The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) is not a government agency. It is a nonprofit organization formed by a group of appraisal membership organizations in the wake of the Savings and Loan Crisis of the 1980s. The Foundation was authorized by Congress in 1989 under Title XI of Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) to maintain standards and minimum qualifications for the real property appraisal profession. Congress granted this congressional authority because it wanted to emphasize appraiser independence in the wake of the Savings and Loan Crisis. The Foundation was established to provide private sector expertise that would not be swayed by political winds or changing administrations.

At the time Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) was enacted into law, Congress was aware The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) was charging for Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) and understood that publication revenue is a major source of income. The Foundation uses this revenue to carry out its congressionally authorized duties given the Foundation does not have any congressional appropriation.

No, The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) is not a membership organization. Its stakeholders range from appraisers to consumers to regulators. As a 501(c)(3) organization and as an organization authorized by Congress to maintain standards and qualifications, the Foundation does not lobby or advocate. The organization is a resource for federal and state government officials. You can see a full list of federal organizations that have asked the Foundation to assist in a wide range of projects relating to appraisal services here. In 2013, the Obama-Biden Administration also named the Foundation the White House’s Valuation Resource.

Yes, both the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) rely on public input for their congressionally authorized roles. The Boards determine what, if any, changes are needed through conversations with stakeholders inside and outside of the appraisal profession.

Any proposed changes undergo a process similar to federal rulemaking, including multiple exposure drafts and public comment periods, ensuring transparency and broad participation. Public meetings are open, and feedback is always encouraged.

Yes, both the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) are comprised of subject matter experts in appraisal standards and qualifications, many of whom are practicing appraisers. They also consult with a wide array of stakeholders—including regulators, consumers, and lenders—to gather comprehensive feedback before implementing changes.

The Appraisal Foundation® (Foundation) has three primary boards, each with distinct responsibilities within the appraisal profession:

1. Board of Trustees (BOT): This board governs the Foundation, appointing members and providing financial support and oversight to the other two boards.
2. Appraisal Standards Board (ASB): The ASB develops, amends, and interprets the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®), which are the generally recognized ethical and performance standards for the appraisal profession in the United States.
3. Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB): The AQB establishes the minimum education, experience, and examination requirements for real property appraisers to obtain state certification.

No, the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) operate independently from the Board of Trustees (BOT). The BOT does not influence the content of board work plans or decision-making on standards or qualifications.

However, an Oversight Subcommittee of the BOT ensures that board members adhere to the Foundation’s Code of Conduct and ethical expectations. This role is supervisory, not directive.

We offer a comprehensive How to Become an Appraiser webpage with essential guidance.

For those interested in real property appraisal, please visit our Real Property Appraisal page for detailed requirements and resources.

If you wish to pursue a career in personal property appraisal, refer to our Personal Property Appraisal page for relevant information.

If you wish to become a business valuer, refer to our Business Valuation page for relevant information.

If you wish to pursue a career in mass appraisal, refer to our Mass Appraisal page for relevant information.

The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) does not maintain or provide a list of supervisors. However, you may be able to connect with a potential supervisor by networking through local professional appraiser associations or by exploring our Partners’ webpages to identify appraisers who may be accepting trainees.

Individual state agencies may also offer guidance, including access to mentor programs and supervisor databases. Visit the Appraisal Subcommittee's state directory for contact information by state.

In addition to the traditional Supervisor/Trainee model, aspiring appraisers may gain experience through a Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA®) program or by completing a practicum course.

Yes. The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) sets the minimum qualification criteria for appraisers. States may, and often do, impose additional requirements that go beyond these minimum standards.

It is always important to check with your state to see what additional criteria they may require.

The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) does not maintain a list of appraisers.

• For real property appraisers, use the National Appraiser Registry.
• For personal property appraisers, visit the Personal Property Appraisal page.
• For business valuers, contact the American Society of Appraisers.

The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) is not an enforcement agency and does not have the authority to receive or process complaints against appraisers. To file a complaint against a real property appraiser, please visit the Appraisal Complaint National Hotline website.

