. Personal checks are not accepted; the fee is non-refundable and must be payable to the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board.
- A certified appraiser history (if you held a license elsewhere). It must be issued within one year of your application and cannot be a copy of your wall certificate or pocket card.
- Certified court and disposition records (if you have any criminal or disciplinary history). Each occurrence needs the citation or indictment, the final disposition, and a detailed written statement.
- Your residence and business addresses with counties. The Board records your county for jurisdiction and contact, and a blank county field can stall the file.
Missing even one of these items is the single most common reason a Georgia appraiser application bounces. Treat this list as a checklist you physically check off before mailing.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official application lives on the Board’s website. You can download the State Registered Appraiser application directly as a fillable PDF, and the other classification forms sit alongside it on the same agency portal. Always pull the form from the official GREAB site so you get the current revision and not an outdated copy from a third-party blog.
The form is a fillable PDF, so you can type your answers on screen before printing. The Board’s standard instruction across its appraiser forms is to fill out the form online, then print two copies: one to sign and submit for processing and one for your records. Keeping a signed copy for yourself is your proof of what you filed and when.
Check the revision code in the footer before you start. This walkthrough uses GREAB St Reg (06-2017), printed at the bottom of each page. If the version on the site shows a newer date, the field layout may shift slightly, so confirm you have the current form before you commit your answers.
The matching Lawful Presence Verification affidavit is also on the GREAB website, and the form itself points you there. Download it at the same time you grab the application so you can get it notarized in one trip rather than two.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Georgia Appraiser Classification Application Line by Line
The form runs three pages and is broken into Sections A through E. Complete every section, attach the supporting documents called for in Sections C and D, and sign Section E. Work top to bottom and do not leave a field blank, even if the answer is “none.”
Top of Page 1: Classification Requested and Status
The very top of the form asks which classification you want and whether you want Active Status or Inactive Status, with a checkbox marked I am requesting. In plain English, this is where you tell the Board exactly which credential and which working status you are applying for. Check the box for your level (here, State Registered) and choose Active if you plan to appraise right away.
Choose Active Status if you intend to perform appraisals now, since an inactive classification cannot be used to sign reports. For example, Maria Lopez checks “State Registered” and “Active Status” because she wants to start working under a certified appraiser immediately. A common edge case is the applicant who has a job lined up but no supervisor yet; that person can pick Active and still hold the credential while arranging supervision.
The most common mistake here is leaving the status blank, which forces the Board to guess and can delay your wall certificate. The misconception is that Inactive means “pending,” when it actually means you hold the credential but agree not to practice until you reactivate.
Section A: Individual Information
Section A collects your identity: First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Suffix, birth date, gender, SSN, email, residence address, business address, and the county for each address. This is the heart of who you are, and the Board matches it against your ID, your education records, and your background report. Type your full legal name exactly as it reads on your Social Security card and government ID.
Format your birth date and addresses cleanly, and do not abbreviate your county. For example, Maria Lopez writes “Maria” / “Elena” / “Lopez,” enters her birth date as 03/14/1990, and lists “Fulton” as her residence county. An edge case worth noting: if your residence and business addresses are the same, still fill in both blocks rather than writing “same as above,” because the Board reads each field separately.
The form also notes your renewal rule right here: you must renew by the last day of your birth month in the calendar year following the year you first became registered, which is why your birth date matters beyond identity. The most common mistake is a name that does not match your ID, which triggers an identity hold while the Board reconciles records. The misconception is that a nickname or shortened name is fine; it is not, because the agency cross-checks the legal name on file.
Section A: High School Graduation and Education Block
Within Section A you must answer Are you a high school graduate? with checkboxes for High School or GED, and you must confirm your 90 hours of qualifying education. This field proves you meet the baseline schooling rule in Rule 539-1-.16, which requires a high school diploma or GED for every classification. Check the box that matches your record.
For the education line, confirm you finished the required 90 hours of core education, including the 15-hour national USPAP course, within the five years before you submit. For example, Maria Lopez checks “High School,” and because she studied at a GREAB-approved school, her transcript is sent to the Board by the school directly. The edge case is the out-of-state student: if you took courses at a school approved in another state, you must attach proof of completion for all required courses yourself.
A frequent mistake is letting coursework age out, since education older than five years from your submission date does not count. The misconception is that a college degree replaces the 90-hour appraisal curriculum at this level; it does not, because the Registered and Trainee levels require the specific appraisal core, not general college credit.
