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State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers 

 

The State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers regulates the certification of real estate appraisers and assessors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Upon application, the Board examines for, denies, approves, issues, revokes, suspends and renews certificates of appraisers and assessors. In addition to passing upon the qualifications and fitness of applicants for certification, the Board's functions include establishing standards of professional appraisal practice and conducting hearings upon complaint.



Important Notices

SPECIAL NOTICE

6/2023: AQB Adopts Changes to Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria

6/2023:  Recent changes to USPAP that are effective January 1, 2024

REGARDING REAL ESTATE APPRAISER AND LICENSED APPRAISER TRAINEE QUALIFICATIONS

 The State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers has recently submitted final form regulations to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC). These regulations are comprehensive general revisions that incorporate current Federal minimum requirements as reflected in The Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. The final regulations include amendments to the number of hours of experience, including the number of hours required in actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports. You may access the final form regulation (IRRC regulation Number 3205; Regulation # 16A-7022) on the IRRC website (http://www.irrc.state.pa.us/index.cfm ). The Board anticipates the final regulations will be published and effective by early November 2019. 

Notice to Appraisal Management Companies 

Pursuant to Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (Title XI), as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers (Board) is required to collect and transmit Appraisal Management Company (AMC) annual registry fees. See 12 U.S.C. 3338. According to a ASC's Revised Bulletin No. 2017-04, the ASC opened the AMC Registry to States on July 16, 2018. Only those AMCs that meet the Federal definition of an AMC are eligible for registration on the AMC National Registry, which is maintained by the Appraisal Subcommittee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. All Pennsylvania registered AMCs and Federally regulated AMCs (Exempt Companies) must submit to the Board, the Appraisal Management Company National Registry Application (AMC National Registry Application) on an annual basis, regardless of whether the AMC meets the Federal definition of an AMC.  The Board is implementing the annual collection and transmission of annual AMC registry fees, beginning with the July 1, 2019 -- June 30, 2021, biennium. Therefore, as part of renewal for the July 1, 2019 -- June 30, 2021, biennium, all Pennsylvania registered AMCs and Exempt Companies operating in Pennsylvania must submit the AMC National Registry Application, and if eligible for the AMC National Registry, must submit the required AMC National Registry fees.  The AMC National Registry Application must be electronically submitted by June 30 of each year; however, to ensure timely placement on the AMC National Registry, applications should besubmitted at least 15 days prior to June 30 of each year. A sample application is attached to thisnotice; however, the Board will be incorporating the sample form into an online application in the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS).   This sample form is for informational purposes only. AMCs cannot register for the AMC Registry by submitting the sample form to the Board. AMCs must register for the AMC Registry by submitting an electronic AMC National Registry Application in PALS, which may be accessed on the Board's website at: www.dos.pa.gov/real. For clarification of federal requirements and definitions, review applicable federal laws and regulations, including Title XI, The AMC Final Rule (80 FR 32658, June 9, 2015), and The Final Rule on the Collection and Transmission of Annual AMC Registry Fees (82 FR 44493, September 25, 2017). The final rules may be accessed at: https://www.federalregister.gov/. The Appraisal Management Company Registration Act and Board regulations regarding AMC National Registry and reporting at 49 Pa. Code § 36.438 may be accessed on the Board's website.

AMC Registry Annual SAMPLE Form (PDF) 

 AQB Qualification Criteria Changes May 1, 2018
 
 The Appraiser Qualifications Board of The Appraisal Foundation (AQB) establishes minimum qualifications for real property appraisers in the United States. To become a real property appraiser, candidates must obtain qualifying education hours, and, as applicable, obtain college-level education and experience hours, and successfully pass the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination. The State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers is required, under Federal law, to adopt minimum AQB Qualification Criteria.
 
On February 1, 2018, the AQB adopted changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria that will become effective May 1, 2018. These changes represent minimum qualifications for real property appraisers in the United States. The link below is a Summary of Changes which summarizes the changes to the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria for post-secondary education and experience requirements.
  
 
 Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Adopts the May 1, 2018, AQB Changes
 
At its March 29, 2018, board meeting, the State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers voted to adopt and implement the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria changes relating to post-secondary education requirements for the Certified Residential Appraiser certification and experience requirements for the Certified Residential Appraiser and Certified General Appraiser certifications. The Board has drafted regulations that reflect the AQB Qualification Criteria changes for post-secondary education and experience, and will post the regulations on the Board’s website when the regulations are published.
 
The changes to the AQB Qualification Criteria, as described below and as reflected in the Summary of Changes, are effective May 1, 2018. Therefore, the Board will utilize the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria changes relating to post-secondary education and experience requirements for Pennsylvania Certified Residential Appraiser and Certified General Appraiser applicants beginning May 1, 2018.
 
You may review the AQB Qualification Criteria at The Appraisal Foundation website, and through the following link: May 1, 2018, Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria.
 