If state licensed or certified real property appraisers do not employ “recognized methods or techniques” or do not follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®), they are in violation of USPAP®. Each state regulatory agency where an appraiser holds a license or certification is responsible for investigating complaints and taking appropriate disciplinary action against an appraiser.

Filing a complaint with a state appraisal regulatory agency is highly unlikely to assist in such matters as a borrower hoping to get an appraisal revised; rather, the purpose of these complaints is to ensure a real property appraiser is complying with applicable law.

Yes. It is essential appraisers satisfactorily complete all required education to understand their ethical obligations and adhere to all applicable laws, including fair housing laws. The Appraiser Qualification's Board (AQB) plans to maintain all course requirements including the new fair housing course requirement specified in the 2026 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria).

The 15-Hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) Course is a one-time requirement for individuals seeking to become an appraiser. The 7-Hour USPAP® Update Course is a biannual update taken as part of the required Continuing Education (CE).

The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) does not offer courses.

For real property appraisal, you should consult your state’s approved education providers for course availability. More information is available on our Real Property Appraisal page and on our Courses page.

For personal property appraisal, contact the professional organization from which you plan to obtain a designation. Visit our Personal Property Appraisal page for further guidance.

For business valuers, refer to our Business Valuation page for relevant information.

For mass appraisal, refer to our Mass Appraisal page for relevant information.

For both in-person and synchronous (live online) formats of the 7-Hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) Update and Continuing Education Courses and the 15-Hour USPAP® Course, the following materials are needed:

• USPAP®
• USPAP® Guidance and Reference Manual (GRM)
• The corresponding student manual for the course

We highly recommend purchasing the combined electronic USPAP® + GRM to satisfy the requirements for USPAP® and the GRM. This linked edition streamlines cross-referencing between the two books, making navigation seamless and more efficient.

Before purchasing, please confirm with your course provider whether materials are included with your registration.

For asynchronous (self-paced) USPAP® courses, the required electronic USPAP® + GRM materials are included automatically—no additional purchases are necessary.

Yes. It is essential appraisers satisfactorily complete all required education to understand their ethical obligations and adhere to all applicable laws, including fair housing laws. The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) plans to maintain all course requirements including the new fair housing course requirement specified in the 2026 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria).

The 15-Hour USPAP® Course is a one-time requirement for individuals seeking to become an appraiser. The 7-Hour USPAP® Update Course is a biannual update taken as part of the required Continuing Education (CE).

To file a complaint against an AQB-Certified Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) Instructor, please download and fill out this form.

Appraiser candidates have three primary pathways to gain the experience hours required for licensure:

1. Supervisor/Trainee Model: Work under the supervision of a certified appraiser.
2. PAREA®: Complete experience in a fully virtual, technology-based environment.
3. Practicum Course: Participate in a structured, instructor-led course with pre-approved content.
   
   What makes the practicum unique is that, although it counts as experience, it is delivered in a course format. Like qualifying education, practicum courses follow a defined schedule, are taught by qualified instructors, and often include multiple students progressing through the same assignments at the same time.

Because states vary in how they recognize practicum experience, you should contact your state appraiser regulatory agency to confirm whether a specific course is approved for use in your state.

Yes. According to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria):

Experience credit shall be granted for the actual classroom hours and hours of documented research and analysis as awarded through the practicum course approval process.

The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) permits practicum courses to count toward 100% of required experience hours. However, it is ultimately up to each individual state to decide whether to accept this option for experience credit toward licensure.

There is no fixed number of hours required for a practicum course. Each course provider sets the total number of hours when applying for course approval. The Appraiser Qualification Board (AQB) allows up to 100% of required experience hours to come from one or more practicum courses—as long as they are approved and meet the The Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria).

No. Practicum courses have been an approved pathway to gain experience hours since 2008.

