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Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board proposal for Trainees

By
Real Estate Appraiser

In the minutes of the February meeting of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board, there is a proposed change on how licensed Trainees possibly in the further, will go about becoming Certified Appraisers. Some of the changes will be,

1)  Trainee experience requirements changed from 2 to 5 years

2) Use exam modules to test experience

3) Test trainees periodically during that time to evaluate the experience they have gained

4) Advancement to certification will require successful completion of each level of experience evaluation

To get more information use  this link, https://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/re/FREABMeetings.html and click on the February 4 & 5 meeting minutes.

While I feel the possible change to 5 years might be excessive, but with the housing market slow down we are currently in, it might take 5 years go get enough appraisal reports or hours. I do think that the rest of the recommendation are needed to make sure Trainees are getting the right mentoring, and education that is needed to do the job. One recommendation I would like to make is that Florida, needs to look into the North Carolina rule that newly Certified Appraisers CANNOT have trainees working under them for the first 2 years.

Sara Goodwin
Estimation Nation Corporation - Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon Appraiser

I don't have issues with educated (all of us) appraisers, but there is something that's just not realistic about the additional trainee hours. 

  • When they say 'five years' do you mean the equivilent of 5 years at 2,500 hours (a year of full time hours) x 5?  ... It's not like all appraisers are working full time these days.
  • Do the appraisers get a doctorate in real estate and a $200,000 job upon completion? 
  • Is the state going to guarantee any sort of trainee income over these 5 years?
  • What appraiser is going to want to commit to a trainee for 5 years?
  • What trainee is going to want to commit to the same appraiser for 5 years?
  • Isn't this really just inviting more nepotism into the industry? ... You might as well start little Jimmy Jr. appraising in 5th grade so that he can start work by the time he has to fulfill his college requirements.
Apr 24, 2008 03:11 AM
Michael Zollo
Coral Springs, FL
Certified Residential Appraiser, South Florida, FH

Sara,

Like I said I think that 5 years would be excessive, but I think 3 would be ok. I do think it's a way for FREAB to stretch out the 2,500 minimun rule. To tell you the truth I don't think we will see the kind of bussiness we had from 2004 to 2006, for a very long time, at least 10 years. So the chances of 2,500 hours in 2 years would be very slim, to say the least. I think a lot of shops are getting away from using trainees because it is so slow, and costs are out of site (fuel), especialy if the Cert. has to inspect the subject & comps also. After taking a course we have to take in Florida, Roles of a Superviser and a Trainee, I don't think I'll ever have someone work under me! Except maybe family or a friend I trust, so we are back to your nepotism concerns.

Apr 24, 2008 04:48 AM