Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Courses

Since its inception, The Appraisal Foundation (Foundation) has worked to foster professionalism in appraising by establishing, improving, and promoting the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 recognizes USPAP as the generally accepted real property appraisal standards and requires USPAP compliance for appraisers in federally related transactions. Federal, state, and local agencies, appraisal services, and many professional appraisal organizations require compliance with USPAP. Please contact your educational provider for a schedule of course offerings.

2020-2021 USPAP Courses
Course Title	Hours	Delivery Mechanism	Audience	Count Toward Real Property USPAP Requirements?	Count Toward Real Property QE/CE Requirements?*
7-Hour National USPAP Update Course	7	Classroom and Online	Real Property Appraisers	Yes	CE Real Property Credit
7-Hour USPAP Update Course for Non-Residential Real Property	7	Online	Real Property Appraisers	Yes	CE Real Property Credit
7-Hour USPAP Update Course for Mass Appraisal	7	Classroom	Real Property and Mass Appraisers	Yes	CE Real Property Credit
7-Hour USPAP Update Course for Personal Property	7	Classroom	Personal Property Appraisers	No	No
7-Hour Residential Review and Compliance Course	7	Classroom and Online	Real Property Appraisers	No	CE Real Property Credit
15-Hour National USPAP Course	15	Classroom and Online	Real Property Appraisers	Yes	QE or CE Real Property Credit
15-Hour USPAP Course for Business Appraisal	15	Classroom	Business Appraisers	No	No
15-Hour USPAP Course for Personal Property	15	Classroom	Personal Property Appraisers	No	No

*State appraiser regulatory agencies will grant credit to students who have completed a National USPAP Course or its equivalent only if the course is taught by an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor who also holds an active, in good standing Certified General or Certified Residential credential in at least one US state or territory.

Who has to take USPAP courses?

Real property appraisers are required to take the 15-Hour National USPAP Course (or its equivalent) to obtain a state credential. Once credentialed, all real property appraisers must take the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course (or its equivalent) once every two calendar years. The seven hour course focuses on changes to USPAP.

Foundation Appraisal Sponsors who confer personal property designations must implement the minimum personal property qualifications, or the Personal Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. These Criteria include USPAP requirements. For details, please review the Personal Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria booklet.

The Foundation has other discipline specific and USPAP-related courses listed in the chart to the left that may be required by membership organizations, local, state, or federal agencies. These courses are available for several appraisal disciplines, including: Business Valuation, Personal Property, Mass Appraisal, and Real Property.

Please contact your educational provider for a schedule of course offerings.

Can I take USPAP online or in the classroom?

Yes! The Foundation has classroom and online versions of the real property USPAP Courses available for purchase. The Foundation and McKissock, a leading developer of computer-based education, have partnered again to develop online versions of the real property version of the current 15-Hour National USPAP Course and 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course. The online National USPAP courses are currently available. Education providers interested in offering the Foundation's online National USPAP Courses should contact Emily Onuffer at emily@mckissock.com or 800-328-2008 ext. 222 for additional information.

The classroom versions of the National USPAP Courses are currently available. Education providers have the option of purchasing classroom course material or entering into a License Agreement with the Foundation to receive electronic copies of the course to reproduce on their own. For information on offering the National USPAP courses, please contact Brigitte Coulton at brigitte@appraisalfoundation.org. To order print copies of the National USPAP Course Student Manual or USPAP document, please visit the Foundation store.

Please note some state regulatory agencies may not allow USPAP to be taken online. Be sure to check with your state appraisal regulatory agency for details.

Can I develop my own USPAP course?

Yes! The Foundation has once again partnered with McKissock to offer online versions of several USPAP Courses. However, education providers can develop their own course. Providers interested in developing their own equivalent versions of the USPAP Course should visit our USPAP Equivalent Course webpage for more information. Providers who choose to develop their own online versions must submit their courses to the International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC) and the Appraiser Qualifications Board (for USPAP equivalency). Additionally, all Instructors wanting to teach online USPAP Courses are required to obtain the Certified Distance Education Instructor (CDEI) designation from IDECC. Instructors that have not earned the CDEI designation will not be permitted to be listed as an instructor of IDECC-certified courses. For more information, please visit IDECC's website at www.idecc.org..

Can I order a manual for a USPAP course?

The 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course Student Manual is the only course manual available for purchase. Ordering information is available on the Foundation's Store webpage or by calling 800-348-2831. All other courses must be reproduced by education providers and a License Agreement must be signed. Contact Brigitte Coulton for more information.