Credentialing and Requalification Policy

ISA Credentialing & Requalification Policy
Effective January 1, 2007

Most Recent Update:  March 8, 2018

ISA believes that professional advancement and requalification is important to provide the public with members they can trust. Credentialed members must fulfill the requirements for their membership classification by the end of their five year requalification period or their member category will be lowered to the preceding classification.

Requalification Booklet

Section I. ISA CREDENTIALING MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Candidate Member (Entry level)
International Society of Appraisers Candidate Member

The following addresses requirements to qualify for this level of membership:

1. Must return three (3) references with acceptable ratings.
2. Will be expected to adhere to the ISA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, if currently appraising. All applicants for ISA Candidate status are required to sign the affidavit section of the ISA Membership application stating that they have read and agree to abide by these requirements.
3. May not advertise or affiliate themselves in any way with ISA.
4. Pays the stated annual membership dues and receives available discounts on qualified products and ISA events.

 PROCEDURES:

After an application is received, an email is sent to the four references. Once three of the four references have been received with acceptable endorsements and a copy of the applicant resume is on file, the applicant is at the Candidate level.  An email is sent notifying them of status. Candidates for Membership can maintain this level of membership for a maximum of five (5) years.  After five (5) years, Candidates for Membership will be dropped from the membership.

Member (Full Member Level - The professional designation is "ISA")
International Society of Appraisers Member
The following addresses requirements to qualify for this level of membership:

1. Successfully complete the ISA Core Course or an equivalent course of appraisal study approved by ISA.
2. Document three or more years of satisfactory market-related experience in the chosen specialty field(s) by submitting resumé.
3. Write appraisals according to the ISA Appraisal Report Writing Standard and abide by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in appraisal dealings. Will be subject to discipline by the Ethics Committee if non-compliant.
4. Present documentation of successful completion of a 15-Hour Personal Property USPAP Course.
5. May state that he/she is a Member of the International Society of Appraisers; may use the ISA initials followed by "Member of the International Society of Appraisers" under their signature line and on any printed materials with or without the ISA logo.
6. Fulfill the ISA requalification requirements for the Member level every five years or the designation will revert to Candidate.
7. Will receive all member benefits offered by ISA other than those requiring specific education or designation levels he/she does not yet possess.
8. Will be listed on the ISA searchable database and used for appraisal referrals.
9. If you earn your ISA Member designation after January 1, 2018, you will have three years to advance to the ISA Accredited Member (AM) level. If you have not earned your AM designation after three years, you will revert back to the Candidate level of membership.

PROCEDURES:

Market Related Experience (Accepted in lieu of actual appraisal experience for progression through ISA credentialing program).

Market related non-appraisal experience is associated with the act of buying or selling, market research of price or value in defined markets, knowledge of various market levels (e.g. dealer, dealer’s assistant, auctioneer, estate liquidator, market identification, pricing, etc.). The intent is that market related non-appraisal experience involve the same types of knowledge as that for which it is substituting (i.e. actual appraisal experience).

Activities related to marketability: Identification, authentication, conservation, restoration, repair, claims investigation, contraband enforcement, etc.

Document market related experience that you defined as being associated with the act of buying or selling, market research of price or value in defined markets, knowledge of various market levels, factors that affect marketability.  Please provide dates, number of hours and type of experience and specialty items involved in a list covering at least the last three years.

Appraisal Theory, Methodology, and Application Training

Documentation of successful completion of the ISA Core Course in Appraisal Studies or the AAA series of basic appraisal courses offered by NYU, or the ASA series PP201-204 will be accepted to fulfill this requirement.

Personal Property USPAP Course

Documentation of completions of the 15-Hour Personal Property USPAP course or 7-Hour Personal Property USPAP course refresher if the 15-Hour course was taken previously will be accepted to fulfill this requirement. The course must be taught by an AQB qualified instructor (the course does not have to be one offered by ISA). AQB qualified instructors are listed on the Appraisal Foundation’s website: www.appraisalfoundation.org.

Accredited Member (The professional designation is "ISA AM")
International Society of Appraisers Accredited Member
The following addresses requirements to qualify for this level of membership:

