Title of Regulation: 18VAC130-20. Real Estate Appraiser Board Rules and Regulations (amending 18VAC130-20-30).

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2013 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2017.

Agency Contact: Christine Martine, Executive Director, Real Estate Appraiser Board, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-8552, FAX (804) 527-4298, or email reappraisers@dpor.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments require that real estate appraiser license applicants submit to fingerprinting and a background check to ensure the applicant does not have a conviction that would call into question the applicant's fitness for licensure. The amendments are necessary to comply with changes to The Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria by the Appraiser Qualification Board (AQB), which are set to become effective January 1, 2017. Under § 1116 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, AQB is the body that establishes minimum education, experience, and examination requirements for real property appraisers.

18VAC130-20-30. General qualifications for licensure.

Every applicant to the Real Estate Appraiser Board for a certified general, certified residential, or licensed residential real estate appraiser license shall meet the following qualifications:

1. The applicant shall be of good moral character, honest, truthful, and competent to transact the business of a licensed real estate appraiser in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public.

2. The applicant shall meet the current educational and experience requirements and submit a license application to the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or its agent prior to the time the applicant is approved to take the licensing examination. Applications received by the department or its agent must be complete within 12 months of the date of the receipt of the license application and fee by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or its agent.

3. The applicant shall sign, as part of the application, a statement verifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia real estate appraiser license law and the regulations of the Real Estate Appraiser Board.

4. The applicant shall be in good standing as a real estate appraiser in every jurisdiction where licensed or certified; the applicant may not have had a license or certification that was suspended, revoked or surrendered in connection with a disciplinary action or that has been the subject of discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure in Virginia.

5. The applicant may not have shall possess a background that would not call into question the public trust. Each applicant shall submit to fingerprinting. A background investigation shall be conducted, which shall not reveal that he has been convicted, found guilty, or pled guilty, regardless of adjudication, in any jurisdiction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or of any felony or nolo contendere to a crime that would call into question his fitness or suitability to engage in the profession. The applicant must disclose the following:

a. All felony convictions; and

b. All misdemeanor convictions in any jurisdiction that occurred within five years of the date of application.

Any plea of nolo contendere or finding of guilt regardless of adjudication or deferred adjudication shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subdivision. A certified copy of a final order, decree, or case decision, by a court with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree, or case decision shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such conviction.

6. The applicant shall be at least 18 years old.

7. The applicant shall have successfully completed 150 hours for the licensed residential classification, 200 hours for the certified residential classification, and 300 hours for the certified general classification of approved real estate appraisal courses, including the 15-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice course, from accredited colleges, universities, junior and community colleges; adult distributive or marketing education programs; local, state or federal government agencies, boards or commissions; proprietary schools; or real estate appraisal or real estate related organizations. The required core curriculum for the certified general or certified residential real estate appraiser is a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The required core curriculum for the licensed residential real estate appraiser is an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college, junior college, community college, or university. In lieu of the required degree, the licensed residential real estate appraiser applicant must complete 30 semester hours of college-level education from an accredited college, junior college, community college, or university. The classroom hours required for the licensed residential real estate appraiser may include the classroom hours required for the appraiser trainee. The classroom hours required for the certified residential real estate appraiser may include the classroom hours required for the appraiser trainee or the licensed real estate appraiser. The classroom hours required for the certified general real estate appraiser may include the classroom hours required for the appraiser trainee, the licensed residential real estate appraiser, or the certified residential real estate appraiser.

All applicants for licensure as a certified general real estate appraiser must complete an advanced level appraisal course of at least 30 classroom hours in the appraisal of nonresidential properties.

8. The applicant shall, as part of the application for licensure, verify his experience in the field of real estate appraisal. All applicants must submit, upon application, sample appraisal reports as specified by the board. In addition, all experience must be acquired within the five-year period immediately preceding the date application is made and be supported by adequate written reports or file memoranda, which shall be made available to the board upon request.

a. Applicants for a licensed residential real estate appraiser license shall have a minimum of 2,000 hours appraisal experience, in no fewer than 12 months. Hours may be treated as cumulative in order to achieve the necessary 2,000 hours of appraisal experience.

b. Applicants for a certified residential real estate appraiser license shall have a minimum of 2,500 hours of appraisal experience obtained during no fewer than 24 months. Hours may be treated as cumulative in order to achieve the necessary 2,500 hours of appraisal experience.

c. Applicants for a certified general real estate appraiser license shall have a minimum of 3,000 hours of appraisal experience obtained during no fewer than 30 months. Hours may be treated as cumulative in order to achieve the necessary 3,000 hours of appraisal experience. At least 50% of the appraisal experience required (1,500 hours) must be in nonresidential appraisal assignments and include assignments that demonstrate the use and understanding of the income approach. An applicant whose nonresidential appraisal experience is predominately in such properties that do not require the use of the income approach may satisfy this requirement by performing two or more appraisals on properties in association with a certified general appraiser that include the use of the income approach. The applicant must have substantially contributed to the development of the income approach in such reports and shall provide evidence or verification of such contribution.

9. Within 12 months after being approved by the board to take the examination, the applicant shall have registered for and passed a written examination developed or endorsed by the Appraiser Qualifications Board and provided by the board or by a testing service acting on behalf of the board. Successful completion of the examination is valid for a period of 24 months.

10. Applicants for licensure who do not meet the requirements set forth in subdivisions 4 and 5 of this section may be approved for licensure following consideration of their application by the board.

FORMS (18VAC130-20)

Appraiser License Application, A461-4001LIC-v4 (rev. 8/15)

Appraiser License Application, A461-4001LIC-v5_01-01-2017 (rev. 1/2017)

Experience Log, A461-40EXP-v1 (rev. 7/13)

Appraiser Trainee License Application, A461-4004TRLIC-v4 (rev. 8/15)

Trainee Supervisor Verification Form, A461-40TRSUP-v2 (rev. 1/15)

Business Registration Application, A461-4008BUS-v2 (rev. 8/15)

Pre-License Education Course Application, A461-4006CRS-v2 (rev. 8/15)

Pre-License Education Course Renewal Application, A461-4006RENCRS-v2 (rev. 8/15)

Instructor Certification Application, A461-4002INSTR-v2 (rev. 8/15)

Activate License Application, A461-4001AT-v1 (rev. 7/13)

Temporary Appraiser License Application, A461-4005TLIC-v2 (rev. 8/15)