Minnesota appraiser license lookup

What the three credential types cover

Minnesota issues three appraiser credentials, and the difference between them is what an appraiser is allowed to value. An appraiser working outside their credential is the single most common thing worth catching in this lookup.

Licensed

Non-complex one-to-four unit residential property with a transaction value under $1,000,000, and complex one-to-four unit residential property with a transaction value under $400,000. A property counts as complex when the property itself, the form of ownership, or the market conditions are atypical.

Certified Residential

One-to-four unit residential property, with no limit on value or complexity. Does not extend to subdivisions that require a development analysis.

Certified General

All types of real property, including commercial and industrial. This is the broadest of the three credentials.

Scopes come from the Appraiser Qualifications Board Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria, which every state must implement at no less than that standard. Where Minnesota rules and the federal minimum differ, Minnesota controls.

What Active and Inactive mean on a result

Active means the credential was in good standing on the registry as of the date printed on the result. Inactive covers credentials that lapsed, were surrendered, or were simply not renewed. An inactive credential is not by itself a disciplinary finding, and plenty of people let a credential lapse when they retire or change work. If the appraisal you are relying on was signed while the credential was active, an inactive status today does not undo it.

What the disciplinary flag does and does not show

The registry reports discipline that currently limits an appraiser's ability to appraise: active revocations, suspensions, and voluntary surrenders. It does not show completed discipline, older orders that have since expired, fines that did not restrict practice, or complaints that never became an order. A clean flag means no active restriction, not a clean history. For the full record, ask Commerce directly.

What this lookup does not include

• Real estate salespersons and brokers. Those are a different license type and Commerce publishes no bulk roster of them, so that check still runs on the state's own lookup. We have a standing data practices request in for the roster. See the agent check.
• Trainee appraisers working under a supervisor. The national registry covers the Licensed and Certified classifications.
• Appraisal management companies, which Commerce registers separately from individual appraisers.