USPAP Certification 2025

The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) publishes USPAP, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (TAF). After the savings and loan crisis, Congress passed USPAP in 1989 to provide ethical and procedural requirements for appraisers. The current edition is for 2016–2017. Appraisers must follow the 395-page document’s requirements. Standards 7 and 8 concern personal property appraising. The Ethics, Record Keeping, Competency, and Scope of Work Rules are among USPAP’s essential Rules that govern appraisers’ professional conduct. The Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) of The Appraisal Foundation produces, interprets, and updates USPAP on behalf of appraisers and users of appraisal services, according to USPAP.

Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

The Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) has the last say on any changes to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). The ASB is an independent body established by The Appraisal Foundation, the recognized authority in the United States for establishing appraisal standards. ASB is responsible for establishing, interpreting, and modifying USPAP to assure appraiser compliance with ethical and professional standards. Before being enacted, any proposed amendments to USPAP must undergo a public exposure procedure and gain final approval by the ASB.

The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Work (USPAP) is comprised of ten standards that give appraisers guidance on ethical and professional criteria for their appraisal practice. The 10 USPAP standards consist of:

• Standard 1: Real Property Appraisal: This standard describes the standards for real property appraisal assignments. It describes the appraiser’s responsibilities, work scope, and reporting requirements.
  
• Standard 2. This criterion applies to valuations of personal property, including artwork, antiques, collectibles, and other tangible items. It specifies criteria for executing assignments involving the valuation of personal property.
  
• Standard 3: Review and Management of Evaluations: This standard addresses the examination and verification of other appraisers’ work. It specifies the scope of the review process and the standards for reporting.
  
• Standard 4. This standard addresses the value of several properties for a mass appraisal assignment. It gives recommendations on mass appraisal-specific processes, strategies, and reporting requirements.
  
• Standard 5. This criterion applies to the evaluation of businesses and business interests. It discusses the roles of the appraiser, the valuation processes and methods employed, and the reporting requirements for business appraisal assignments.
  
• Standard 6: Appraisal Consulting: This standard relates to consulting engagements that give expert appraisal advice and views. It describes the requirements for completing appraisal consulting assignments as well as the appraiser’s responsibilities.
  
• Standard 7: Appraisal of Personal Property—Development: This standard focuses on the creation of appraisal reports for personal property. It gives guidance on the required information, the analysis method, and the reporting requirements unique to the establishment of personal property appraisals.
  
• Standard 8: Appraisal of Personal Property—Reporting: This standard addresses the reporting requirements for assignments involving the assessment of personal property. It describes the content, format, and dissemination of appraisal reports for personal property.
  
• Standard 9: Enterprise Evaluation—Development: This standard relates to the creation of business evaluation reports. It gives direction on the essential information, analysis methods, and reporting requirements unique to the formulation of business appraisals.
  
• Standard 10: Enterprise Evaluation—Reporting: This standard focuses on the requirements for reporting business evaluation assignments. It describes the content, format, and delivery of business evaluation reports.

The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) is independent.

Advisory opinions produced under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice provide additional guidance and interpretation on certain topics (USPAP). They are intended to clarify unclear areas, solve developing challenges, and provide further assistance in applying USPAP principles and standards. Advisory opinions aid appraisers in understanding their obligations and responsibilities, promote uniformity in the interpretation and application of USPAP, and preserve the relevance and credibility of the standards in an appraisal industry that is constantly evolving. Advisory opinions are authoritative interpretations that aid appraisers, clients, and regulatory bodies in evaluating compliance with the standards, although not part of the USPAP standards themselves.

An appraiser performing a desktop appraisal is entirely USPAP compliant under certain circumstances. Giving pictures is not a great assessment help. The appraiser has no ethical duty to reveal the photographer’s identity or the degree of his or her help.

The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) are designed to uphold professionalism, integrity, and uniformity in the appraisal industry. Through the promotion of objective and trustworthy appraisal services, it seeks to safeguard the public interest. The USPAP establishes ethical norms, emphasizes the necessity for appraisers to prove their expertise through training and experience, and offers uniform appraisal standards for reliable and consistent valuation reports. Maintaining public confidence, upholding ethical behavior, establishing professional competency, standardizing assessment procedures, and holding appraisers responsible for their work are the ultimate goals.

USPAP does not need any sort of property inspection. The scope of a property inspection is determined by the client’s requirements as described in the job scope and the assignment conditions.

The 15-Hour National USPAP Course (or its equivalent) is required for real estate appraisers to get a state license. Once licensed, all real estate appraisers must take the 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course (or its equivalent) once every two calendar years.

The Appraisal Standards Board (ASB), an independent board of the Appraisal Foundation, is responsible for creating and revising the professional appraisal standards used in every state and territory in the United States.

Standard 5 – Applies to any mass evaluations of real or personal property, irrespective of their purpose or intended use. 56 The exceptions regarding reporting and jurisdiction that apply to public mass appraisals prepared for ad valorem taxation do not apply to mass appraisals prepared for other reasons.

A broker’s valuation of a short sale made for a lender.

In the United States, state real estate appraiser regulating agencies, known as Appraisal Regulatory Authorities (ARAs), are largely responsible for enforcing the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). These agencies supervise the licensing, certification, and regulation of real estate appraisers in their respective states.

The major appraisal organizations in North America have embraced USPAP, which was developed and granted copyright protection in 1987 by The Appraisal Foundation, a private, not-for-profit corporation.

USPAP appraisals are completed in line with The Appraisal Foundation’s Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). They involve a methodical process of acquiring pertinent information, assessing data, applying proper valuation procedures, and arriving at a well-supported judgment. Adherence to USPAP guarantees the appraisal is conducted professionally and satisfies industry standards for precision, dependability, and honesty.