Trainee Experience Hours

[Jim2014]

Hi, everyone
I am from California. I am a trainee appraiser and have been working for a certified appraiser for a long time. I am kind of confused how to gain the experience hours. Since most lenders/AMC don't allow trainee to do the appraisals, I have no idea what kind of appraisal I can do and the hours can be counted. Do I need to sign up any AMC?
My supervisor appraiser just told me that it is hard to gain hours now and have to find some lenders that allow trainee to do the appraisal.
Any suggestions? How do I suppose to gain valid hours?
Thank you.

 

[bnmappraisal]

You definitely need to check with your state as to what they will accept for experience hours and what the requirements are. This can be very time consuming, very mind numbing, I'm sure you'll want to smash your head against the wall a few times mad2: ), but eventually you'll get an answer that makes sense and becomes acceptable.

Each state is different and since states still control the licensing of each appraiser, this is your best bet. I know when I was a trainee (pre 2009) I was able to gain experience hours as long as it was written in the report that I "provided significant assistance" in the process. Again, this was over 6 yrs ago and in FL. Each state is different. But this was also b/c many AMC's didn't allow/want Trainee's signing reports, even though it was completely LEGAL here for a trainee to do!

Again, check with your state officials/licensing body. It's also going to depend on what type of appraisal Cert you are aiming for. Cert Gen or Cert Res?
Either way, I wish you the best of luck. It's definitely a long road and few travel it, let alone make it to the end...

 

[factsandtruth]

Hi, everyone
I am from California. I am a trainee appraiser and have been working for a certified appraiser for a long time. I am kind of confused how to gain the experience hours. Since most lenders/AMC don't allow trainee to do the appraisals, I have no idea what kind of appraisal I can do and the hours can be counted. Do I need to sign up any AMC?
My supervisor appraiser just told me that it is hard to gain hours now and have to find some lenders that allow trainee to do the appraisal.
Any suggestions? How do I suppose to gain valid hours?
Thank you.

I would market to real estate agents to get pre-listing work...soak up information from your mentor.

 

[George Hatch]

If you're a licensed trainee and you're working for an appraiser then exactly what are you doing? Are you cleaning their house and babysitting their kids or are you working on appraisals?

 

[gregb]

Work experience is clearly spelled out here:

http://www.orea.ca.gov/html/Lic_Hdbk.html#ttt

 

[hastalavista]

If you are appraising properties with your supervisor, then your work may qualify as experience for purposes of the BREA experience log.
In order to submit acceptable experience, you must be cited in the report as providing significant appraisal experience. Except for the first 500 hours (I believe... you better check that) the remaining experience hours must consist of all steps of the appraisal process (from identifying the problem to completing the appraisal). If you are not signing the certification, then you must be cited in the certification as providing significant real property appraisal assistance.
Further, in the report, the extent of your assistance must be identified. In your case, your case for qualifying experience, your assistant should cover all facets of the development and reporting process. This is not just an "experience hours" requirement; this is a USPAP requirement.

 

[Jim2014]

You definitely need to check with your state as to what they will accept for experience hours and what the requirements are. This can be very time consuming, very mind numbing, I'm sure you'll want to smash your head against the wall a few times mad2: ), but eventually you'll get an answer that makes sense and becomes acceptable.

Each state is different and since states still control the licensing of each appraiser, this is your best bet. I know when I was a trainee (pre 2009) I was able to gain experience hours as long as it was written in the report that I "provided significant assistance" in the process. Again, this was over 6 yrs ago and in FL. Each state is different. But this was also b/c many AMC's didn't allow/want Trainee's signing reports, even though it was completely LEGAL here for a trainee to do!

Again, check with your state officials/licensing body. It's also going to depend on what type of appraisal Cert you are aiming for. Cert Gen or Cert Res?
Either way, I wish you the best of luck. It's definitely a long road and few travel it, let alone make it to the end...

Thanks for the reply.
I do know the requirements, and I've spend some time on the state website. But I am just still confused about what hours would be counted as valid experience hours. I know it will be a long road and I will make it.

 

[Jim2014]

I would market to real estate agents to get pre-listing work...soak up information from your mentor.

Thanks for you reply.
Real estate consulting? I believe this goes to experience category 5, which is not acceptable anymore now. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Jim2014]

If you are appraising properties with your supervisor, then your work may qualify as experience for purposes of the BREA experience log.
In order to submit acceptable experience, you must be cited in the report as providing significant appraisal experience. Except for the first 500 hours (I believe... you better check that) the remaining experience hours must consist of all steps of the appraisal process (from identifying the problem to completing the appraisal). If you are not signing the certification, then you must be cited in the certification as providing significant real property appraisal assistance.
Further, in the report, the extent of your assistance must be identified. In your case, your case for qualifying experience, your assistant should cover all facets of the development and reporting process. This is not just an "experience hours" requirement; this is a USPAP requirement.

Thanks.
It is 400 hours. the rest of 1600 hours are my concern. here are some newbie questions: Should I buy E&O insurance since I am working for my mentor as a individual contractor now? How can I sign the certification if the AMC/Lenders don't allow trainee to do the appraisals? what did you do when you were a trainee? I know I am new.

 

[George Hatch]

You don't need to sign the certification in order to claim the hours. There are people who go straight from unlicensed to fully certified in CA without ever actually holding a Trainee license. What you need to do is to accumulate enough of the hours doing the work.

The most important thing is that the reports note the extent of the "analyses opinions and conclusions" you provided, because that's where the appraising actually occurs.
As for how many hours it all depends on however many hours you actually spent on those assignments, They all count so long as you actually did them.

The BREA won't count hours that you put in if they're not acknowledged in the report.