1. Satisfy all "Member" level requirements.
2. Demonstrate essential methodology knowledge in his/her chosen field(s) in one of the following ways:
   1. Present documentation of successful completion of an ISA approved methodology pathway course of study (e.g.: GG, FGA, graduate degree in field of concentration, certificate of completion from a recognized ISA approved continuing education or vocational program, etc.).
   2. Successful completion of an existing ISA personal property survey course with exam in the chosen pathway. Personal property methodology pathways include concentrations in Antiques, Furnishings + Decorative Arts or Fine Art.
   3. Present personal property methodology proficiency work product for analysis and approval by an ISA peer group review panel made up of members from the applicable pathway. Additional information may be requested as deemed appropriate by the review panel.
      • For options 'a' and 'c' an AM application and accompanying fee must be submitted. Please contact us at isa@isa-appraisers.org details.
      • For more information about completing both AF+DA and Fine Art Courses for dual concentrations, please contact the Director of Education at directorofeducation@isa-appraisers.org.
3. Submit an Insurance Appraisal including 5 items in the chosen pathway after above educational credential or White Paper has been accepted by the Specialty and Advanced Studies Committee. Candidate has 45 days to submit appraisal after it is requested by the Committee.
4. Present documentation of successful completion of a 15-Hour Personal Property USPAP Course.
5. Present documentation of 700 hours of appraisal-related experience.
6. In order to advance to the Accredited Member (AM) level, you will need to complete 30 semester hours from an accredited college, junior college, community college, or university. This requirement does not have to be new college credit or college credit earned after becoming an ISA Member, degrees and college credit from accredited institutions earned in the past can be applied for this requirement.
7. May use the ISA AM designation on printed materials with the member's name, with or without the ISA logo. Must include ISA AM followed by ISA Accredited Member under their signature line.
8. Write to the ISA Appraisal Report Writing Standards and abide by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in his/her appraisal dealings. Non-compliance will be subject to discipline by the Ethics Committee.
9. Fulfill the ISA requalification requirements and the Appraisal Foundation AQB continuing education criteria for Accredited Members or the designation will revert back to "Member, ISA".
10. Will be listed on the ISA searchable database and used for referrals.

PROCEDURES:

Demonstration of Specialty Knowledge

Specialty knowledge can be demonstrated by taking one of ISA’s 6-day specialty courses presented live online – The Appraisal of Fine Art, or The Appraisal of Antiques, Furnishings and Decorative Arts. These courses are also offered online via distance education.

Specialty knowledge can also be demonstrated using one of the other options listed in the credentialing policy under #2 written above.  There are no real written guidelines for this procedure, so they are taken on a case-by-case basis.  All material submitted should go to the chair of the Specialty & Advanced Studies Committee for review who will disseminate to the members of the committee or task force constructed for a specific niche.

After the Specialty & Advanced Studies Committee has reached a consensus, a letter of acceptance or denial is drafted for the applicant and the ISA Office is notified whether or not to adjust that member’s membership level information. A new certificate is generated and sent to the applicant if accepted. 

Certified Member (The professional designation is "ISA CAPP")
International Society of Appraisers Certified Appraiser of Personal Property
The following addresses requirements to qualify for this level of membership:

1. Fulfill all ISA AM requirements.
2. Submit CAPP application and pay the accompanying fee.
3. Present documentation of successful completion of a 15-Hour Personal Property USPAP Course.
4. Document 900 hours doing appraisal-related experience, hours to have been accrued within the past five (5) years.
5. Complete a certification examination based on application of appraisal theory, principles, methodology, ethics and report writing standards to real-life appraisal scenarios involving the appraisal functions typically encountered by personal property appraisers.
6. Submit one appraisal report for a broad evidence case (supplied by ISA) that considers a multi-objective problem including fair market valuation, replacement costs, scrap and/or salvage value, etc. This assignment will examine the appraiser’s ability to develop and report multiple valuations and substantiate the results.
7. Submit documentation of required 100 professional development credits.
   1. ISA approved activities that provide substantive enhancement of appraisal skills or specialty knowledge will be accepted for credit.
   2. Guidelines for credits will match those approved for requalification (with the single exception that professional development credit will not be given for billable appraisal hours when earning a CAPP because completed appraisal hours are a separate requirement for achieving a CAPP designation).
8. Complete CAPP processing within three years from the date of enrollment in the program or CAPP applicant will be dropped and be required to start the process over again from the beginning (pay the fee, take the exam, submit the appraisal reports, etc.)
9. May use the ISA CAPP designation on printed materials along with his/her name, with or without the ISA logo. Must include ISA CAPP followed by ISA Certified Appraiser of Personal Property under their signature line.
10. Fulfill the ISA requalification requirements for Certified Member every five years or the ISA CAPP designation will become ISA AM (Accredited Member).
11. Will be listed on the ISA searchable database and used for referrals.

PROCEDURES:

Detailed procedures are in the CAPP information section later in this manual.

