How to Become an Appraiser / Personal Property Appraisal

Overview

Specialization Areas

Personal Property Organizations

How to Become a Personal Property Appraiser

Personal property includes both tangible and intangible items that are not permanently affixed to real estate.

Intangible personal property refers to non-physical assets such as patents, trademarks, and certain types of intellectual property.

The minimum qualifications for personal property appraisers are outlined in the Personal Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Personal Property Criteria), which is established by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of The Appraisal Foundation® (Foundation).

The Foundation is not a credentialing body and does not issue personal property credentials. Instead, credentialing may be implemented by qualified educational institutions and professional personal property appraiser organizations, including partnering organizations of the Foundation.

The following organizations are recognized Partners of the Foundation. They play an important role in the personal property appraisal profession by offering professional designations, providing specialized education and promoting ethical appraisal practices. These organizations are valuable resources for individuals pursuing careers in personal property appraisal.

Starting your career as a personal property appraiser offers a unique opportunity to specialize in valuing movable tangible items and certain intangible assets. Every appraiser follows a clear set of recommended education and experience requirements outlined in the Personal Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Personal Property Criteria), but the path is flexible depending on your goals.

Unlike real property appraisal, there is no law requiring personal property appraisers to obtain a credential or designation to practice.

However, many appraisers choose to earn a designation through a professional organization to demonstrate their expertise, enhance their credibility, and strengthen their marketability.

The Personal Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Personal Property Criteria), established by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Foundation, outlines the recommended minimum qualifications for those seeking to earn a credential.

If you choose to pursue a designation, your first step should be to:

• Review the Personal Property Criteria to understand the minimum education and experience recommendations.

• Contact one of the Foundation’s Partners to learn about their specific designation requirements and credentialing processes.

Recognized Personal Property Foundation Partners include:

• The American Society of Appraisers (ASA): Covers a wide range of specialties.
• The International Society of Appraisers (ISA): Offers focused study in areas like fine and decorative arts.
• The Appraisers Association of America (AAA): Specializes in fine art, jewelry, and household contents.

To meet the qualification standards if pursuing a credential, you should complete the following education requirements:

• 120 classroom hours of appraisal-specific qualifying education (review Personal Property Criteria), and

• 30 semester credit hours from an accredited college, junior college, community college, or university; or An Associate’s degree or higher (in any field).
  

Qualifying education providers can be located through professional organizations and accredited institutions.

You’ll also need to obtain personal property appraisal experience if pursuing a credential:

• Minimum of 700 hours of USPAP®-compliant personal property appraisal experience — including research, analysis, and value conclusions.

AND

Specific specialization experience in your appraisal field, fulfilled by one of three paths:

• 1,800 hours of market-related personal property appraisal experience, or
  
• 4,500 hours of broader market-related non-appraisal experience, or
  
• An equivalent blend of both, maintaining the required ratio.
  
  

Experience must be documented through work logs, sample reports, or other verifiable records.

Education cannot substitute for experience requirements.

Once you meet the education and experience requirements, you can apply for a designation through a professional personal property appraiser organization.

Options include Partners of the Foundation:

• American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
• International Society of Appraisers (ISA)
• Appraisers Association of America (AAA)

The Foundation sets recommended qualification standards, but does not issue personal property credentials.

Maintaining a designation typically requires upholding ethical standards and completing continuing education requirements over time.