Audit your education before buying another course
The Foundation classification overview, checked October 20, 2026, lists 75 qualifying-education hours plus the supervisor/trainee course for Trainee, and 150 hours for Licensed Residential. It lists no National examination for Trainee. Licensed Residential candidates complete education and experience before taking the exam.
Treat the difference as an education audit, not an automatic invoice for a fixed bundle. Ask your board or approved provider to map your accepted courses against the current requirements. Keep dates, completion certificates and any state-specific requirements together. The AQB Criteria are a national framework; the state issues the credential and can impose additional requirements.
Choose an accepted experience route
The same overview lists 1,000 experience hours over no fewer than six months for the traditional Licensed Residential route. It also describes approved practicum and PAREA alternatives that can replace experience requirements. Confirm the treatment of your chosen route directly with the state before committing money or time.
| Route | Practical planning question |
|---|---|
| Supervisor and trainee | Who can supervise, review work and validate your records? |
| Approved practicum | Which programme and credit will your board accept? |
| PAREA | Is the programme approved and accepted for your state and credential? |
The Foundation PAREA guidance requires qualifying education before beginning PAREA and identifies independent approved providers. It does not promise universal state acceptance. EstatePass is not a QE, USPAP or PAREA provider and cannot award experience credit.
Move from assignment work to exam reasoning
Real assignment experience helps, but exam preparation also requires breadth beyond the properties you have seen. Work through the current outline and identify topics your assignments rarely touch. Explain why an approach or adjustment fits the facts, then practise calculations with different inputs.
Use find a supervisor if you are building the traditional pathway. If you already have experience evidence, check its acceptance before treating the hours as approved. Keep examination preparation and your credential file moving together.
Prepare for the correct National examination
The Foundation exam page lists 125 items, including 110 scored and 15 unscored, and four hours for Licensed Residential. Its updated outline applies from April 1, 2026. Your state directs you to the contracted testing provider and booking process.
Practice percentages are study feedback, not a conversion to an official scaled result. Start with available free practice and the difficulty guide. Use the features currently offered on the practice page; do not treat this independent study companion as a complete approved education programme. Before booking, confirm board authorisation, identification, calculator rules and your exact examination classification.
From reading to doing
Your next three moves.
A personal planning checklist. Tick off each step as you finish it; progress lasts until you leave or reload this page.
A little more clarity
Questions, answered.
Must a Trainee pass the National exam?
The Foundation overview lists no National examination for Trainee. Licensed Residential candidates do take the National examination after meeting the required education and experience.
Is PAREA accepted everywhere?
Do not assume that. Check your state board and the approved programme before relying on PAREA for experience credit.
Is the education gap always exactly 75 new hours?
The overview lists 75 hours for Trainee and 150 for Licensed Residential, but your accepted coursework and current state requirements determine the actual gap.
Put your next step into focus.
Take what you have learned into your next study session. Use the linked practice and resources to decide where to focus.
Try free appraiser practiceEducational information and independent practice. Confirm current examination, education and licensing requirements with the linked official sources. Practice results do not guarantee an examination result or eligibility.