A practicum course may be approved in one of two ways:

• Through the Appraiser Qualifications Board’s (AQB) Course Approval Program (CAP)
• Directly by a state appraiser regulatory agency that chooses to approve practicum courses on its own
  

States have the option to:

• Accept a CAP-approved practicum course as-is, or
• Conduct their own approval process based on their individual requirements

To qualify for experience credit under the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria), a practicum course must:

• Be designed around generally applicable appraisal methods for the intended credential level (e.g., Licensed or Certified Residential)
• Include problem-solving assignments covering a variety of property types relevant to that credential level
• Require students to:
• Produce credible appraisals using an actual subject property
• Conduct market research and sales analysis
• Apply and report applicable appraisal approaches in compliance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®)

Yes. The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) has published Guide Note 4 (GN-4) to assist:

• Course developers in designing practicum offerings
• State agencies in reviewing and approving practicum courses
  

GN-4 is available in the Criteria booklet. 

A practicum course can be submitted for approval to:

• A state appraiser regulatory agency,
• The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) through the Course Approval Program (CAP), or
• Both, depending on your goals and the requirements of the state(s) where the course will be offered.

To seek Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) approval:

1. Review the Course Approval Program (CAP) Policies and Procedures, especially Section 13: Practicum Course Approval.
2. Follow the Practicum Submission Instructions.
3. Submit the required Practicum Submission Documents, ensuring all practicum-specific content and policies are included.
4. Once received, AQB reviewers will estimate the review timeline and issue an invoice.
5. Upon approval, a CAP approval letter will be issued.

Not necessarily. While CAP approval confirms a course meets AQB standards, each state decides whether to accept the course for experience credit. Contact the relevant state agency before developing or offering a practicum course.

Yes, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) applies to all appraisal disciplines.

While it is required by law for real property appraisers in the United States, it is not legally required for personal property or business valuation professionals. Nonetheless, many professional organizations choose to adopt USPAP® to promote consistency and ethical appraisal practices and courts have increasingly recognized USPAP® as a professional standard across appraisal disciplines.

Yes, PAREA®-based training is aligned with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) and prepares trainees for compliant appraisal practice.

The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP®) does not dictate the form, format, or style of appraisal reports. It is the position of the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) that it is the appraiser, not a form, that complies with USPAP®. Each assignment is different, and no form can cover all USPAP® requirements.

Appraisal report forms are simply tools used to organize the reporting of assignment results, and it is common for appraisers to supplement a form with addenda to comply with USPAP® requirements.

The application fee is $50, and the course fee is $525. The course fee includes the cost and shipping of the material.  



This fee does not include the cost of travel or overnight hotel stays; however, The Appraisal Foundation® typically has a room block at the hotel where the course is held in order to provide a reasonable hotel rate for attendees. Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel and travel arrangements.  

A PDF copy of the course material (Concepts and Principles Manual – An Instructor’s Application) will be emailed to you approximately four weeks prior to the course. Students are encouraged to download a copy and begin studying.

Additionally, The Appraisal Foundation® will mail each participant a hard copy of the course 
material at least two weeks prior to the start of the course.

The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) has a course registration deadline (this may be a different date than the hotel registration deadline). Individuals who cancel their ICC registration prior to the registration deadline will receive a full refund of their course fee ($525). However, the entire course fee will be forfeited if a cancellation is made after the registration deadline.

Yes. The Appraisal Foundation® (Foundation) also developed a 15-Hour Personal Property USPAP® Course, a 7-Hour USPAP® Update Course for Personal Property, and a 15-Hour Business Appraisal USPAP® Course. Most non-real property appraisers teach one of these courses.

No date has been set for the next ICC. Fill out the interest survey to be notified when the next date has been scheduled.

The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) will notify USPAP® Instructor Course attendees of their exam results within 30 days of course completion. Results will be provided as pass or fail only—specific scores will not be shared, and attendees are asked not to contact the Foundation for results. Those who pass will receive a confirmation letter along with the Instructor Performance Agreement, which outlines the terms of certification and the relationship between AQB-Certified USPAP® Instructors and the Foundation.

To receive certification, instructors must return a signed copy of this agreement. Individuals who do not pass will receive a Strength and Weakness Report identifying the areas of the course where their answers were deficient.

Applicants may only retake the exam once per each course. They may retake the exam for a $99 fee, with the retake scheduled shortly after the course.