How to check an appraiser's license on the national registry

Where can you check an appraiser's license?

You can check it on the Appraiser Registry, a national database kept by the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. It lists appraisers holding a state license or a state certification, along with appraisal management companies in a separate registry.

The ASC does not issue credentials itself. Each state appraiser regulatory agency sends its records to the registry, and the ASC says states submit them at least monthly. So the registry is a mirror of what the states report, not a separate judgment of anyone's skill.

How do you search the registry?

You go to asc.gov, open National Registries, and choose the Appraiser Registry search. No account or password is needed.

1. Pick the credentialing state, or leave it blank to search every state.
2. Pick a certificate type if you know it: Certified General, Certified Residential or Licensed.
3. Type the first and last name, then select Apply.
4. Open the matching record and compare the name, license number and state against what the appraiser gave you or what appears on the report.

A name search that returns nothing is not proof of a problem. Try a shorter version of the first name, drop a middle initial, or clear the state filter, since an appraiser can hold credentials in more than one state.

What do the search results tell you?

The results show the credential type, the issuing state, and whether the credential is active. A few columns deserve a closer look:

• Status. Active means the state reports the credential as current. The ASC FAQ page (checked September 2026) notes that an existing credential stays listed as active for 30 days past its expiration date, because updates do not happen in real time.
• AQB compliant. A "yes" means the appraiser met the Appraiser Qualifications Board criteria for education, experience and examination. A "no" usually means the appraiser was not required to show those experience hours when credentialed. The ASC is clear that anyone listed as active can still appraise for federally related transactions within their scope.
• Disciplinary actions. The registry shows active discipline that limits an appraiser's ability to work, such as a current revocation, suspension, or voluntary surrender in place of discipline.

Why might an appraiser not appear in the registry?

The most common reason is that the person is a trainee. The ASC explains that trainee level credentials, sometimes called registered or associate appraisers, are not federally recognized, so they are left out. A trainee may still have inspected a home and helped write the report, with a supervising appraiser who does appear in the registry signing alongside.

Timing is the other usual cause. According to the same ASC FAQ page, it can take up to 30 to 35 days for a new or renewed credential to show up. A spelling difference between the state record and the report can also hide a match.

What can you do if something in the record looks wrong?

You contact the state agency that issued the credential, because the ASC cannot change state data and does not independently verify it. The Appraisal Foundation keeps a lookup tool that lists every state appraiser regulatory agency, and the ASC site has a State Compliance section with the same contacts.

The same is true for concerns about an appraiser's work. The ASC does not take complaints directly. It points people to the state regulator through its National Appraisal Complaint Hotline referral page. If the issue is with a lender rather than the appraiser, the ASC suggests contacting that lender's federal regulator instead.

Once you know how to read a record, the next question is usually what the credential titles mean. Our guide to licensed versus certified appraisers walks through each level.