Virginia Appraisal Board Meeting

[Don Clark]

B) Attended a meeting of the Virginia Real Estate Board yesterday in Richmond, Virginia. There were 7 appraisers who were sanctioned or signed consent agreements on 9 seperate incidents. Sanctions ranged from fines to possible revocation of license. I appraiser is an AQB Certified Instructor with 9 counts against him. 3 were dismissed. Don't know what effect this will have on his certification. The board voted to continue the term of the current chairman until the end of the year. At that time he will be replaced by board member Harry. The board term of the current chair ends in March 2005 and he wanted the new chair to have a period of transisition.

My presentation to the board had to do with the fiasco I have posted here on the forum concerning my receiving 7 hours CE for a 7 Hour USPAP class I never attended. I assured the board that the matter was being dealt with satisfactorily and that I was satisfied that the people involved(Appraisal Buzz & The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers) have taken corrective action that will likely not allow this to happen again. The board staff that handles CE assured me that the certificate would not have been accepted anyway as it had not been signed by the AQB Instructor who taught the course and lacked his/her certification number.


:redface: OOPS... Forgot to mention. The board seemed to dislike the rules that go into effect in 2008 regarding qualifications for education and experience. Wonder how many other boards/commissions throughout the country feel the same way?
I spoke at some length about the fact that Virginia, unlike most states, does not require pre-approval of courses and instructors for CE. Some on the board seemed surprised that this is the case. The matter will be investigated and a survey of neighboring states and their procedures will be undertaken. The matter will be addressed at the next board meeting on November 9, 2004. I plan to be there to see what transpires. Hopefully, there will be tighter control of CE in the state.

For the record, I obtained 2 hours of CE for attending the board meeting.

 

[Otis Key]

For the record, I obtained 2 hours of CE for attending the board meeting.

Now that's something I need to bring up to our board since I've attended several and haven't gotten anything except sleep. :rainfro: :rainfro: :rainfro:

 

[The Bob]

The board was "surprised" that Virginia does not pre approve cources? Holy cow its been that way since the get go! Actually I like the way it's done now. If the course is AQB approved, then it's automatically approved by Virginia. Why gum up the works.

PS. How many other appriaser were there?

 

[Larry Lyke]

Otis --

I see continuing ed as primarily for those real estate practitioners who aren't actually practicing but may happen into a situation where because they have a license could potentially damage a client (read the public). You know, as in protecting the client from himself?

Minnesota requires 30 hours every biennium.

So, every other year we repackage the course, give it a new name and course number. Like you say, dull for those in the everyday 'world of know.'

I'd like to see something a bit more edgy.

BUT, there's something else that Minnesota does. They pore over courses to screen for dual-licensing. That I like. By which I mean, some courses are good for Realtor licensing and appraiser licensing. Some are actually good for 3 and 4 licenses (contractor and -- I forgot the other).

I only take dual-license courses. Saves half the fee. That’s about $286 every 2 years (this cycle). Every little bit helps.

L- in MN

 

[Don Clark]

B) Jim,

Sorry, but you are wrong. The CE courses I am referring to have never been seen by the AQB. Virginia will accept, with the exception of the 7 hour USPAP course, any course that is at least 2 hours in length, from anyone, on any subject so long as it generally contains content relative to appraisers. Also, any meeting of at least 2 hours in length such as the VA Fee Panel meeting each year, many monthly breakfast for appraisers that I have done, as well as meetings of professional appraisal organizations such as NAIFA, the AI, as well as others, where the discussion is generally about appraisal, will be accepted. Real estate license renewal CE courses are generally accepted. None of thses "courses" are ever seen by or approved by the AQB. If you believe I am wrong, call the board and ask them. There is NO pre-approval of courses or instructors, again, with the exception of pre-license and the 7 hour USPAP course. I have been teaching appraisal courses since before licensing or certification of appraisers ever became a reality. I hold license # 2 in the state for teaching pre-license courses(4002-000002). I also have a license to teach real estate pre-license courses that I have held since 1984. Yes, it would be a burden for me to have to get CE courses approved. But, I do that anyway for all the other states I teach in. It would be worth it to have some quality to CE courses.

 

[The Bob]

Don,

I can only go by what I am told. When I called the board to ask about course approval, I was told that any course approved by the AQB would be accepted by Virginia. I was also told that it has always been that way. The AQB does in fact have a course approval program, CAP. The following is from their site.

"The Course Approval Program has been established by the AQB at the request of and as a service to state appraiser regulatory agencies and all providers of real estate appraisal education. The AQB hopes this Program, participation in which is entirely voluntary, will encourage the development of high quality real estate appraisal education programs and meaningful education standards.

Under this program, submitted courses are reviewed in depth by a member of the AQB Review Panel. Reviewers are independent appraisal educators selected for their extensive knowledge and experience in appraising and appraisal education. Courses also receive a summary review by the chief reviewer (an AQB member) to assure objectivity and quality control.

The chief reviewer then presents a recommendation to the AQB for approval or rejection of the course. USPAP courses are approved for one year intervals while all others are approved for three-years. States are encouraged to accept approved courses for their education requirements.

The program is designed to be a convenience for both course providers and state regulators while helping to ensure quality appraisal courses for licensed and certified appraisers.

The AQB encourages state appraiser regulatory agencies and providers of real estate appraisal education to participate in and support this program. "

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.appraisalfoundation.org/html/qu...FileName=course

 

[Austin]

Jim wrote:

I can only go by what I am told. When I called the board to ask about course approval, I was told that any course approved by the AQB would be accepted by Virginia.

Right Jim: But apparently in Virginia any course not approved by the AQB is accepted too.

Don: Have you ever heard the expression: "Let well enough alone." Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We in Virginia have the most sensible system in the country relatively speaking. I hear from them once every two years at renewal time. Other than that I have never heard one word about the board or any of their actions. Since they stopped the mandated law class that is. They should have taken away ten hours of CE credit for that class because every time I took it I came out knowing less than I knew when I went in.

 

[Don Clark]

B) Jim,

What you are referring to is Pre-License courses. The AQB is not involved in continuing education courses, with the exception of the 7 hour USPAP course. None of the more than 8 courses I teach and have always had accepted in Virginia have EVER been seen by the AQB, nor have the courses that other CE providers teach. Ask McKissock if they have ever submitted any course to the AQB for approval, or the AI for that matter. Pre-license yes, but not CE.

Austin, a few years ago I was asked by a national appraisal organization to re-teach the Virginia Mandatory State Law course. Seems like they had used a guy from Tennessee to teach almost 100 people not realizing that that particular course had to be taught by a state licensed instructor just like for pre-license. Now Austin, you have already alluded to the fact that the first time was no fun, can you imagine having to take it a second time :rainfro: :rainfro:

The group was very generous tho, I escaped with my life :dance: :dance:

Actually, the guy from tennessee had concentrated soley on USPAP. I spent a lot of time on the administrative process in Virginia, and on case studies. Made it a little better for them.

As to leaving well enough alone, I might agree if I had not received a certificate for a 7 hour USPAP class I never attended. That started this whole question of ligit courses in my mind. But, we will see, I may be the only one who really cares one way or another.