Section A: Application Fee Block
Section A also carries the fee instruction: include a non-refundable registration fee in the form of a cashier’s check or money order for $125.00 made payable to the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board. In plain terms, this is the money that buys your review, and the form is explicit that it cannot be a personal check. Attach the payment to the front of your packet so the Board sees it on intake.
Use a cashier’s check or money order only, and write your name on it so the Board can match the payment to your file. For example, Maria Lopez buys a $125 money order at her bank, writes “Maria Lopez – State Registered” in the memo line, and clips it to page 1. The edge case is a military spouse or transitioning service member, who should check the dedicated box on the form, since Georgia offers expedited handling for that group.
The most common mistake is sending a personal check, which the Board rejects outright and returns with the packet. The misconception is that the fee is refundable if you withdraw; it is not, because the form labels it non-refundable on its face.
Section B: Background Information and Prior Licensure
Section B asks two history questions: Have you previously held a Georgia appraiser classification? and Have you ever been an appraiser in another state?, along with a mailing address block and the Social Security notice. This section maps your appraisal past so the Board can pull your prior records. Answer YES or NO honestly for each.
If you answer YES to holding a license in another state, you must attach a certified appraiser history from that state’s licensing board, issued within one year and not a copy of your wall certificate or pocket card. For example, Daniel Reyes, who held a Florida appraiser license, answers YES to question (2) and attaches a certified history he ordered from the Florida board last month. The edge case is the lapsed Georgia licensee returning after years away; that person answers YES to question (1) and provides their prior PID number so the Board links the old file.
The most common mistake is attaching a pocket card or wall certificate instead of the certified history the form demands, which the Board will not accept. The misconception is that an active out-of-state license transfers automatically; it does not, because Georgia still requires its own application and verification.
Section C: Conviction Question
Section C asks whether, in Georgia or any other state, jurisdiction, or country, you have ever been convicted of, pled nolo contendere to, or been granted first offender treatment for a criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation, or for DUI. This is the most sensitive box on the form, and the instructions are strict. You must answer YES or NO.
You must answer YES even if you were pardoned, even if someone told you the offense was expunged or off your record, and even if the GCIC or NCIC report does not show it. For example, Daniel Reyes answers YES because of a single DUI from 2015, and attaches a written statement explaining the circumstances even though no court documents are required for a single DUI. For any non-DUI occurrence, you must attach a certified copy of the citation, accusation, or indictment plus the final disposition, and for every occurrence a detailed written statement covering the circumstances, restitution, completed conditions, and any current parole or probation.
The most serious mistake on the entire form is failing to disclose here, because non-disclosure is itself grounds for denial under the form’s own language. The misconception is that a sealed, expunged, or pardoned case does not count; the form expressly says it still must be disclosed, which is why honesty protects you more than silence ever could.
Section D: Disciplinary Questions
Section D asks two questions: Have you ever been disciplined by the Georgia Real Estate Commission or the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board? and Have you ever been disciplined by any other state or federal licensing agency? Disciplinary actions include reprimands, suspensions, revocations, fines, or any restriction on a license. Answer YES or NO to each.
If you answer YES to question (2), attach a certified copy of the final order for each occurrence and a detailed written statement covering the circumstances, any required payment, completed conditions, and whether the license is currently suspended or revoked. For example, Janet Coleman, an accountant whose CPA license once carried a fine, answers YES to question (2) and attaches the board’s final order plus her written explanation. The edge case is discipline in a totally unrelated profession, which still must be reported because the question covers any profession.
The common mistake is treating a minor fine as too small to report, which then surfaces during review and looks like concealment. The misconception is that only appraisal-related discipline matters; the form is broad and covers any licensing agency that regulates any profession.
Section E: Certification and Signature
Section E is the legal certification you sign and date, agreeing to abide by the Appraiser Act, consenting to service of process, authorizing the Board to pull your criminal and driver history, and certifying your answers are true. This is where you take legal responsibility for everything above it. Read each paragraph, then sign and date.
By signing, you also agree not to advertise or act as an appraiser until you receive your wall certificate, a promise the form states directly. For example, Maria Lopez signs and dates Section E on the same day she mails the packet, and waits for her certificate before accepting her first assignment. The edge case is a nonresident applicant, who by signing consents to Georgia jurisdiction and agrees to cooperate with any investigation under O.C.G.A. § 43-39A-22.
The most common mistake is mailing the form unsigned, which makes the entire application void and forces a return. The misconception is that signing is just a formality; it is a binding certification, and a false statement here can support denial or later discipline.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named scenarios show how different applicants move through the same form from top to bottom.
