Every two years, USPAP-complaint appraisers are required to complete a seven-hour refresher course. With over two million “appraisers” reportedly working in the United States, less than five percent have ever passed the examination of the fifteen-hour USPAP course, and fewer still remain current with USPAP.

So— what is USPAP? The Uniform Standards and Practices for Appraisal Professionals  “is the generally recognized ethical and performance standards for the appraisal profession in the United States.  USPAP was adopted by Congress in 1989, and contains standards for all types of appraisal services, including real estate, personal property, business and mass appraisal.  Compliance is required for state-licensed and state-certified appraisers involved in federally-related real estate transactions.”

There is no state licensing requirement for personal property (art & antiques) appraisals, but those appraisers who take the 15-hour USPAP course, passing its examination test, and taking a 7-hour refresher course every two years demonstrate credibility by holding themselves to the highest ethical and performance standards in the field.