State outlines new regs for 'appraiser trainees'

Appraiser assistants have until October 1 to complete 75 hours of education and apply to become an appraiser trainee if they want to continue working in the appraisal business, according to Dan Bradley, chair of the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers.

The board is introducing new regulations that define an “appraiser trainee” and the requirements for the new trainee license on the PA Bulletin website tomorrow.

“There are multiple reasons for the changes,” Bradley said. “In the past, we’ve had assistants who weren’t licensed or regulated in any way. The board didn’t require them to be registered so there was no way to regulate them.

“In the interest of protecting the public, we wanted to create tighter requirements for people who assist in appraisals. Ideally, we don’t want people with serious criminal records having access to people’s homes,” Bradley added.

The board is sending notification about the change in regulations to all certified appraisers and registered assistants next week.

To apply for an appraiser trainee license, applicants will be required to have 75 hours of education including:

• 30 hours of basic appraisal principles
• 30 hours of basic appraisal procedures
• 15-hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course.

To become an appraiser, 200 hours of education and 24 months of experience are required for residential appraisers and 300 hours of education and 30 months of experience for general appraisers.  The 75 hours of trainee education counts towards meeting these requirements.

The regulation also will require appraisers to use the new Trainee Checklist when a trainee works on an appraisal. The appraiser must keep a copy of the checklist in the workfile and a copy must be sent to the client as part of the report. “It’s now mandatory for appraisers to send this checklist to the client so the client is aware that a trainee has worked on the appraisal,” Bradley explained.

During this transition period, appraisal assistants can work to get the required education needed before applying for the trainee license. After October 1, if an assistant hasn’t obtained a trainee license, he can’t assist with appraisals.