Florida Appraiser Continuing Education Rule Became Effective October 6, 2026

If you hold a Florida appraiser registration, license, or certification, your renewal education rules changed. Rule 61J1-4.003 of the Florida Administrative Code took effect October 6, 2026. The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board also amended companion rules on qualifying education and renewal of inactive credentials on the same date.

Who Is Affected

This rule matters to you if:

• You are a registered, licensed, or certified Florida real estate appraiser

• You are renewing an inactive appraiser registration, license, or certification

• You teach or sell Board-approved appraisal qualifying or continuing education courses in Florida

• You hire Florida appraisers and need to confirm their credentials stay current

Key Changes

Thirty-hour CE package. You still must complete at least 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education each renewal period under Rule 61J1-2.002, F.A.C. Those hours still include the 7-hour National USPAP update (or its equivalent), taught by an AQB-certified USPAP instructor, and at least 3 hours on Florida Real Estate Appraisal Law and Board rules.

Valuation Bias and Fair Housing CE. The amended rule adds an approved Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations continuing education course inside that 30-hour total.

The first time you take an approved Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations CE course, it must be at least 7 hours, unless you already completed an approved course of that type in your qualifying education. After that, if you completed the 7-hour course in qualifying education or in CE, later renewals require an approved course of at least 4 hours.

Course topic list. The Board's approval standards for CE courses now list valuation bias and fair housing laws and regulations among the appraisal-related topics that can qualify. The notice of proposed rulemaking said the package also updates inactive-renewal education to include those Valuation Bias and Fair Housing requirements.

Course content limit. New subsection (9) says no course may contain content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion that classifies individuals based on race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It also bars content about differential or preferential treatment based on those classifications. A course may still include subject matter needed to understand and comply with applicable federal or state fair housing laws or regulations.

Short first renewal exception. If less than 6 months pass between the effective date of your initial registration, license, or certificate and the start of your first renewal period, you are not required to complete the 30 hours for that first renewal.

Practical Implications

If you are already practicing, check your current renewal window and confirm whether you still need the 7-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course or only the 4-hour follow-up. Plan those hours with your USPAP update and Florida law hours so you do not run short of the 30-hour total.

If you are inactive and preparing to renew, treat the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing requirement as part of the education you must finish before you reactivate. Do not assume older CE alone covers the new course.

If you offer Board-approved courses, review outlines for the new content limit and for the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing hour structure. Keep Florida law hours and USPAP instructor requirements unchanged unless a later Board action says otherwise.