Designations & Certifications

DESIGNATIONS

Designated: Designated membership is granted to any individual who is an appraiser and has attained a Board approved designation. Designated membership categories include: IFA, IFAA, IFAS, and IFAC.

To download an Experience Rating Form click here.
To download an Experience Rating Form Checklist click here.

IFA Member Designation

• Applicant must be a Declared Candidate, in good standing.
• Applicant must submit the appropriate fee and experience rating form (ERF) prior to submission and grading of demonstration report, subject to approval by the Admissions Committee.
• Submit evidence of a four (4) year college degree, or the equivalent thereof, using one of the following options:
• Two (2) years of experience is considered the equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Thirty (30) college credits are considered equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Fifteen (15) approved classroom hours are considered equivalent to one (1) college credit.
• Provide proof of State Certification, or meet the current education and experience requirements set by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and pass the NAIFA comprehensive exam.
• Submit evidence of successful completion of the NAIFA Ethics Course.
• Submit a Demonstration Self-Contained Appraisal Report or an Expanded Form Report, of a single family or one to four unit residential property, subject to the requirements and grading criteria set forth by the Admissions Committee. This report must be submitted in a portable document format (PDF).

To download a copy of the guidelines for writing a Self-Contained Appraisal report click here.
To download a copy of the guidelines for writing an Expanded Form Report click here.

IFAA – Agriculture Designation

• Applicant must be a Declared Candidate in good standing.
• Applicant must submit the appropriate fee and experience rating form (ERF) prior to submission and grading of demonstration report, subject to approval by the Admissions Committee.
• Submit evidence of a four (4) year college degree, or the equivalent thereof, using one of the following options:
• Two (2) years of experience is considered the equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Thirty (30) college credits are considered equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Fifteen (15) approved classroom hours are considered equivalent to one (1) college credit.
• Provide proof of State Certification, or meet the current education and experience requirements set by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and pass the NAIFA comprehensive exam.
• Have four (4) years experience of which two (2) years must be in agriculture properties.
• Submit evidence of successful completion of the NAIFA Ethics Course.
• Submit a Demonstration Self-Contained Appraisal Report of an income-producing agricultural property, subject to the requirements and grading criteria set forth by the Admissions Committee. This report must be submitted in a portable document format (PDF).

IFAS-Senior Designation

• Applicant must be a Declared Candidate in good standing.
• Applicant must submit the appropriate fee and experience rating form (ERF) prior to submission and grading of demonstration report, subject to approval by the Admissions Committee.
• Applicant must submit a list of income-producing and/or non-residential appraisal reports to the Admissions Committee, which will select two of the reports for review by the grading task force.
• Submit evidence of a four (4) year college degree, or the equivalent thereof, using one of the following options:
• Two (2) years of experience is considered the equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Thirty (30) college credits are considered equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Fifteen (15) approved classroom hours are considered equivalent to one (1) college credit.
• Provide proof of State Certification, or meet the current education and experience requirements set by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and pass the NAIFA comprehensive exam.
• Have four (4) years experience of which two (2) years must be in income-producing and/or non-residential properties.
• Submit evidence of successful completion of the NAIFA Ethics Course.
• Submit a Demonstration Self-Contained Report of a non-residential and/or income-producing property, subject to the requirements and grading criteria set forth by the Admissions Committee. This report must be submitted in a portable document format (PDF).

IFAC-Appraiser Counselor Designation

• Applicant must be a Senior Member, in good standing, and have held the IFAS designation for three (3) years.
• Applicant must submit the appropriate fee and experience rating form (ERF) prior to submission and grading of demonstration report.
• Applicant must submit a list of all completed counseling reports to the Admissions Committee, which will select two of the reports for review by the grading task force.
• Provide proof of State General Certification or meet the current education and experience requirements set by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) for a Certified General Appraiser and pass the IFAC comprehensive examination
• Submit evidence of a four (4) year college degree, or the equivalent thereof, using one of the following options:
• Two (2) years of experience is considered the equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Thirty (30) college credits are considered equivalent to one (1) year of college.
• Fifteen (15) approved classroom hours are considered equivalent to one (1) college credit.
• Submit evidence of successful completion of the NAIFA Ethics Course.
• If no list of counseling reports is provided, then the candidate will submit a demonstration counseling report that documents and supports a reasonable and probable conclusion to a client’s request rather that a specific value conclusion, subject to the requirements and grading criteria set forth by the Admissions Committee. This report must be submitted in a portable document format (PDF).

To download an Experience Rating Form click here.

CERTIFICATIONS

The NAIFA Certified Appraisal Review Program sets a professional education and experience standard for all individuals involved in mortgage underwriting and the review of real property appraisal reports. Most appraisers are not qualified as reviewers. Specialized training, education and experience is required. There are very few certified appraisal reviewers in the United States today. Within the industry, individual financial institutions have incorporated various levels of appraisal review, but no single national proficiency or ethical standard has been established.

• Certified Appraisal Reviewer
• Certified Mortgage Appraisal Reviewer - For mortgage professionals other than licensed appraisers
  

Earning an Appraisal Review Certification displays an individual's commitment to higher education and enhances one’s ethical and professional experience standards. The individual's employer is also held to these higher standards by existing and potential clients, regulators and the entire appraisal industry.

All of the NAIFA Certified Appraisal Review continuing educational courses are available through the NAIFA and administered by approved Certified Instructors. The courses are presented at various locations throughout the United States and held at numerous times throughout the year. 

For more information about the course locations and schedule, please reference our course calendar.

NAIFA Certified Appraisal Review Program Eligibility

• Mortgage finance industry professionals, including underwriters, staff review appraisers, quality control auditors, pre- and post-funding analysts, regulators, etc.
• Real estate property appraiser
• Member in good standing with the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers (separate categories of membership are available for appraisers and other industry professionals).

Certified Appraisal Reviewer Requirements

• Completion of education courses:
• Reviewing Residential Appraisal Reports (7 hours)
• Advanced Reviewing Techniques (7 hours)
• Certified Residential or General Appraiser
• Completion of assignment examination
• NAIFA membership status in good standing
• Commitment to a continuing education program

Certified Mortgage Appraisal Reviewer Requirements

• Completion of education courses:
• Reviewing Residential Appraisal Reports (7 hours)
• Advanced Reviewing Techniques (7 hours)
• Completion of assignment examination
• NAIFA membership status in good standing
• Commitment to a continuing education program