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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paula Douglas Seidel
Executive Administrator
The Appraisal Foundation
paula@appraisalfoundation.org
202.624.3048

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 26, 2009 – The Appraisal Foundation, a congressionally-authorized nonprofit organization that fosters professionalism among appraisers by setting qualifications and standards, announced that its Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) has approved two graduate degree programs under its Graduate Degree Review Program.

The AQB Graduate Degree Review Program was established earlier this year. The program entails an on-site analysis of graduate degree programs in real estate to determine if the course work completed to obtain a graduate degree is consistent with the course requirements established by the Board in the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. Once the analysis is complete, the AQB publishes the results for state appraiser regulatory agencies to use when reviewing the educational qualifications of applicants that hold such degrees.

The AQB established this program to benefit both state appraiser regulatory agencies in their review of an applicant’s qualifications as well as graduate degree applicants looking to obtain a real property appraiser credential. “It is our hope that this program will relieve the burden on state regulators in reviewing transcripts submitted for credit towards a state credential. In addition, the program will assist graduates in obtaining credit for the work they have done to earn advanced degrees from these institutions,” said Gary Taylor, Chairman of the Appraiser Qualifications Board.

Individuals completing the entire course of study under the following programs are eligible to receive credit toward a state credential under the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria:

Texas A&M University
Master of Real Estate Program

University of Denver
Daniels College of Business
Master of Science Degree in Real Estate and Construction Management

In both cases, the AQB has approved the degree programs only and no credit is available for individual courses. Both approvals are confirmed through 2012, with the official notification letters posted at the following link: www.appraisalfoundation.org/ApprovedGraduateDegreePrograms.

The program is free to any graduate school that makes application. Please note that the review program is limited to entire programs of study rather than individual courses. All approved courses of study will be posted on The Appraisal Foundation’s web site.

Colleges and Universities that wish to apply for this program should visit the Foundation’s web site at http://www.appraisalfoundation.org/GraduateDegree for a copy of the application. For more information on the program, please contact Magdalene Vasquez, Appraiser Qualifications Administrator at 202.624.3074 or magdalene@appraisalfoundation.org.

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About The Appraisal Foundation
Founded in 1987, The Appraisal Foundation is authorized by the U.S. Congress as the source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications for real property appraisers. Through its effective production of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), The Foundation has been instrumental in setting a high level of professionalism in the industry. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, which oversees two independent boards, the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB). The Foundation also receives valuable advice from four advisory councils: The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council (TAFAC), Industry Advisory Council (IAC), Educational Council of Appraisal Foundation Sponsors (ECAFS) and International Valuation Council (IVC). For more information on The Foundation, visit www.appraisalfoundation.org.