Scenario 1 — Maria Lopez, a recent graduate seeking State Registered classification
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Classification requested | Checks “State Registered” and “Active Status” |
| Section A name | Maria Elena Lopez, birth date 03/14/1990 |
| Section A education | Checks “High School”; GREAB-approved school sends her 90-hour transcript |
| Section A fee | $125 money order, memo Maria Lopez – State Registered |
| Lawful Presence form | Notarized affidavit plus her Georgia driver’s license attached |
| Section B | NO to both prior-license questions |
| Section C | NO, no criminal history |
| Section D | NO to both disciplinary questions |
| Section E | Signs and dates the day she mails the packet |
Scenario 2 — Daniel Reyes, an out-of-state appraiser transferring in
| Form Section | What Daniel Enters |
|---|---|
| Classification requested | Checks his target Georgia classification and “Active Status” |
| Section A name | Daniel James Reyes, with new Georgia residence address and county |
| Section A education | Attaches proof of all courses from his out-of-state approved school |
| GCIC report | Attaches Florida equivalent report dated within 60 days |
| Section B (2) | YES; attaches certified Florida appraiser history issued within one year |
| Section C | YES for a single 2015 DUI; attaches written statement |
| Section D | NO to both disciplinary questions |
| Section E | Signs, consenting to Georgia jurisdiction as a new resident |
Scenario 3 — Janet Coleman, a career-changer pursuing State Trainee
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Classification requested | Checks “State Trainee” and “Active Status” |
| Section A education | 90 hours plus the AQB Supervisory/Trainee course completed |
| Section A fee | $125 money order payable to GREAB |
| Lawful Presence form | Notarized affidavit and passport as ID |
| Section B | NO to both prior-license questions |
| Section C | NO, no criminal history |
| Section D (2) | YES, prior CPA fine; attaches final order and written statement |
| Section E | Signs and dates; arranges Supervisory Appraiser registration |
How to File the Completed Form
This application cannot be filed online, by fax, or through a portal. The form states plainly that it must be submitted by mail or in person to the Board’s office, because the original signature and the physical fee instrument are required.
By mail. Send your signed application, all attachments, and your $125 cashier’s check or money order to the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board, 229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1000, International Tower, Atlanta, GA 30303-1605. The accepted payment methods are cashier’s check or money order only, never a personal check or cash. Use certified mail with tracking so you keep proof of the date you sent it, and retain your signed second copy as your record.
In person. You may hand-deliver the same packet to the Board’s Atlanta office at the address above during business hours. Bring your photo ID, your notarized Lawful Presence form, and your fee instrument; ask for a date-stamped receipt as your proof of filing. In-person delivery lets a clerk flag an obvious missing item before you leave.
Processing time varies with volume and whether your education transcript has arrived from your school. Keep your tracking receipt and your signed copy until your wall certificate arrives, because that certificate, not a confirmation email, is your authority to practice. You may reach the Board at 404-656-3916 or by email at grecmail@grec.state.ga.us to check status.
What Happens After You File
After the Board receives your packet, it reviews every section and every attachment against the rules in Rule 539-1-.16. If anything is missing, the application is returned unprocessed with a $25 charge, so a clean packet is the fastest path forward.
If your file is complete and your background report is clear, the Board issues your wall certificate, which is your legal authority to begin appraisal activity. The form is explicit that you may not advertise or hold yourself out as an appraiser until you receive that certificate. Until then, you wait.
If your background report lists an incident, or you disclosed a conviction or disciplinary action, the Board routes your file to a background clearance review before approval. The Board may also request additional information after reading your application, as Section E warns. Responding fast keeps your file moving rather than letting it sit.
Once classified, you enter the renewal cycle. You must renew by the last day of your birth month in the calendar year following the year you first registered, and every active appraiser, including Trainees, must complete 14 hours of continuing education per renewal year under Rule 539-1-.16. State Trainees and State Registered appraisers also need a registered Supervisory Appraiser to earn experience credit.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Sending a personal check. The Board accepts only a cashier’s check or money order, so a personal check gets your packet returned.
- Submitting a GCIC report older than 60 days. A stale report is rejected, and you must reorder and refile.
- Forgetting to notarize the Lawful Presence form. Without the notary stamp the form is invalid, and the Board cannot verify your eligibility.
- Failing to disclose a conviction in Section C. Non-disclosure is itself grounds for denial, even for pardoned or expunged cases.
