The Association of Online Appraisers had its genesis in 1999 as the leading advocate for the development of USPAP-compliant ethical and performance standards for those appraisers providing appraisal services by way of the then-new paradigm — via the Internet. (Click here for a discussion regarding online appraisal issues.)

Since that time, the AOA has evolved into a not-for-profit professional membership society offering education, standards and designations to professional personal property appraisers. Today's appraiser seeks a reasonably-priced way to belong to a recognized society, to obtain the necessary education in appraisal theory and methodology, and to earn credentials as a professional appraiser. The AOA is here to fill that need.

Only a relatively small number of appraisers belong to any appraisal society. High cost of membership, time-consuming and onerous qualification requirements, dubious requalification requirements, and the lack of quality courses are often given as reasons why many appraisers have no societal affiliation at all. The AOA's affiliation with education-provider Appraisal Course Associates combined with the AOA's low membership cost ($60 per year) and reasonable qualification and requalification requirements, permits the AOA to provide all personal property appraisers with a cost-effective opportunity to obtain and maintain professional designations and to become proficient in the profession of personal property appraising.

The personal property appraisal industry is rethinking its long-established traditional standards of practice in light of the emerging Internet technology. These phenomena underscore a growing conviction that the need for practical discourse within the appraisal profession has never been more timely. The audience for that discourse must include the general public, appraisal user groups, appraisal societies, governmental appraisal policy makers and individual appraisal professionals.

From such convictions, the Association of Online Appraisers was born. The AOA is taking the leading role in providing the core knowledge, standards of practice and a Code of Ethics to ensure that the public is served in the most professional manner possible.

The AOA: 

• Provides education and designation opportunities for the professional appraiser,
• Helps set the agenda and identify the emerging issues concerning appraisal practices,
• Promotes public dialogue on those issues, and 
• Establishes systems by which the public can be best served by the appraiser.

The AOA welcomes as members individual appraisal practitioners, appraisal management companies, educators, and organizations that share the AOA's aims.

Contact Information

Association of Online Appraisers, Inc.
P.O. Box 1292
Frederick, MD 21702-0292

Voice: 301-228-2279
FAX: 240-436-6044
info@AOAonline.org