Licensing Process - Experience

[Soverton]

I am currently six months in to my first year as an appraiser trainee in Texas. After speaking with TALBC, I was told that other than recording the reports I worked on in the logsheet on their website, I also needed to insert a statement into each report stating my name and that I assisted in various aspects of the appraisal. I have been doing this and was wondering if this differs from what someone who has been through the process was told or had to do? Has anyone run into any problems with verifying experience during the licensing process?

 

[Bill Streep]

The licensing process is pretty simple. Do keep up with your logs - they get VERY extensive.

For certification, it's a whole nuther deal. They will audit files they choose from your log. You better have great workfiles, and if they were signed by a supervisor, he/she is on the hook for the audit as well.

I know this because my daughter just sent in her audit files 2 weeks ago. The stack was several inches thick - a couple of reams of paper. It's the only thing she's waiting for, she passed the test. The process is pretty painful - don't expect things to happen quickly.

 

[Soverton]

Thanks Bill. Did yall include some type of statement in the reports your daughter helped with while she was a trainee? At first I thought that as a trainee I could sign as the appraiser as long as my supervisor signed as well, but was told I cannot sign until I'm licensed, and that's when I was told to include the statement in the report of my assistance in the appraisal.

 

[Bill Streep]

Bob Smith TX-1234567-Trainee provided real property appraisal assistance in the preparation of this report which consisted of: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. He did/did not inspect the property

 

[Soverton]

Thank you very much for the response Bill! So you're saying that now your daughter is being audited going from licensed to certified? How did yall handle including her in the reports once she was licensed? Did she sign them as appraiser with you signing as supervisor, or did you still include that general statement?

 

[Lee Lansford]

Thanks Bill. Did yall include some type of statement in the reports your daughter helped with while she was a trainee? At first I thought that as a trainee I could sign as the appraiser as long as my supervisor signed as well, but was told I cannot sign until I'm licensed, and that's when I was told to include the statement in the report of my assistance in the appraisal.

See USPAP, Standard 2, 2-2, (a) (b) & (c); see (vii): "When any portion of the work involves significant real property appraisal assistance, the appraiser must state the extent of that assistance." (lines 842 & 843)

USPAP requires what is being asked of you.

BEST to be very specific vs. the generic. That is--don't even think about offering some "blah-blah-blah" that you "offered 'signficant assistance'".

 

[Argentum]

Mandatory Audit of Workfiles Certified Appraiser Applicants

Discovered that the State of Texas will have a Mandatory Audit of your work files for Certification Applications. I've been keeping a fairly extensive work file for my reports however I was told today that a lot of applicants are ending up with complaints filed by the State for USPAP violations. Does anyone have any additional information regarding the Audit Process for Appraiser Certification Applicants...