Appraisal Institute vs. McKissock Trainee Classes

[Joe Flacco]

I think the instructor does make the difference, no matter who they teach for. I've had a couple of really good McKissock instructors that I followed. Took a week long AI course years ago and the two instructors were terrible.

I've never taken McKissock courses in class. I've taken AI courses and courses offered by local appraisal associations. The quality of instructors is night and day. AI instructors are more professional, better prepared, and have a better grasp of the content. But with online there is no interaction with the instructor.

 

[TC]

I've never taken McKissock courses in class. I've taken AI courses and courses offered by local appraisal associations. The quality of instructors is night and day. AI instructors are more professional, better prepared, and have a better grasp of the content. But with online there is no interaction with the instructor.

If you've never taken a McKissock class in person, how do you know?

 

[Joe Flacco]

If you've never taken a McKissock class in person, how do you know?

I don't know about McKissock courses in class. McKissock is clearly better to me for online courses than AI. AI courses in class is better to me than other non-AI courses I have take in class that were offered at like community college or by local associations.

 

[TC]

Check the teaching roster of McKissock's, highly qualified instructors and a few with AI designations if that makes a difference to you.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Check the teaching roster of McKissock's, highly qualified instructors and a few with AI designations if that makes a difference to you.

That's what I was saying before. Seems like all the online course instructors are SRA or MAI. I don't see why it would be any different for in class.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Based on my experience, I think the AI course instructors in class being better than others might be that they teach the course more regularly. They go around the country teaching the same courses. I think some of the instructors from other providers may have been first time teaching the course. The difference in the quality of instructors was almost like a full time teacher vs substitute teacher.

 

[Mark K]

I have done some networking and have found a local appraisal company that hires trainees.

Ask your future employer which they'd prefer or if they have a preference at all.

Most of your learning will occur after the training classes anyway so take which ever they prefer or the most convenient if they don't care.

I've taken a lot of classes from both and had good and bad from both. In person, its all about the instructor. Online, it doesn't matter.

 

[jay trotta]

What makes AI in class courses better are the instructors. More competent instructors. It's not really the content itself that is better. Online there is no interaction with the instructors. You just click through content on your own.

Agree, but I have taken some very interesting courses, Investment income and stats by non- AI instructors that were fantastic (not that there's anything wrong with AI instructors) but the content & instructor can be very interesting outside the box.

 

[Mr Rex]

I hope I never have to sit in a class ever again for any education. I think C-19 may make a big dent in the whole idea of bricks and mortar "in person" classes across the board including college courses. The education establishment from the Appraiser licensing and CE folks to major universities is going to be dumped on their head. Good riddance IMHO. Now they just may have to address why online is any where close to the costs of "in person" classes.

 

[Brian Cooper]

I have not taken a class live. Every class I've taken is online.

If you want to get a designation, SRA or MAI, then take Appraisal Institute.

If you want to get your Certified and get to work on your own, then don't waste extra the money on AI courses.

I've taken both. The level of education is higher in AI, but the costs are also much higher. I'm almost done with my SRA at the advice of my mentor. However, I've been out on my own for 2 years. No bank will take you on their board until you have a minimum of 5 years of experience. You will be working for AMC's for those 5 years, and AMC's do not care if you have a designation.

If I had to do it all over again, I would take all of my classes through McKissock. I'm one comprehensive test away from being done with my SRA. Now that I'm not with my mentor every day cheering me on to complete it, I don't see the value.