- Using a nickname instead of your legal name. Name mismatches trigger an identity hold while the Board reconciles your records.
- Leaving the county fields blank. The Board uses your county for jurisdiction, and a blank field stalls processing.
- Attaching a wall certificate instead of a certified appraiser history. The form rejects pocket cards and certificates, so your out-of-state proof fails.
- Letting education age past five years. Coursework older than five years from submission does not count toward your 90 hours.
- Mailing the form unsigned. An unsigned Section E voids the application and forces a return.
- Skipping the AQB Supervisory/Trainee course for a Trainee application. The course is required before classification, so omitting it blocks approval.
- Ignoring disciplinary history from an unrelated profession. Section D covers any profession, and concealment looks worse than disclosure.
- Choosing the wrong classification box. Picking a level you do not qualify for guarantees a denial and a lost fee.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do read the entire form first, because each section depends on the others and one missed field returns the whole packet.
- Do order your GCIC report last, since it must be under 60 days old at submission.
- Do write your name on your money order, so the Board matches your payment to your file.
- Do keep a signed second copy, because it is your proof of what and when you filed.
- Do disclose everything in Sections C and D, since honesty protects you and concealment supports denial.
- Do confirm your education arrived, because a GREAB-approved school sends transcripts directly and you should verify receipt.
Don’t:
- Don’t use a personal check, because the Board rejects it on intake.
- Don’t abbreviate or shorten your legal name, since mismatches trigger identity holds.
- Don’t skip the notarization on the Lawful Presence form, or the Board cannot process you.
- Don’t assume an out-of-state license transfers automatically, because Georgia requires its own full application.
- Don’t advertise as an appraiser before your certificate arrives, since the form bars it and you signed to comply.
- Don’t mail your only copy, because you need a signed record for yourself.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save money, because you avoid consultant or attorney fees on top of the $125 application fee.
- You learn the rules early, which helps you understand renewals and upgrades later.
- You control the timeline, so you can mail the moment your documents are ready.
- The entry-level form is short, running three sections of substance you can manage alone.
- You keep your records organized, since you handle every attachment yourself.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You risk a returned packet and a $25 charge if you miss a single item.
- Background and disciplinary disclosures are tricky, and a misstep can support a denial.
- You may misjudge your classification level, especially when education or experience rules are borderline.
- Out-of-state transfers add paperwork, like certified histories that are easy to order incorrectly.
- You carry the legal weight of Section E alone, with no professional to review your certification before you sign.
FAQs
Do I have to be a Georgia resident to apply?
No. Non-residents may apply, but you must comply with O.C.G.A. § 43-39A-9 and attach an equivalent background report from your state of residency.
Do I write my nickname or my legal name in Section A?
No. Always use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, because a mismatch triggers an identity hold on your file.
Do I need to disclose a DUI in Section C?
Yes. A DUI must be disclosed, and you must attach a detailed written statement explaining the circumstances, even though a single DUI needs no court documents.
Do expunged or pardoned offenses still get reported in Section C?
Yes. The form requires disclosure even if the case was pardoned, expunged, or not shown on the GCIC or NCIC report.
Do I pay the $125 fee with a personal check?
No. The Board accepts only a cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board.
Do I send my GCIC report if it is three months old?
No. The report must be no more than 60 days old, so order it close to your submission date.
Do I need the notarized Lawful Presence form for every application?
Yes. A notarized Lawful Presence Verification form and a verifiable ID are required, with the form available on the GREAB website.
Do I attach my wall certificate for an out-of-state license in Section B?
No. You attach a certified appraiser history from the other state’s board, issued within one year, not a certificate or pocket card.
Do State Registered and State Trainee require an exam?
No. Neither level requires a state exam, though you must pass the end-of-course exams in your 90 hours of qualifying education.
Do I need a college degree for State Registered classification?
No. State Registered needs only a high school diploma or GED plus the 90-hour core, while degrees apply to Certified levels under Rule 539-1-.16.
Do I report discipline from a non-appraisal profession in Section D?
Yes. Section D covers any state or federal agency that regulates any profession, so an unrelated license action must be disclosed.
Do I have to check Active or Inactive status on the form?
Yes. You must choose one, and a blank status forces the Board to guess and can delay your wall certificate.
Do I file this application online?
No. The form must be submitted by mail or in person to the Atlanta office, because an original signature and physical fee are required.
Do I owe a penalty if my application is incomplete?
Yes. Incomplete applications are returned unprocessed and result in a $25 charge, so double-check every section before mailing.
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