The Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers would like to remind all Licensees and potential licensees that the Appraiser Qualification Changes become effective on January 1, 2015. These changes affect the minimum education requirements and mandate courses for those in a supervisory or trainee role. If you or someone you know is planning on submitting an initial or upgrade license application before the January 1, 2015, deadline, the application must be complete, which means that the applicant MUST PASS THE EXAM prior to the January 1, 2015 deadline —THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!
EDUCATIONAL CHANGES
- Applicants seeking a Residential License (AL) MUST, at a minimum, have 30 semester credit hours of college-level education* OR an Associate’s degree.
- Applicants seeking a Certified License, Residential (AR) or General (AG), MUST, at a minimum, have a Bachelor’s Degree.*
These changes affect only those applying for an initial license or upgrading an existing license on or after January 1, 2015. If you are currently licensed, or become licensed or upgrade your license before January 1, 2015, your license level is “grandfathered” and you will NOT need to meet the new educational requirements in order to maintain your license. However, if you choose to upgrade your license on or after January 1, 2015, you are required to meet the new educational requirements.
APPLYING PRIOR TO THE CHANGES TAKING EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2015
If you plan to obtain an initial license, or upgrade an existing license, under the current educational requirement, you must complete the application prior to January 1, 2015.
A Complete Application includes all of the following:
- Proper documentation of successful completion of the current educational requirements,
- Proper documentation of the required number of hours and months of experience,
- Submission of the appropriate application package (allow time for processing) to receive the exam eligibility letter from BREA, and
- Pass the exam prior to January 1, 2015. If the Applicant does not pass the exam, the new educational requirements must be met.–THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!
BREA suggests Applicant do the following:
- Make sure the application includes all the required documentation – using only the BREA approved Log of Appraisal Experience (form REA 3004).
- Deliver the application as soon as all of the required documentation is available (NOTE: BREA will need time to process the application, which can take up to 90 days.)
- Study for the exam in advance so that you will be prepared to take and pass the exam at the earliest possible date. If you are concerned about passing the exam allow more time to retake, if necessary. REMEMBER, IF YOU DO NOT PASS THE EXAM PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2015, YOU MUST MEET THE NEW EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
- Applicants are STRONGLY advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. BREA recommends that applications be sent no later than October 1, 2014, to qualify under the existing Appraiser Qualification Board (AQB) minimum education criteria.
SUPERVISORY AND TRAINEE CHANGES**
- Both the Trainee Appraiser and Supervisory Appraiser will be required to complete an AQB approved Supervisory/Trainee Appraisers course. The course must be completed by the Trainee Appraiser prior to obtaining a Trainee Appraiser License, and completed by the Supervisory Appraiser prior to supervising a Trainee Appraiser.
- Supervisory and Trainee affiliations that were established (meaning work has been logged) prior to January 1, 2015, are grandfathered and the courses do not have to be completed**.
- A Supervisory Appraiser must be in “good standing” in the jurisdiction in which the Trainee Appraiser practices for a period of at least three (3) years. Supervisory Appraisers shall not have been subject to a disciplinary action within any jurisdiction within the last three (3) years that affects the Supervisory Appraiser’s legal eligibility to engage in appraisal practice.
- A Supervisory Appraiser may not supervise more than three (3) Trainee Appraisers at one time. However a Trainee Appraiser is permitted to have any number of Supervisory Appraisers.
* See the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria for specific information about the college education requirements and Supervisory and Trainee requirements
**We highly recommend both Supervisory Appraiser and Trainee/Applicant search appraisal course providers for classes regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Supervisor and Trainee NOW!! These classes can be used for continuing education credit!!