Changes to Certified Residential Appraiser Qualifications
 
Post-secondary education
 
The AQB Qualification Criteria changes, as reflected above in the Summary of Changes, for post-secondary education are effective in Pennsylvania on May 1, 2018. Therefore, beginning May 1, 2018, individuals applying for the Certified Residential Appraiser certification must satisfy the postsecondary education requirements set forth in the AQB Qualification Criteria. While the new AQB Qualification Criteria continues to recognize a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, beginning May 1, 2018, the AQB Qualification Criteria provides five additional options to satisfy the post-secondary education requirements. For specific qualification criteria, please review Summary of Changes and the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria for Certified Residential Real Property Appraisers at section III, pages 21-23.
 
Experience Requirements
 
The AQB Qualification Criteria changes for experience, as reflected above in the Summary of Changes, are effective in Pennsylvania on May 1, 2018. Therefore, beginning May 1, 2018, individuals applying for the Certified Residential Appraiser certification must satisfy the experience requirements set forth in the AQB Qualification Criteria (1,500 hours in no fewer than twelve (12) months). For specific qualification criteria, please review the Summary of Changes and the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria for Certified Residential Real Property Appraisers at section IV, page 23.
 
PLEASE NOTE: The Board’s current regulations require 1,250 hours of experience in the "actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports, which includes physical inspections of the interior and exterior of the subject properties." See 49 Pa. Code § 36.11(e)(1). The required 1,250 hours of experience in actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports represents 50 percent of the total hours required under the Board’s current regulations (2,500 experience hours in no fewer than 24 months) and under the January 1, 2015, AQB Qualification Criteria (2,500 experience hours in no fewer than 24 months). Because the Board is now adopting and implementing the May 1, 2018, AQB minimum criteria, which only requires 1,500 experience hours in no fewer than 12 months, beginning May 1, 2018, the Board will only require 750 hours of experience in actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports, which represents 50 percent of the 1,500 hours required by the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria.
 
Changes to Certified General Appraiser Qualifications
 
Post-secondary education
 
There are not any changes to the post-secondary education requirements for the Certified General Appraiser certification. The AQB Qualification Criteria requires applicants to hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. For specific qualification criteria, please review the Summary of Changes and the AQB Qualification Criteria for Certified General Real Property Appraisers at section III, pages 24-25.
 
Experience Requirements
 
The AQB Qualification Criteria changes for experience, as reflected above in the Summary of Changes, are effective in Pennsylvania on May 1, 2018. Therefore, beginning May 1, 2018, individuals applying for the Certified General Appraiser certification must satisfy the experience requirements set forth in the AQB Qualification Criteria (3,000 hours in no fewer than eighteen (18) months, of which one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours must be in non-residential appraisal work). For specific qualification criteria, please review the Summary of Changes and the May 1, 2018, AQB Qualification Criteria for Certified Residential Real Property Appraisers at section IV, page 25.
 
PLEASE NOTE: The Board’s adoption of the AQB Qualification Criteria does not impact the Board’s current regulatory requirement which requires at least 1,500 hours of experience in actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports, which includes physical inspections of the interior and exterior of the subject properties. See 49 Pa. Code § 36.12(e). Therefore, Certified General Appraiser applicants experience must include 1,500 hours in the actual preparation of real estate appraisal reports, which includes physical inspections of the interior and exterior of the subject properties.

The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) received reports that persons pretending to be from one of the business-related boards are contacting both active and inactive licensees.  The scammers are altering the information that appears on caller ID to show the State Board phone number and name (spoofing).  The scammers are known to be aggressively accusing licensees of drug trafficking and/or money laundering and sending emails and text messages indicated the license has been suspended.  In addition, the scammers are sending facsimiles to licensees on forged letterhead, originating from a fake phone number.  

BPOA reminds licensees and applicants of the following: 

·    We will NOT text, call or fax you a suspension notification.  The Department initiates disciplinary action through an administrative process.  If you are the subject of an investigation or disciplinary action, you will receive notice by certified mail and/or personal service.

·    We will NOT engage you in a 3-way call with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

·    We will NOT ask you to receive faxes from a specific retailer for a fee. 

·    Do NOT give your personal or financial information over the phone, by text message or fax, including your zip code. 

·    We will NEVER request payment for any service or civil penalty by wire, gift cards or transfer to a foreign country. 

·    We WILL provide you with a contact name and phone number if you are the subject of an investigation or disciplinary action.

·    CONTACT the Board office if you are not sure if a communication pertaining to your licensure status is legitimate.

·    CONTACT your local police department or the Pennsylvania State Police if you believe you have been the victim of a scam.

·    REPORT any email or online scam attempts to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Internet Crime Complaint Center(IC3) | Home Page

 

 
Please note that neither the Board/Commission, nor its staff or counsel, are permitted to provide legal advice or advisory opinions, including interpretations of the law or regulations, or any indication as to how the Board would vote on any given case or scenario.  You are invited to contact a private attorney or professional organization for advice or guidance.