The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) has released the First Exposure Draft of proposed changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. These proposed changes would make fair housing a required component of an appraiser’s qualifying and continuing education, according to The Appraisal Foundation’s February newsletter. Several implementations of the 2022 Criteria questions were asked of the AQB.
Q I am a credentialed appraiser in State A and am moving to State B. State A adopted the May 2018 Criteria, but State B did not, and will not grant me a reciprocal credential. Does the AQB consider prior versions of the Criteria equal to or equivalent to the current version of the Criteria?
A Over the years the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria) has changed many times. It is not the position of the AQB that a credential obtained under one version of the Criteria is different than one obtained under a different version. From the AQB’s perspective, an individual holding a certain credential is equally qualified to another holding the same credential, regardless of when the credentials were issued, and which version of the Criteria applied at the time. Therefore, the AQB encourages states to view all credentials issued for a classification as equivalent.
Q Will the changes to section III (Generic Education Criteria), effective Jan. 1, 2022, impact me as an appraiser taking appraisal courses?
A While these changes are largely directed at the requirements for how education providers have their courses approved, they will benefit appraisers by giving them more flexibility in obtaining CE credits. One of the changes involves removing the 50 percent limitation on experience gained for work completed without a traditional client and it now allows the appraiser to complete up to 100 percent of their experience work without having a traditional client.
Q What is an example of a “non-traditional” client?
A Not having a client in the traditional sense, for example, means a client has not hired an appraiser for a business purpose. In other words, an aspiring appraiser could ask people they know, “Could I appraise your home?” The people would have no business or personal reason to order the appraisal, but the individual would still be gaining experience. Of course, that experience would also have to comply with any additional state requirements, such as obtaining a supervisory signature, should such requirements exist.
Q Does removing the 50 percent limitation on experience gained for work completed without a traditional client mean I, a trainee, do not need a supervisor?
A This new change for the 2022 Criteria does nothing to impact the existing trainee/supervisor model. If a state requires a supervisory signature on appraisal reports, the 2022 Criteria does not affect that requirement. Additionally, this change does not eliminate the occurrence of an appraiser making necessary property inspections, the appraiser completing any needed field work, or the appraiser having any necessary or required supervision.