Regular Members who wish to increase their appraisal proficiency may earn the designation as either an AOA Accredited Member or as an AOA Certified Member.

AOA Accredited Member Status Qualification Requirements

Read this Note regarding new IRS appraiser qualification requirements for doing certain federally-related appraisals.

Regular Members can earn AOA credentials as an Accredited Member by satisfying the following requirements:

Education	a. Complete an approved course which is tested, which is USPAP-centered, and which focuses on personal property appraisal ethics, theory, principles and methodology.
	b. Demonstrate product knowledge by attending an approved course of instruction in the area of personal property appraisal specialization. As an alternative, write a thesis on your area of specialization. Click here for thesis specifications.
Experience	Have two years of market-related experience in buying, selling or valuing the type of property being appraised.

AOA Certified Member Status Qualification Requirements

Regular Members who satisfy the above requirements for Accredited Members and who also satisfy the below requirements earn credentials as Certified Members of the AOA and are entitled to use the designation "AOA CM" after their names:

Education	Attend the 15-hour National USPAP Course and successfully complete the related exam. (See "Requalification" below.)
Experience	Have three years of market-related experience in buying, selling or valuing the type of property being appraised.
Examination	Successfully complete the proctored AOA Certification Exam (a short-answer, multiple-choice exam covering USPAP as well as personal property appraisal theory and principles.)
Requalification	To maintain Certified Appraiser status, members must attend either the 15-hour National USPAP course or the 7-hour National USPAP Update course once every five years.

AOA members who hold a professional appraisal designation in other appraisal socities may automatically qualify for a comparable AOA designation. Designation pathway alternatives.