Mike Tarello - Issues involving renewal of Mass. appraisal license

I wanted to take this opportunity to address a major issue that is affecting many appraisers in regards to their renewal process for their Mass. appraisal license. Through numerous e-mails to our members we have been keeping them informed about the current requirements for renewing their appraisal license. Below is a statement that was sent out by our government relation committee. Most of you are aware of the recent policy statement released by the Board of Registration of Real Estate Appraisers effectively removing a licensee's obligation to complete the 7-hour USPAP update course every 24 months. This is great news and this policy change was accomplished due to the efforts of many individual appraisers along with efforts from the Appraisal Institute and the Mass. Board of Real Estate Appraisers. However, a number of you have already filed your renewal application as non-compliant and received a request from the board to sign a consent agreement. If you have been notified as being non-compliant, but have not provided the board a signed consent agreement, the board will not be taking actions against you. You are no longer required, and should not complete the form. The board is mailing letters to this effect which should provide further clarification. The Board will be enforcing Appraisal Qualifications Board requirements that licensees take the 7-hour USPAP update course every two calendar years as well as a full 45 hours of continuing education prior to renewal. Our government relations committee continues to work with the board on the actions taken against appraisers who have already been disciplined. As of now, the board will not be overturning any actions previously enforced. They are however planning to classify the reprimand separately and add transparency to the appraiser's record identifying the specific issue. Once the required USPAP course is complete, the mark will still be visible, but the appraiser will be reported as in compliance. We believe this is a step in the right direction and thank the board for their efforts. We will however continue to seek the removal of this particular offense from appraisers' records both with the board and state legislature. If you have additional questions or concerns we would like to hear from you. Please contact the leadership of the Mass. chapter of the Appraisal Institute at office@ma-appraisalinstitute.org. We continue to try and provide our members and all appraisers in the industry with up to date information on industry issues and required educational offerings to allow the appraiser to stay competitive in today's ever changing real estate market. Please visit our website at www.ma-appraisalinstitute.org for our listing of educational offerings and meetings. I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting in September. Mike Tarello, MAI, ASA, MRA, is the 2011 president of the Mass. chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and senior appraisal analyst/appeals manager at Vision Appraisal Technology, Northboro, Mass.