The AQB is aware that it has no statutory authority to develop criteria for the Licensed and Trainee classifications and the states are not required to adopt the criteria. The authority to develop requirements for the Licensed and Trainee classifications is vested in the individual states, territories and possessions.

The original criteria, adopted by the AQB in March 1991, included the following classifications: Certified General, Certified Residential and Licensed. Each of these classifications has education, experience, examination and continuing education requirements. The Trainee classification was later adopted by the AQB in 1993 and does not include experience or examination requirements.

After public exposure, the AQB adopted revisions to all classifications in early 1994 for implementation in
January 1998. Major components of the revised Criteria include:

• An increase in the education requirements for the Licensed and Certified General classifications to include a 15-hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course (the Certified Residential education requirements were not increased, however a 15-hour USPAP course is also required);
• An increase in the experience requirements for the Certified Residential and Certified General Classifications from 2,000 to 2,500 hours, and from 2,000 to 3,000 hours, respectively; and
• An increase in the continuing education requirement from 10 to 14 classroom hours for all classifications.

To further clarify AQB intent and to provide guidance to users of the Criteria, the AQB periodically issues Interpretations of the Criteria. The current Interpretations are included within the text of this document.

In late 1999, the AQB approved the concept of offering Supplementary Information (or Supplements) to the Criteria as a mechanism to offer additional guidance. The Supplements, which can be found toward the end of this document, explain, describe and further interpret the Criteria and all binding requirements.

After thorough public exposure, the AQB adopted significant revisions to the Criteria in early 2004 for implementation in January 2008.