100+ Free Certified General Appraiser Practice Questions
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Key Facts: Certified General Appraiser Exam
125
Total Questions
110 scored + 15 pretest
6 hrs
Time Limit
AQB
~68%
Passing Score
75/110 scored items
~50%
Pass Rate
Lowest of 3 levels
300 hrs
Education Required
2026 AQB Criteria
3,000 hrs
Experience Required
18 months minimum
The Certified General exam is the hardest of the three AQB appraiser exams with a ~50% pass rate. It has 125 questions (110 scored) in 6 hours. The income approach (20 items) and real estate market (20 items) domains are the heaviest, followed by USPAP (19 items) and sales comparison (18 items). Candidates need 300 education hours, a bachelor's degree, and 3,000 experience hours (1,500 non-residential). The 2026 criteria add a mandatory Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course.
About the Certified General Appraiser Exam
The Certified General Appraiser National Uniform Exam is the highest-level appraiser licensing exam developed by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB). It authorizes appraisers to value all types of real property — residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and vacant land — without regard to transaction value or complexity. The 6-hour exam contains 125 multiple-choice questions (110 scored, 15 pretest) covering 10 content areas with heavy emphasis on the income capitalization approach, USPAP, sales comparison, and market analysis. As of 2026, candidates must also complete the 8-hour Valuation Bias and Fair Housing course.
Questions
125 scored questions
Time Limit
6 hours
Passing Score
75/110 scored (~68%)
Exam Fee
$85-$100+ (AQB / Pearson VUE, PSI, or AMP (varies by state))
Certified General Appraiser Exam Content Outline
Real Estate Market
Influences on value, government powers, types of value, date of value premise, market analysis, investment analysis, highest and best use
Property Description
Land and site description, improvement description, building components, legal interests, property taxation
Land or Site Valuation
Sales comparison, allocation, extraction, land residual, subdivision development, and ground rent capitalization methods
Sales Comparison Approach
Elements and units of comparison, adjustment sequence, paired sales analysis, qualitative and quantitative methods
Cost Approach
Cost estimation methods, physical deterioration, functional obsolescence, external obsolescence, breakdown method
Income Approach
NOI derivation, direct and yield capitalization, DCF analysis, band of investment, lease analysis, GRM, EGIM
Reconciliation
Weighing relevance, reliability, and adequacy of data from each approach to arrive at a final value opinion
USPAP
Ethics Rule, Competency Rule, Scope of Work, Record Keeping, Standards 1-4, report types, certification requirements
How to Pass the Certified General Appraiser Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 75/110 scored (~68%)
- Exam length: 125 questions
- Time limit: 6 hours
- Exam fee: $85-$100+
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Certified General Appraiser Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the Certified General Appraiser exam?
The Certified General exam is considered the most challenging of the three AQB appraiser exams, with a pass rate of approximately 50%. The 6-hour exam tests in-depth knowledge of commercial appraisal concepts including income capitalization, DCF analysis, and complex property valuation. Many candidates report that the income approach and sales comparison math are the most difficult sections. Thorough preparation with practice questions and a structured study plan significantly improves pass rates.
What is the difference between Certified General and Certified Residential Appraiser?
A Certified Residential Appraiser can appraise one-to-four residential units regardless of value or complexity, while a Certified General Appraiser can appraise all types of real property including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential. The Certified General requires 300 hours of education (vs. 200), a bachelor's degree (vs. associate's), 3,000 experience hours with 1,500 in non-residential work (vs. 1,500 total), and a 6-hour exam (vs. 4 hours).
What are the 2026 AQB education requirements for Certified General?
As of January 1, 2026, the required core curriculum for Certified General includes: Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hrs), Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hrs), Valuation Bias and Fair Housing (8 hrs), 15-Hour USPAP Course, Market Analysis and HBU (30 hrs), Statistics, Modeling & Finance (15 hrs), Site Valuation & Cost Approach (30 hrs), Sales Comparison (30 hrs), Income Approach (60 hrs), Report Writing & Case Studies (30 hrs), and Electives (22 hrs) — totaling 300 hours.
What topics are most heavily tested on the Certified General exam?
The heaviest content areas are Real Estate Market (20 items, 18%), Income Approach (20 items, 18%), USPAP (19 items, 17%), and Sales Comparison Approach (18 items, 16%). Together these four areas account for nearly 70% of scored questions. The Income Approach is particularly challenging because it requires mastery of capitalization formulas, DCF analysis, lease analysis, and financial math used in commercial property valuation.
How do I schedule the Certified General Appraiser exam?
You must first complete all qualifying education and experience requirements, then obtain approval from your state appraiser regulatory board. Your state board will issue eligibility to take the exam through the contracted testing provider — either Pearson VUE, PSI, or AMP depending on your state. Exam fees typically range from $85 to $100+. The exam is administered at testing centers; remote online testing availability varies by state and provider.