What We Do
Setting Standards and Qualifications. Supporting the Valuation Profession.
We develop the standards and qualifications that guide appraisers, protect the public, and ensure trust in the valuation profession.
Our Role in the Appraisal Profession
How we Operate
Vision Forward Strategic Plan
Independent Boards. Expert Councils.
Partnering Organizations
IMPACT the Next Generation
Global Perspective
Annual Reports
Our Role in the Appraisal Profession
The Appraisal Foundation® (the Foundation) is the congressionally-authorized source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications for real property appraisers. As a result, we play a specific and clearly defined role within the appraisal profession.
- We set the standards and qualifications.
- Appraisers apply them in their day-to-day work.
- States enforce them.
Our role is to develop and maintain standards of excellence that regulators can enforce to protect the public trust and strengthen the profession. We work closely with government agencies, regulators, and stakeholders to ensure that valuation practices remain consistent, independent, and in the public interest.
We set the framework that guides appraisers — but we do not license, regulate, or enforce those standards. States license appraisers and enforce those standards.
In addition to our work developing congressionally authorized standards and qualifications for real property appraisers, the Foundation also develops standards for personal property, business valuation, and mass appraisers, as well as qualification criteria for personal property appraisers which are upheld by our Partner organizations who credential such valuers. These standards and qualifications ensure that public trust is maintained in every sphere of valuation.
As the congressionally-authorized source of appraisal standards and qualifications in the U.S, we promote consistency, independence, and public trust across the valuation profession by focusing on:
Development of Appraisal
Standards (USPAP®)
Setting Qualifications for
All Appraiser Types
Guidance & Resources for
Regulators, Appraisers, and Consumers
We operate within a unique regulatory structure that governs the U.S. real property appraisal profession — a system designed to balance public trust with professional independence.
This three-tiered system involves federal oversight, state enforcement, and private-sector standards.
The Foundation’s role is to set the standards and qualifications that states use to license and certify appraisers. We don’t enforce or regulate individual appraisers — that responsibility belongs to state agencies.
This ensures appraisal practices across the country are consistent, independent, and aligned with public interest.
Vision Forward Strategic Plan
The Vision Forward Strategic Plan is the Foundation’s long-term roadmap for strengthening public trust and guiding the valuation profession through an ever-changing landscape.
Developed with broad stakeholder input and periodically reviewed to ensure continued relevance, it sets seven long-term goals focused on strengthening partnerships, supporting public trust, maintaining financial independence, expanding access to a qualified workforce, promoting consistency across jurisdictions, serving as the trusted source for standards and qualifications, and leading in the responsible use of technology.
As a living plan, Vision Forward positions the Foundation to anticipate change, embrace innovation, and uphold the integrity of the profession well into the future.
Independent Boards. Expert Councils.
Our Boards and Councils bring together experts and stakeholders across the profession to guide standards
and qualifications and provide insight from regulators, consumers, lenders, and appraisers.
Appraisal Standards Board (ASB)
Appraisal Standards Board (ASB)
Develops USPAP®, the generally recognized standards for appraisal practice.
Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB)
Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB)
Establishes minimum education, experience, and exam requirements for appraisers.
Advisory Councils
Advisory Councils
Provide additional insight from industry groups, government agencies, and consumers.
Panels
Panels
Provide an assembly of representatives from diverse sub-specializations as sources of expert advice for communications.
Partnering Organizations
We work alongside a diverse network of professional organizations to support the
valuation profession.
IMPACT the Next Generation
We are committed to bringing in a talented new generation of appraisers that serve all Americans in a way that promotes public trust and standards of excellence. We are proud to work with our partners and professional stakeholder organizations to create a more welcoming and engaging appraisal community.
View the results of the 2024 Demographics Survey to gain insight into the demographics of the appraisal profession. These results will guide the Foundation's work to grow the profession and enhance the IMPACT efforts.
The Foundation brings global perspective to U.S. standards by interacting with appraisers from around the globe to share best practices and grow the profession.
We are proud to be a member of the International Ethics Standards Coalition, and International Property Measurement Standards Coalition.
The Foundation welcomes delegations from other countries to share information on valuation issues, current valuation trends, and common appraisal practices. During these meetings, the Foundation provides advice to help other countries and jurisdictions establish their own self-regulatory systems. The Foundation has welcomed delegations from China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Japan, League of Arab States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
The Foundation is a proud sponsor of the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), an independent, not-for-profit organization that serves the public interest by setting global standards for valuation practice and the valuation profession. The Foundation is an active participant in the IVSC Advisory Forum and Advisory Forum Working Group. Visit the IVSC website for more information about the IVSC and the IVSC Advisory Forum.
As a part of the Foundation and International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) harmonization efforts, the Foundation released A Bridge from USPAP® to IVS 2025 (Bridge). The Bridge was developed to assist appraisers familiar with USPAP® in producing a valuation that is also compliant with IVS. The Bridge was recently updated to be consistent with current IVS and the 2020-21 USPAP®. While the Bridge describes additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with both standards, a full review of both sets of standards is always encouraged. This joint effort unveiled more commonalities than differences in the two sets of standards.
