What do SRA and MAI stand for?

[Sunny Tyner]

Ok - so I've been a trainee for almost 2 years and obviously haven't worked under a mentor with these designations. I know what the designations mean, I can tell you the differences between the two (residential vs commercial), what you need to do to gain either designation, and I can find all of the requirements on the AI site.

But no where can I find what the acronyms stand for.

Anyone???


Thank you!

Sunny

 

[James Micozzi]

Ok - so I've been a trainee for almost 2 years and obviously haven't worked under a mentor with these designations. I know what the designations mean, I can tell you the differences between the two (residential vs commercial), what you need to do to gain either designation, and I can find all of the requirements on the AI site.

But no where can I find what the acronyms stand for.

Anyone???


Thank you!

Sunny

appraisalinstitute.com

 

[xm4yb7]

From the website

Appraisal Institute members must understand that (1) the letters comprising the membership designations do not stand for (spell out as) specific words, i.e., SRA is not an acronym for Senior Residential Appraiser, (2) SRA and the other collective designations do not denote that the member has been conferred with a specific degree or title, and (3) SRA and the other collective designations are two, three and four letter designations used by the members to signify membership in the Appraisal Institute (collective membership mark) and to distinguish the member’s services from those of non-Appraisal Institute members (collective service mark).

 

[Sunny Tyner]

Thanks KRB52! I looked all over the site and was looking for an explanation of the acromyns....not an explanation that they aren't acronyms.

I guess my next question is how do you impress those uneducated in the appraisal world with a designation that requires an explanation? I'm not saying that designation isn't important, because I fully believe that it is, but isn't it rather cumbersome to have to educate a potential client or group of people that you are more educated than the average appraiser because the letters that follow your name don't make obvious sense to a lay person?


Just thinking outloud and wondering how others handle this.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Financially Feasible]

MAI does stand for "Member Appraisal Institute", though.

 

[Michigan CG]

MAI does stand for "Member Appraisal Institute", though.

Not any more Ed. It used to, but not anymore.

 

[Couch Potato]

Who are you trying to impress?

The traditional way to impress is with a solid resumé and cover letter, followed up by high quality work. Designations will always be meaningless to people ignorant of there meaning. You might be able to put you have a PhD from MIT on your resumé, but that would be meaningless to most of the world. (The average person in China would not even understand a word of what you said.) You can only impress people with things that matter to them. For example, a cook may make the world's finest meal out of a trout, but it will not impress me one bit; I don't eat fish.

You will never impress a client with designations and education, if the client only wants a report written quickly with an opinion that makes the deal work. Potential clients that want high quality appraisals written by appraisers who posses exceptional education and experience will educate themselves on the meaning of various designations. If you need to educate the client on a designations meaning, the designation doesn't matter with that client.

Ed, you are wrong. The AI clearly says:

Appraisal Institute members must understand that (1) the letters comprising the membership designations do not stand for (spell out as) specific words,

in the Trademark Usage Manual.

 

[Financially Feasible]

Not any more Ed. It used to, but not anymore.

Sheesh... and they want us to pay for all of this education, then pay for the designation... and they strip the old "meaning" of the designation? What's next? Will CPAs no longer be "Certified Public Accountants"? Will JD no longer mean "Juris Doctorate" (excuse my spelling if it's wrong)? Will MD no longer mean "Medical Doctor"? No wonder the AI is having a hard time recruiting members. I got all of the education that I needed and all of the experience that I needed for the SRA... and I think that this thread finally was the "straw that broke the camel's back" for making me now NOT wanting to get the SRA. That's really frustrating. Of course, I am glad for all of the extra education as well as the opportunity to meet and discuss business with other appraisers... but it's still really frustrating to me. For someone who really wants to throw himself at this business and learn everything that there is to learn, it sure makes it a little hard when the few "rewards" that we might possibly earn get diminished more and more as time goes on. Oh, and when exactly did they strip the MAI/SRA/SRPA/etc of their "worded meanings"? Is this all a part of the glorious new 01/01/2008 rules and regs... or did this happen a while back and I, for some unknown reason, just missed it?

 

[xm4yb7]

They changed it a while back. I don't understand why this upsets you so much.

 

[Financially Feasible]

They changed it a while back. I don't understand why this upsets you so much.

It's the principle of the matter... the AI is taking something else away. It doesn't upset me THAT much. It's more frustrating.