Appraisal Trainee

go out of the area. :)  Check Madison.

Interesting. In Washington all appraisers work under someone for the first two years. The trainer gets a cut of each appraisal. 

In many areas, your best bet is to find a larger shop that covers a wide area and has multiple appraisers working for the company.  These firms are often less afraid of training a potential "competitor", because they have enough work and enough territory to spread around.

Another option is to offer to sign a non-compete clause (which some appraisers will require before training you).  Basically, its an agreement by you that you will not accept appraisal work within X distance of your trainer's office for at least Y amount of time after going out on your own.  This can be inconvenient if you're in a small area with limited business, but if you can afford to travel, it may work.

The third option is to get in touch with your local branch of the appraisal institute, or your state's appraisal board.  They will typically have a list of appraisers that are looking for trainees, or can help you network with local appraisers that may be willing to take you on.

In any case, one of the best things you can do is to build a trusting relationship with the appraiser, and make yourself an asset to them, rather than a threat.  If you help them increase and improve their business, help them expand their coverage area or capacity for orders, and generally make yourself useful as a trainee, they won't WANT you to leave to start your own business, because you'll be valuable to them as an associate.