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Appraiser Certification Program

The mission of the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program is to:

• Certify, license and register real estate appraisers to perform real estate appraisals in the state of South Dakota pursuant to Title XI of the Financial Institutions, Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA).
• Register and supervise appraisal management companies doing business in the state of South Dakota pursuant to Title XI as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The purpose of the Appraiser Certification Program is to:

• Examine candidates.
• Issue credentials.
• Investigate and administer disciplinary action to persons in violation of the rules, statutes and uniform standards.
• Approve qualifying and continuing education courses.
• Register and supervise appraisal management companies doing business in the state of South Dakota.

Certification Required in South Dakota

South Dakota statute and administrative rules mandate an appraiser be certified, licensed or registered by the Department of Labor and Regulation unless exempt under another provision of this chapter or another provision of this statute. See our Laws, Rules and Standards page for more information.

Important Announcements

State-Registered Designation Changing Oct. 1, 2023

All State-Registered appraisers’ credential designations will change to Registered Trainee on Oct. 1, 2023.

Background: On October 25, 2021, the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) informed the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program (ACP) Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) 20:14:04:11 was out of compliance with Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) criteria following a review of the ARSD by the ASC.

The rules had allowed State-Registered appraisers to perform noncomplex property appraisals without the supervision of a supervisory appraiser. However, the AQB criteria require all appraisals completed by a trainee level appraiser (State-Registered) be under direct supervision of a supervisory appraiser. 

The ACP went through the rule making process to bring our administrative rules into compliance, which were effective Nov. 22, 2022. Further, it was decided the State-Registered credential should be retired. A new designation, the Registered Trainee, was created to replace it to avoid confusion regarding the scope of work for a trainee level appraiser.

How this will affect existing State-Registered appraisers:
On Oct. 1, 2023, immediately following the next renewal cycle, all current State-Registered appraisers will automatically become Registered Trainees. Those State-Registered appraisers who wish to continue working as they are, uninterrupted, have until then to find a supervisor or upgrade their credential.

State-Registered appraisers who have already registered a supervisory appraiser will only need to print a new certificate on Oct. 1, 2023, with the new designation indicated. They may then continue working with their supervisor until they have acquired the requisite number of education and experience hours to qualify to apply for an upgrade.

Please note: any State-Registered appraisers who have been performing noncomplex property appraisals and/or non-federally related transactions, and wish to continue doing so, must either upgrade to a higher appraiser level, OR register a supervisor by Oct. 1, 2023.

Contact Us

South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program
Missouri River Plaza
123 W. Missouri Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
Office Phone: 605.773.3803
email