State License In Mass/anyway To Grandfather To Certified?

[Noreen]

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

Clifton, Gladys M (REG) (REG)

This is the email address for the board secretary... Good Luck!!!

 

[Chris Porter]

Clifton, Gladys M (REG) (REG)

This is the email address for the board secretary... Good Luck!!!

Thank You,

She is a wonderful lady and I have reached out to her for advice many times.

 

[Ken B]

If a college degree is a sham, what does that say about graduating from high school?

 

[Allen Moore]

I'm a little late to joining this conversation but here are my two cents. I went to college at 45. Finished at 49 as the oldest graduating student. I have $25,000 in debt now. It is now 3 years later. My degree is in business. I use a lot of what I learned in my daily work. But my degree is fresh. I wanted to get the degree and I didn't view it as a means to an end. For me, the added education is an accomplishment I am proud of. Maybe the requirement is catalysis for your degree but you may love going to school and learning about how business works, economics, writing, ethics, law etc.

I would say, based on my experience, Go For It! And get your money’s worth.

 

[Allen Moore]

Your message is very positive and I'm happy for you!

However, getting a degree for the sake of being able to sit for the certified exam is not a viable option for some people at this stage in their life. There are unique circumstances out here that just won't fit perfectly into a certain mold. I'm all for improving the profession and ensuring we keep the public trust; but requiring a highly experienced licensed appraiser to go back to school for a degree in "basket weaving" to be able to sit for the exam and that has already gained vast experience as a licensed appraiser over the course of say 10-15 years makes no sense to me and these specific licensed appraisers in this situation are "collateral damage". I know exceptional licensed appraisers and exceptional certified appraisers. Some may argue that "well they had a chance to upgrade" or....."they knew about the requirement a few years ago"...... That may very well be true. But just what if during that time they were battling cancer, or their spouse died, or they lost a child, or some other life changing event which made it impossible to meet the deadlines? So, what do they do now? Walk away from the 10, 15, 20 years of experience, licensing fees, continuing education, etc....?

 

[gregb]

If a college degree is a sham, what does that say about graduating from high school?

Not too much. Can you correlate the two?

 

[devin]

I agree with you its a tough one here making a degree a requirement, like I mentioned in one of my earlier post, I just barley made the cut, before 2015 changes, and even then I sacrificed alot going back to school, and working fulltime, now does a degree make someone a better appraiser, No, because it doesn't matter what your degree is in, not knocking education, don't get me wrong, but I feel there should be a seperate curiculum strictly for appraisers, not necessarily a dergree, but a program that focuses on the profession , and those who have the years and years of experience, should be granted a certain amount of credit towards qualifying to sit for the state exam., this is just my opinion

 

[Pittsburgh Pete]

I agree with you its a tough one here making a degree a requirement, like I mentioned in one of my earlier post, I just barley made the cut, before 2015 changes, and even then I sacrificed alot going back to school, and working fulltime, now does a degree make someone a better appraiser, No, because it doesn't matter what your degree is in, not knocking education, don't get me wrong, but I feel there should be a seperate curiculum strictly for appraisers, not necessarily a dergree, but a program that focuses on the profession , and those who have the years and years of experience, should be granted a certain amount of credit towards qualifying to sit for the state exam., this is just my opinion

Would that "seperate curiculum" (sic) require any studies in writing coherently with an emphasis on sentence structure and/or spelling?

 

[devin]

Of course, even though sentence structure and spelling are topics that should've been covered in grade school, definitely mastered by high school.

 

[devin]

And also as a reminder to become licensed there's a report writing course required.