State License In Mass/anyway To Grandfather To Certified?

[Chris Porter]

I began my appraisal schooling in 2005 and set off to complete my training hours and schooling When things slowed dramatically due to the collapse I suspended my appraisal aspirations so that I could pay the bills. I returned to the engineering for three years. I resumed my appraisal schooling and training hours. I took and passed my state license test in Massachusetts in July of 2014. By that time an associates degree was required to apply to take the Certified Exam. Now, a Bachelors is required. I have neither. At 45 with 3 kids, a wife and household to support, obtaining a Bachelors Degree is not financially possible. I have been appraising for the better part of 10 years as a trainee and for the past 18 months as a state licensed appraiser in Massachusetts. If given the chance I feel extremely confident I would ace the Certified exam. The reason this is important to my family and I is due to the fact that a State License to appraise residential properties in the state of Massachusetts appears to be as useless as a toilet filled with cement. The fact is that the majority, if not all, lenders out there will not accept a state license even though Massachusetts Board Of Appraisers clearly states that I am eligible to appraiser single, 1-4 family and under a $1,000,000 properties.

So, now that I have that off my chest. Is there anyone out there in a similar situation? If so, are you aware of any "grandfather" type clause that may exist in order for me to take my certified exam without attending 4 years of college to learn a skill I have been practicing successfully for the better part of ten years. Any information will be greatly appreciated. I have calls into the Mass Board of Appraisals but so far no luck getting thru or getting any solid information. I am certain I can't be the only one who these ridiculous guidelines have stopped in there tracks.

Thanks Again,

Chris Porter
chrisporter49@comcast.net

 

[The Warrior Monk]

Prior to January 1, 2015, the requirements for upgrading were a hodge podge, varying from state to state.

As of January 1, 2015, that ended. Persons wishing to upgrade must meet the new AQB requirements at a minimum (states may require more than the minimum, not less). In order to upgrade to CR, you need a 4-year degree, plus meet the current qualifying appraisal course criteria, in addition to the experience requirements..

 

[Chris Porter]

Prior to January 1, 2015, the requirements for upgrading were a hodge podge, varying from state to state.

As of January 1, 2015, that ended. Persons wishing to upgrade must meet the new AQB requirements at a minimum (states may require more than the minimum, not less). In order to upgrade to CR, you need a 4-year degree, plus meet the current qualifying appraisal course criteria, in addition to the experience requirements..

 

[Chris Porter]

Prior to January 1, 2015, the requirements for upgrading were a hodge podge, varying from state to state.

As of January 1, 2015, that ended. Persons wishing to upgrade must meet the new AQB requirements at a minimum (states may require more than the minimum, not less). In order to upgrade to CR, you need a 4-year degree, plus meet the current qualifying appraisal course criteria, in addition to the experience requirements..

Yes. That is what I understand to be true in my state. I am looking for information or similar experience from anyone who may have found a way around the 4 year degree requirement say based upon experience, educational hours related to appraising, number of signed reports as state licensed appraiser, actual hours well above 2500, etc. Basically, if there are any "equivalents" that exist that may be accepted by the AQB n lieu of a 4 year degree.

 

[CindyR]

There has been a TREMENDOUS amount of discussion about this over the years and the bottom line is that the new rules were announced years ago so that everyone who might be negatively affected had plenty of time to upgrade their credentials before the deadline. It is unfortunate that you were not compelled to do so within the time parameters but there is likely no exception for you at this point.

 

[gregb]

Yes. That is what I understand to be true in my state. I am looking for information or similar experience from anyone who may have found a way around the 4 year degree requirement say based upon experience, educational hours related to appraising, number of signed reports as state licensed appraiser, actual hours well above 2500, etc. Basically, if there are any "equivalents" that exist that may be accepted by the AQB n lieu of a 4 year degree.

If you are patient, perhaps the AQB will eliminate the college degree requirement as it is now considering eliminating or reducing the work experience requirement.

 

[ucbruin]

I'm not sure if you mean MA licensing or MA Board of Real Estate Appraisers.

Here is MBREA website.

Good luck.

http://www.mbrea.org/

 

[Eli]

If you are patient, perhaps the AQB will eliminate the college degree requirement as it is now considering eliminating or reducing the work experience requirement.

I am doubtful on the degree requirement for more than one reason. If I researched this forum I could find a few reasons. Now, there are unethical people with degrees, but I am very doubtful that degree requirement will change. Think of doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, etc and you will get why I don't think there is any way the degree requirement will change and I don't think it should change in order for the appraisal profession to be considered similar to those other professions.

Face it, the government realized that the standards needed to be raised because so many idiots were coming in because many of them just didn't have the intelligence necessary for the job. Same with nursing, teachers, etc. Some people just don't have the intelligence necessary for those jobs. The degree requirement eliminates a bunch of those people that I am sure the government has seen and blackballed by revoking their licenses, sometimes because of intelligence and sometimes because of ethics. The degree requirement limits the intelligence requirement drastically. One can't be stupid from an IQ standpoint and enter the field due to the degree requirement.

There are many professions that are the "same" way.

 

[The Warrior Monk]

Yes. That is what I understand to be true in my state. I am looking for information or similar experience from anyone who may have found a way around the 4 year degree requirement say based upon experience, educational hours related to appraising, number of signed reports as state licensed appraiser, actual hours well above 2500, etc. Basically, if there are any "equivalents" that exist that may be accepted by the AQB n lieu of a 4 year degree.

There is no grandfathering nor any "equivalents" with this round of changes,

There were various options that the states could, and did, adopt over the past several years, but that option was eliminated January 1, 2015 for all states and territories. You can view that information here; Note section pertaining to "Deletion of the Segmented Approach to Criteria Implementation," which is what you are referring to as "grandfathering":

Summary of Changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (effective January 1, 2015)

 

[The Warrior Monk]

If you are patient, perhaps the AQB will eliminate the college degree requirement as it is now considering eliminating or reducing the work experience requirement.

From what I understand, this is something that was just thrown out there for discussion; it is doubtful it will occur, IMHO. Regardless, even when such changes are made, it takes years for such changes to be implemented.