- Joined
- Mar 30, 2005
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- New York
Hi Everyone,
The meeting was public, but some info may not see the light of day in newsletters and such because they are still under discussion, so I figured I'd post a summary here.
I went with a RA, and we both got to meet Ernest. He's very professional and personable. We ended up speaking to him beforehand for at least 15 minutes, maybe longer, and then again after the meeting. We'll be speaking again in the near future.
The meeting was held in a large boardroom, with a large table in the middle, and chairs all along the outside. The Board, RA's, Department Staff, and yours truly got to sit at the table. An observer from the AG's office and some other folks sat around the outside. Overall, not many public observer's/appraisers were there.
I basically observed when the meeting was in progress. First time for me…next time I’ll have a clue.
Some of the board members did discuss the trainee situation beforehand. I suspect this matter will be brought up in the future, especially since one was all fired up about it.
The issue of the new AQB education requirements was brought up, and is interesting. This will be clarified by the DOS in the future. The current courses, for the most part, don’t line up with the new courses, with the exception of R1, and possibly R2. What that means is that there will be problems when upgrading.
Let’s say you are going for your general cert. You have taken every course except G3 before 01-01-2008. You now fall under the new requirements. None of your G courses will likely have equivalents, and possibly only one of your residential courses. It’s all out the window…that means you will have to take all the new commercial courses and possibly several residential courses in order to upgrade.
Discussion went on about online education…nothing groundbreaking there. Between that conversation and the paperwork I have, it seems like that are going to make a greater effort to verify the person is online and the time taking the course. I tried to poke my head in there, but Jodi made my point so I dropped it. I suspect they will eventually set up the courses like they do for the salesperson/broker CE. In those classes, the course is dictated, and once has to constantly click to continue. The courses are also timed. If one doesn’t click after a certain amount of time, the clock stops. Because of the audio track, the clicks, and the clock, one can’t simply fly through those courses.
Certain amendments to the law were suggested. One, which I agree with, deals with market analysis typically performed by RE Brokers or Salespersons. If the valuation conforms to standards 1 and 2 of USPAP, then experience credit can be awarded. Mary Brower (Tony’s mystery person sitting in front of me ; she knows my dad well) piped in and stated that conformance with Ethics and Competency provisions should be made, and the Board agreed.
The issue relating to “inactive status” for military status and medical leave was brought up. Apparently exceptions can’t be granted without help from the Feds, which doesn’t seem to in place (I personally think that is ridiculous…there is no excuse to require appraisers deployed in combat to have to renew or do continuing education during that period). One solution they may implement is to simply reduce the fines for these fine folks…to $1.
A limit for the time education would be valid was discussed. Currently there is no limit, though supposedly one was suggested in the past. Experience is limited, though education is not. Mary also commented on this, bringing up the point that for the general courses, they are given less frequently, and appraisers may even have to travel to take them. Thus limiting the education period to the experience period (five years) wouldn’t be realistic.
Overall, it was an educational experience. Every appraiser should go at least once to see what goes on at the higher echelons of the appraiser profession.
The meeting was public, but some info may not see the light of day in newsletters and such because they are still under discussion, so I figured I'd post a summary here.
I went with a RA, and we both got to meet Ernest. He's very professional and personable. We ended up speaking to him beforehand for at least 15 minutes, maybe longer, and then again after the meeting. We'll be speaking again in the near future.
The meeting was held in a large boardroom, with a large table in the middle, and chairs all along the outside. The Board, RA's, Department Staff, and yours truly got to sit at the table. An observer from the AG's office and some other folks sat around the outside. Overall, not many public observer's/appraisers were there.
I basically observed when the meeting was in progress. First time for me…next time I’ll have a clue.
Some of the board members did discuss the trainee situation beforehand. I suspect this matter will be brought up in the future, especially since one was all fired up about it.
The issue of the new AQB education requirements was brought up, and is interesting. This will be clarified by the DOS in the future. The current courses, for the most part, don’t line up with the new courses, with the exception of R1, and possibly R2. What that means is that there will be problems when upgrading.
Let’s say you are going for your general cert. You have taken every course except G3 before 01-01-2008. You now fall under the new requirements. None of your G courses will likely have equivalents, and possibly only one of your residential courses. It’s all out the window…that means you will have to take all the new commercial courses and possibly several residential courses in order to upgrade.
Discussion went on about online education…nothing groundbreaking there. Between that conversation and the paperwork I have, it seems like that are going to make a greater effort to verify the person is online and the time taking the course. I tried to poke my head in there, but Jodi made my point so I dropped it. I suspect they will eventually set up the courses like they do for the salesperson/broker CE. In those classes, the course is dictated, and once has to constantly click to continue. The courses are also timed. If one doesn’t click after a certain amount of time, the clock stops. Because of the audio track, the clicks, and the clock, one can’t simply fly through those courses.
Certain amendments to the law were suggested. One, which I agree with, deals with market analysis typically performed by RE Brokers or Salespersons. If the valuation conforms to standards 1 and 2 of USPAP, then experience credit can be awarded. Mary Brower (Tony’s mystery person sitting in front of me
; she knows my dad well) piped in and stated that conformance with Ethics and Competency provisions should be made, and the Board agreed. The issue relating to “inactive status” for military status and medical leave was brought up. Apparently exceptions can’t be granted without help from the Feds, which doesn’t seem to in place (I personally think that is ridiculous…there is no excuse to require appraisers deployed in combat to have to renew or do continuing education during that period). One solution they may implement is to simply reduce the fines for these fine folks…to $1.
A limit for the time education would be valid was discussed. Currently there is no limit, though supposedly one was suggested in the past. Experience is limited, though education is not. Mary also commented on this, bringing up the point that for the general courses, they are given less frequently, and appraisers may even have to travel to take them. Thus limiting the education period to the experience period (five years) wouldn’t be realistic.
Overall, it was an educational experience. Every appraiser should go at least once to see what goes on at the higher echelons of the appraiser profession.
