UPCOMING CHANGES TO REAL PROPERTY APPRAISER QUALIFICATIONS
UPCOMING CHANGES TO REAL PROPERTY APPRAISER QUALIFICATIONS
On December 9, 2011, the Appraiser Qualifications Board of The Appraisal Foundation adopted changes to the
Real
Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria
that will become effective January 1, 2015. These changes represent
minimum national requirements that each state must implement no later than January 1, 2015.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES
National Uniform Licensing
and Certification Examinations
Education and experience must be completed prior to
taking the AQB-approved
National Uniform Licensing and
Certification Examination
.
Background Checks
All candidates for a real property appraiser credential must
undergo background screening. State appraiser regulatory
agencies are
strongly encouraged to perform background
checks on
existing credential holders as well.
College Degree Acceptance and
Core Curriculum Requirements
Credit towards qualifying education requirements may be
obtained via the completion of a degree program in Real
Estate from an accredited degree-granting college or
university provided the college or university has had its
curriculum reviewed and approved by the AQB.
Deletion of the Segmented Approach
to Criteria Implementation
States had the option to implement the 2008
Real Property
Appraiser Qualification Criteria
via the “segmented
approach.” This implementation option will no longer be
valid effective January 1, 2015.
Restriction on Continuing Education
Course Offerings
Aside from complying with the requirements to complete
the
7-Hour National USPAP Update Course (or its AQBapproved
equivalent), appraisers may not receive credit for
completion of the same continuing education course
offering within an appraiser’s continuing education cycle.
Distance Education Requirements
A
written, proctored examination is required for all
qualifying education distance course offerings. The term
written
refers to an examination that might be written on
paper or administered electronically on a computer
workstation or other device.
Revisions to Subtopics in Guide Note 1 (GN-1)
and Continuing Education Topics
Added topics on green building (qualifying and continuing
education), seller concessions (qualifying and continuing
education) and developing opinions of real property value
in appraisals that also include personal property and/or
business value (continuing education only).
COLLEGE LEVEL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT CHANGES*
CLASSIFICATION CURRENT REQUIREMENTS 1/1/15 REQUIREMENTS
Trainee Appraiser
None None
Licensed Residential Appraiser
None
30 semester credit hours of collegelevel
education from an accredited
college, junior college, community
college, or university OR an Associate’s
degree or higher (in any field).
Certified Residential Appraiser
21 semester credit hours in
specified collegiate subject matter
courses from an accredited college
or university OR an Associate’s
degree or higher.
Bachelor’s degree or higher (in any
field) from an accredited college or
university.
Certified General Appraiser
30 semester credit hours in specific
collegiate subject matter courses
from an accredited college or
university OR a Bachelor’s degree
or higher.
Bachelor’s degree or higher (in any
field) from an accredited college or
university.
*These requirements are effective for individuals seeking a real property appraiser credential
after January 1,
2015. However, in some cases, the requirements may also apply to
existing real property appraisers (for example,
a state may require a credentialed appraiser to meet the new Criteria if he or she moves from a state that does not
have reciprocity with that state. Or some states may require appraisers seeking to change their credential level to
meet all of the 2015 Criteria prior to obtaining the new credential).
Credentialed appraisers are urged to
contact the applicable state appraiser regulatory agencies if they are contemplating relocation or changing
credential levels.
SUPERVISORY APPRAISER AND TRAINEE APPRAISER REQUIREMENT CHANGES
SUPERVISORY APPRAISER TRAINEE APPRAISER
State-certified Supervisory Appraiser shall be in good
standing with the training jurisdiction and not subject
to any disciplinary action within the last three (3)
years that affects the Supervisory Appraiser’s legal
ability to engage in appraisal practice. Shall have
been state certified for a minimum of three (3) years
prior to being eligible to become a Supervisory
Appraiser.
All qualifying education must be completed within the five
(5) year period prior to the date of submission of an
application for a Trainee Appraiser credential.
A Supervisory Appraiser may not supervise more
than three Trainee Appraisers at one time, unless a
state program in the licensing jurisdiction provides to
progress monitoring, supervising certified appraiser
qualifications, and supervision oversight
requirements for Supervisory Appraisers.
A Trainee Appraiser is permitted to have more than one
Supervisory Appraiser.
Shared responsibility to ensure the appraisal experience log for the Trainee Appraiser is accurate, current, and
complies with the requirements of the Trainee Appraiser’s credentialing jurisdiction.
Both the Trainee Appraiser and Supervisory Appraiser shall be required to complete a course that, at a minimum,
complies with the specifications for course content established by the AQB. The course will be oriented toward the
requirements and responsibilities of Supervisory Appraisers and expectations for Trainee Appraisers. The course
must be completed by the Trainee Appraiser prior to obtaining a Trainee Appraiser credential, and completed by
the Supervisory Appraiser prior to supervising a Trainee Appraiser.
