cdubvb
Freshman Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2014
- Professional Status
- Appraiser Trainee
- State
- Virginia
I am a Certified Residential appraiser in the state of VA, at least for now. I worked my *** off to get my education and experience requirements completed before the new regulations took effect on Jan. !st of this year. I was told several times by a member of the VA DPOR board that as long as I had those completed in time and was approved, I could sit for the exam after Jan. 1st. I have an email from the Board stating as such. I was approved to take the exam on Dec. 10th, 2014.
So with the holidays coming up, my husband deployed, and being the sole caregiver of my elderly mother, I decided to take a break from the studies and wait just a little to take the Certified residential exam. I passed it on my first attempt on March 2nd, 2015 and was sent my license shortly after. I have since been working the past year as a Certified Residential, FHA approved appraiser and accepted an offer to open an office as a partner with another appraiser who had been in business for over 10 years.
Just before Christmas of this year, I received a letter from the DPOR stating that they had made an error, and that I did have to pass my exam before Jan. 1st, 2015, therefore my license is in jeopardy unless I can prove that I have the current educational requirements mandated after Jan. 1st. I feel as though I have been gutted with a samurai sword. I have been working as a certified appraiser for most of the year and now it can be taken away, along with my FHA certification, due to their mistake? I had looked to them as the authority in regulation, and believed that what they told me to be true. Otherwise I would have taken the exam before Jan. !st. There was a good chance I could have passed it, as I passed it with a score of 100 out of 110 on the first attempt. I also passed my licensed residential exam with similar scores on the first attempt. Had I not passed, I would have probably been taking classes all year towards my bachelors degree. Now I have potentially lost a year. But I feel confident that I would have passed had I made the effort. I would have at least liked a chance, and had they not misinformed me, I would have taken that chance.
They are holding an informal fact finding session in January, and by the wording of the documents, it is only for me to prove I have the required bachelor's degree as they "lack the authority or legal jurisdiction to amend federal requirements." Where do I go from here? I am looking for legal counsel, but am not sure where to begin. What type of lawyer handles these cases? I don't even know if it will be worth the cost, because it seems I may have to fight at the federal level if VA lacks authority to overturn this. Does anybody know of a similar case or have any advice? I spent a lot of time, money and effort getting the required education in on time, and I don't see how I am any less qualified to hold my credentials just because I passed my exam a litle later than required. Now I may lose my job, as my colleague needs a partner with similar credentials. Not to mention that I will have to call the many AMCs that we work for, to inform them that I am no longer certified nor FHA approved, should I lose my case. Can I sue the DPOR? I mean, we carry E&O insurance for a reason. They really made a big time error and ommission! And now my career is in jeopardy!
So with the holidays coming up, my husband deployed, and being the sole caregiver of my elderly mother, I decided to take a break from the studies and wait just a little to take the Certified residential exam. I passed it on my first attempt on March 2nd, 2015 and was sent my license shortly after. I have since been working the past year as a Certified Residential, FHA approved appraiser and accepted an offer to open an office as a partner with another appraiser who had been in business for over 10 years.
Just before Christmas of this year, I received a letter from the DPOR stating that they had made an error, and that I did have to pass my exam before Jan. 1st, 2015, therefore my license is in jeopardy unless I can prove that I have the current educational requirements mandated after Jan. 1st. I feel as though I have been gutted with a samurai sword. I have been working as a certified appraiser for most of the year and now it can be taken away, along with my FHA certification, due to their mistake? I had looked to them as the authority in regulation, and believed that what they told me to be true. Otherwise I would have taken the exam before Jan. !st. There was a good chance I could have passed it, as I passed it with a score of 100 out of 110 on the first attempt. I also passed my licensed residential exam with similar scores on the first attempt. Had I not passed, I would have probably been taking classes all year towards my bachelors degree. Now I have potentially lost a year. But I feel confident that I would have passed had I made the effort. I would have at least liked a chance, and had they not misinformed me, I would have taken that chance.
They are holding an informal fact finding session in January, and by the wording of the documents, it is only for me to prove I have the required bachelor's degree as they "lack the authority or legal jurisdiction to amend federal requirements." Where do I go from here? I am looking for legal counsel, but am not sure where to begin. What type of lawyer handles these cases? I don't even know if it will be worth the cost, because it seems I may have to fight at the federal level if VA lacks authority to overturn this. Does anybody know of a similar case or have any advice? I spent a lot of time, money and effort getting the required education in on time, and I don't see how I am any less qualified to hold my credentials just because I passed my exam a litle later than required. Now I may lose my job, as my colleague needs a partner with similar credentials. Not to mention that I will have to call the many AMCs that we work for, to inform them that I am no longer certified nor FHA approved, should I lose my case. Can I sue the DPOR? I mean, we carry E&O insurance for a reason. They really made a big time error and ommission! And now my career is in jeopardy!
