Repeating continuing ed courses

[Walter Kirk]

I have been licensed since 1992 and had taken over 200 hours of appraisal education prior to licensing. In addition to that education I have taken state sales and broker education as well as state tax assessor certification classes and college level investment analysis courses. I have completed at least 28 hours of continuing education each biannual renewal period. For years I would treat myself to a two day AI course including travel and hotel stays as well as attending the local IFA convention for continuing ed credits.

For the last few years, as business has gotten worse, I have found that I couldn't afford the time or the cost of in person courses and seminars. I began taking continuing ed on line to fulfill the state requirements. I have now taken every available on line course on every applicable subject and am faced with retaking courses to meet with state class hour requirements. My question is whether it is valid to re take courses to meet continuing ed hour requirements.

I am, of course, aware that I have taken the USPAP update every two years however that course has at least some new content. It seems such a waste of my time and money and it leaves me wondering whether the state should even give continuing ed credit for retaken courses. I would be interested in hearing the opinions and experiences of other veteran appraisers about this situation.

 

[hastalavista]

In my state (California), each new CE cycle resets the meter. An appraiser can take CE course XYZ in one CE period, and then take the same course in the next (although our licenses are renewed every 2-years, our CE cycle is every 4-years).

One cannot take a core class and count it for basic education and CE. However, once that core class requirement is met (say, upgrading from license-level to certified-level), then the core class can be taken again as CE in the following cycle.

I took a course on advanced applications 2-years ago as a basic education requirement for an upgrade (and have since upgraded). I plan to take it again next year, when my new CE cycle begins.

 

[Riick]

As our local laws are written, there's no reason why you can't take a
2 hr course 14 times and get 28 hours of CE credit.
How dumb would that be?
very Very dumb.

 

[The Warrior Monk]

As our local laws are written, there's no reason why you can't take a
2 hr course 14 times and get 28 hours of CE credit.
How dumb would that be?
very Very dumb.

Actually, attending appraisal organization meetings might count for CE. The AI meetings here usually have a guest speaker, and count for two hours of CE. Simply attend all the meetings and take the USPAP update and you're done for the cycle.

 

[hastalavista]

Actually, attending appraisal organization meetings might count for CE. The AI meetings here usually have a guest speaker, and count for two hours of CE. Simply attend all the meetings and take the USPAP update and you're done for the cycle.

The AI is a great way to accumulate CE in 2-4 hour increments.

For all you Central & Northern California forumites, there is another organization (of which I also hold membership) that offers CE and lunch/dinner at a very reasonable price: REAA (http://reaa.org/). I am a member of the East Bay Chapter, and membership (current) is $125/year (next year increasing to $140/year; join now, and you receive the remainder of this year + next year's membership at the current price!). The REAA's primary focus is on residential appraising.

Our REAA chapter typically offers 2-hour CE 8x a year; we also have longer classes including USPAP and California Regs (now required for license renewal). The average cost for the 2-hour CE + food is less than $50 for members. It is an easy, inexpensive, and convenient way to accumulate much of the CE requirements over the 4-year period.

(And, so I don't favor one group over another...) The Northern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute is having its annual conference in San Francisco (the 63rd year) on October 29th this year. That is 6-hours (pending) for California and neighboring states. That's a great one-day conference to attend, and has something for everyone (http://www.norcal-AI.org/amass/doc-get-pub/event/77/2013_Fall_Conference_Brochure.pdf).

Local organization presentations like the AI and REAA are especially attractive to appraisers like you, Walter, who have taken many of the standard courses and are looking for something "different".


The best thing about the local organizations is the networking possibilities. I've received numerous referrals from being associated with both entities that have more than paid my future dues for the next 15-years (if I last that long! ).... but, you don't have to be a member to attend either group's meetings... members just typically get the CE at a discounted price.

:new_smile-l:

 

[rbrienza]

In Colorado, we are on a 3 year cycle. You can take the course every cycle, with one exception - USPAP you can take the 7 hour update class every year.

 

[sputnam]

If you want a definitive answer. You should probably ask your state appraisal board.

 

[TxArmadillo]

If you want a definitive answer. You should probably ask your state appraisal board.

Agreed. The CE requirements and restrictions are going to be state-specific.

The Texas CE requirements are totally different based upon the comments others have posted above in this thread. In Texas, the CE requirements are based upon your two-year license cycle but you cannot retake the same CE course within a three-year period (except for USPAP's two-year testing requirement).

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

That's the reason we formed our local appraisal group (CAREA). We offer 12 hours of CE a year as well as a USPAP update class once a year. If a member attends the 6 meetings a year and does a USPAP update they have meet the CE requirement.

The state must approved our seminars and does not want us to repeat a class within a 24 month period. Membership in our group is $120 a year. That includes 12 hours of CE and dinner at 6 meetings. It's always fun trying to come up with new and interesting topics. Our last meeting was on "using technology for appraisal applications". Very interesting and very well received. Due to the recent wild fires and now flooding I think we can come up with some new offerings on those timely topics. One of the best received and most interesting seminar was on septic systems and wells. Our next one (November meeting) will be a panel of underwriters discussing "most common appraisal issues and red flags".

 

[3 Putt]

If you want a definitive answer. You should probably ask your state appraisal board.

Be sure to ask if you can get CE credit for attending a state board meeting. There are a few states that allow meeting to count towards CE.

It encourages appraisers to attend and gets the board members a few hours as well.