From Trainee Appraiser to Certified General Appraiser?

[Mikhail]

A few Newbie questions :

1) Is it possible to progress from Trainee Appraiser directly to Certified General Appraiser? 2) In other words, is it possible to skip the Certified Residential Appraiser license, assuming I am primarily interested in commercial/industrial real estate? 3) Besides, CGA license, I plan to obtain the MAI designation ASAP, would not having CRA license, slow me down in any way? Any downside in terms of education/experience/knowledge of not acquiring the CRA along the way, if it's not required for the CGA license?

The following is from FL's DBPR site:

"Certified General Appraiser
Successfully complete 300 classroom hours of board-approved courses covering the topics required by the FREAB in subjects related to real estate appraisal. This must include 15 hours of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (external link)). Past courses may be approved by the board and substituted on an-hour-for-hour basis.
Provide proof of satisfactory completion of either a 4 year bachelors degree or higher, OR a total of 30 semester hours consisting of: English Composition; Micro Economics, Macro Economics; Finance; Algebra; Geometry or higher mathematics; Statistics; Computer Science; and either Business Law or Real Estate Law. Also must include any 2 or the following courses: Accounting; Geography; Agricultural Economics; Business Management. Or Real Estate
Submit a completed application, fingerprint card, and appropriate fee.
On an RE 2300 Form, provide evidence of 3,000 hours of real property appraisal experience obtained over a 30-month period in real property appraisal by furnishing under oath a detailed statement of the experience for each year of experience claimed. The experience claimed must have been acquired in no less than 30 months. At least 50% (1,500 hours) of the claimed experience must be in nonresidential appraisal work. Upon request, the applicant must provide the appraisal board, for its examination, copies of appraisal reports to support the claim for experience.
Pass the General National Exam (external link) and the Florida Supplemental Exam.
All appraisers are now required to register the firm or business name where they conduct appraisal services. To do so, you must submit a completed Change of Status FREAB 14 form to the Department."

4) Do the 100 classroom hours that are required for the Appraiser Trainee in FL, count towards the 300 classroom hours that are required for the Certified General Appraiser license? Or would it be a total of 400 classroom hours, instead of 300, when all is said and done?

5) Lastly, I have a BS degree in Economics, what's the likelihood that in another 4-5 years AI will require at least a Master's for their MAI designation?

Thank you in advance for your help and for putting up with my :new_newbie: questions!

Mikhail

 

[The Warrior Monk]

1) Is it possible to progress from Trainee Appraiser directly to Certified General Appraiser?

Yes

2) In other words, is it possible to skip the Certified Residential Appraiser license, assuming I am primarily interested in commercial/industrial real estate?

There is no requirement that one must become a CR before becoming a CG. Many working at larger appraisal firms go from trainee to CG.

3) Besides, CGA license, I plan to obtain the MAI designation ASAP, would not having CRA license, slow me down in any way? Any downside in terms of education/experience/knowledge of not acquiring the CRA along the way, if it's not required for the CGA license?

Getting a CR is not a requirement for getting a MAI designation, nor will it slow you down if you do not get it.

4) Do the 100 classroom hours that are required for the Appraiser Trainee in FL, count towards the 300 classroom hours that are required for the Certified General Appraiser license? Or would it be a total of 400 classroom hours, instead of 300, when all is said and done?

License Law is state specific, but typically the trainee courses would be part of the overall education requirements (i.e., part of the 300-hour requirement).

5) Lastly, I have a BS degree in Economics, what's the likelihood that in another 4-5 years AI will require at least a Master's for their MAI designation?

I don't believe this was ever a serious consideration.

 

[Michael S]

David nailed it but I am an example of going straight from trainee to CG. I have never appraised a single family home and have no intention of ever doing so. I've strictly worked on commercial properties.

 

[Mikhail]

Gentlemen, thank you for the prompt responses! Much appreciated!

Mikhail

 

[Stone]

You have the answers you need. I'm only going to chime in for anyone reading as to why I, and at least one other appraiser I know, went the route of license, CR, then CG. It likely doesn't pertain to you as no doubt you are in an office type position.

I went through the steps because the number of general hours I could get, at first, were somewhat limited and getting a license meant I could leave behind my past job and just do appraisals quicker. I never billed more than about 35% to residential clients, but that was enough to get me into the business full time. Also, it meant that if something happened to my supervisor (my father) I would have a license/CR credential and could continue to make a living while working towards my CG slowly. It also was one of those things, particularly the CR, that made some clients happy. Even though what I knew didn't change, having some sort of state credential put a few clients at ease - even if it was for work that I had to get co-signed. Lastly, and not unimportant, I could get MLS access once I was licensed and that was worth sitting for the test.

Also, I am happy to have done residential for several years as it gives me more insight to that world. Most people think of mortgage appraisals when they hear our profession and when crap goes wrong there we all are impacted by changes to standards. I would say that a lot more of what I learned on the CG side transferred to my residential work than the reverse, but there are some things from those years as a residential appraiser that help in my CG work. I know enough to realize I could never go back to that world full time at this point, but it was an option years ago.

So, it likely doesn't matter to the OP's situation and there is probably no reason to bother with it. But, for those reading there are some benefits to getting the other licenses along the way depending on how you are setup.

 

[Stone]

I should probably add that I did all this well over a decade ago when the tests were not as difficult (as I understand it) so it wasn't much of a burden to take them and get each license that way. From what I've read, they are a lot more work now and that might impact how someone weighs the pluses and minuses.

 

[The Warrior Monk]

Like Stone, I also received my CR first. It was actually one of the best things I ever did, because of where I work I now have a market niche appraising multimillion dollars residential properties. The fees for these appraisals compete with commercial fees.

While I was doing residential appraisal work, I was also training for my commercial license. The commercial license not only allows one to appraise interesting properties for the appropriate fees, but provides much, much greater job security.

The MAI designation is my next goal.

 

[Stone]

Like Stone, I also received my CR first. It was actually one of the best things I ever did, because of where I work I now have a market niche appraising multimillion dollars residential properties. The fees for these appraisals compete with commercial fees.

While I was doing residential appraisal work, I was also training for my commercial license. The commercial license not only allows one to appraise interesting properties for the appropriate fees, but provides much, much greater job security.

The MAI designation is my next goal.

Since I specialize in rural lands, I do end up working on properties with existing residences a handful of times a year so having appraised a bunch of SFR properties makes that aspect easier, even if the way I go about it is far different than when I was doing lending work.

 

[rbrienza]

I think you have some good answers about David.

I went from trainee (Registered) to CG., in 30 months. I have been appraising since 2007, and in that time I have appraised about 5 houses. most after I became a CG, I did have a CR sign off on the houses.

I do believe that learning to do houses is important to understand some of the market trends. (without have houses you have to commercial properties.)

I am also working on my MAI,

Your question about will AI require a Masters degree - I don't think so. and if they do, most likely many of the MAI courses (advanced) may qualify for the masters classes. (I wish they and the AQB would drop the Bachelors requirement.)

good luck
ray

 

[MusicGirl]

I also went directly from trainee to CG. It was suggested by one of my instructors to try to take the CG exam and Comp exam close together and study for both at the same time. Amazingly, it has worked out that way for me--just passed the CG last month and sitting for Comp in September. I hope I can benefit from the massive studying I did for the state exam. I used the AI online study guide and it was very helpful in getting organized. Good Luck.