College Degree Alternative and Shorter Experience Time Proposed
In the future, it could become much easier for trainees and licensed appraisers to become a certified appraiser. The Bachelor’s Degree requirement could disappear and the minimum required experience could be slashed as much as half. A recent proposal by the Appraiser Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation would, if adopted, result in “requirements that are less stringent than those currently in effect” and “would go into effect immediately.”
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BACHELOR’S DEGREE ALTERNATIVES
Trainees could still use a Bachelor’s Degree as part of their qualifications for certification, but would have 4 other options to include an Associate’s Degree in certain subjects, no degree but 30 semester in hours in certain subjects, no degree but 30 semester hours gained via CLEP examinations, or a combination of these options.
Licensed Appraisers who have been licensed at least 5 years without certain disciplinary actions within 5 years will be provided an alternative to the Bachelor’s Degree requirement.
SHORTER EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Current
- Licensed Residential – 2000 hrs – 1 year min
- Certified Residential – 2500 hrs – 2 year min
- Certified General – 3000 hrs – 2.5 year min
Proposed
- Licensed Residential – 1000 hrs – 6 month min
- Certified Residential – 1500 hrs – 1 year min
- Certified General – 3000 hrs – 1.5 year min
A GREAT TIME TO BECOME AN APPRAISER
With a lower qualifications requirements proposed, in addition to a national appraiser shortage, a trend of increasing appraisal fees, and NC law requiring customary and reasonable fees, now is a great time to consider becoming a real estate appraiser.
Our 2018 trainee classes are scheduled to start January in Charlotte, February in Wilmington, and March in Raleigh-Durham.
For more on becoming a trainee and then being certified, visit the NC Appraisal Board or the Appraisal Foundation. Also see this Information Booklet.
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?
The written comment period on the proposals listed in this article ends January 18, 2018. The AQB will accept verbal comments at its February 1, 2018 meeting. Comments will be placed on the Appraisal Foundation’s website for public viewing.
What do you think about the proposed changes? Why?
I think the board should revisit the experience hours. By changing from a point system to an hours system, I believe an unintended consequence is that the number of appraisals has increase – if the logs are accurate with the number of hours. Good to see that they are open to changes.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Glenda! Will be interesting to see where the cards end up falling.
If I could wax philosophical for a moment, this seems to be a continuation of a disturbing trend in American society for most of my life. Rather than ask people to work harder or better themselves, our society tends to lower standards. It makes you wonder if today’s population would have ever made it west of the Mississippi all those years ago.
Interesting thoughts, Matt! Thanks for sharing.
Mel,
I think the change in education requirements would be satisfactory but keep the current requirements on experience/on the job training. You can only learn so much in a class but deal with the reality of appraising in the field.
Thanks,
Ben Jones
There’s nothing like some real world learning! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ben. I appreciate it.
I could not agree more that actual field work is essential to becoming an appraiser; however, I would ask how many trainees Ben has? It’s not the requirement that creates a roadblock, it’s the lack of willing supervisors.