Life Member (The professional designation is "ISA Life Member")
Life Member is an honorary designation for Accredited or Certified Members who have served ISA and the profession of Personal Property Appraisers.
The following addresses requirements to qualify for this level of membership:

1. Submit Life Membership application outlining their professional history and reason for requesting the Life Member Classification to the President, ISA Board of Directors. The current application is available by contacting Michelle VanAlstyne at ISA headquarters, mvanalstyne@thesentergroup.com.
   1. The application should address: ISA Membership, service to ISA, and service to the appraisal profession.
   2. Attach current professional resume.
2. Applications must be received by December 1st.  Awards will be presented at the following Assets Annual Spring Conference.
3. The ISA Board of Directors will review the application and determine eligibility to award the Life Member Classification at their discretion.
4. May use the ISA Life Member designation on printed materials along with his/her name, with or without the ISA logo. Must include ISA Life Member followed by his/her division specialty.
5. Must fulfill the ISA requalification requirements for the Member level every five years.
6. Will retain all membership benefits and will be listed on the ISA searchable database and used for referrals.
7. Dues will be one half of regular membership.

PROCEDURES:
If the member meets the basic requirements, the applicant is sent a Life Member Application. Upon receipt of the application, it is forwarded to the ISA Board President for review and distribution to the rest of the board. After the board has reached a consensus, a letter of acceptance or denial is drafted for the applicant and the ISA Office is notified whether or not to adjust that member’s membership level information. A new certificate is generated and sent to the applicant if accepted.

Section II. ISA REQUALIFICATION

This policy is to be effective retroactive to January 1, 2007 and supersedes all previous policies.

ISA will require requalification for Members, ISA Accredited Members, ISA Certified Members, and ISA Life Members every five years, with the first requalification due by the end of the fifth member year following award of the designation. Successful requalification comprises completing all requirements attached to the applicable credentialing level, and submitting documentation of completing those activities to the ISA Office. Activities submitted for credit must have been completed within the five-year period immediately preceding submission of the requalification documentation.

Failure to requalify: If credentialed members fail to requalify by December 31 of the applicable year, their professional designation will immediately be dropped to the next lower level. The designation can be restored by completing the applicable requalification requirements for the member level being restored.

Reinstatement of Membership in ISA: ISA credentialed members who did not renew their ISA membership at some point in the past, and who would have been expected to comply with the ISA requalification policy during the period of lapse must requalify under the following guidelines:

1. Enrollment in the ISA Requalification Course and/or arrangements to take the ISA Requalification Examination requirement must be fulfilled within 60 days.
2. All other requalification requirements must be completed within the twelve months immediately following membership reinstatement.

Credentialing Appeals Board: A Credentialing Appeals Board will be appointed by the ISA BOD President within 10 days of the notification of the appeal. This Board will review appeals pertaining to all aspects of the ISA credentialing program, including requalification, and hear both sides of disputed decisions. Board members will each have one vote. The majority vote will rule; however, decisions will be rendered by the Board as collective decisions: "Appeal granted" or "Appeal denied." The Board will then communicate the decision in writing to the candidate as well as to the previous determining body, giving the rationale behind their conclusion. Decisions of the Credentialing Appeals Board will be final and will remain on file indefinitely.

The Credentialing Appeals Board will be made up of not more than five (5) qualified representatives from the appropriate ISA specialty division within ISA, and designated representatives from the ISA Appraisal Studies Committee, and outside stakeholders/experts when deemed appropriate. ISA members serving on the Credentialing Appeals Board must be Certified Members or have been Accredited Members for at least three years. Chairs of ISA specialty divisions or committees, members of the ISA Board of Directors, and members of specialty review teams are not eligible to serve on the Credentialing Appeals Board. Consensus by the ISA Board of Directors that someone should not be seated on the Appeals Board will effectively remove that individual from consideration.

ISA Requalification Requirements by membership level: 

Please see the "Approved Activities for Professional Development Credits" following this section for detailed descriptions of all accepted activities. Professional Development Credits are accrued over a five-year period for requalification.

Student (Affiliate Member)
No requalification requirement.

Candidate Member (Entry Level)
No requalification requirement.

Member (Full Member Level – The professional designation is “ISA”)

• 50 ISA Professional Development Credits
• The ISA Requalification Course
• Personal Property USPAP Course. (Effective January 1, 2008)

Accredited Member (The professional designation is "ISA AM")

• 75 ISA Professional Development Credits
• The ISA Requalification Course
• Personal Property USPAP Course. (Effective January 1, 2008)

Certified Member (The professional designation is "ISA CAPP")

• 100 ISA Professional Development Credits
• The ISA Requalification Course
• Personal Property USPAP Course. (Effective January 1, 2008)

Life Member (The professional designation is "ISA (designation) Life Member") or Life Member ISA (designation)

• 50 ISA Professional Development Credits
• Personal Property USPAP Course. (Effective January 1, 2008) Must be completed before Life Member
• Classification is awarded.

Approved Activities for Professional Development Credits

In the interest of maintaining continuing education for appraisers and to promote activities that increase professionalism in the personal property appraisal profession, The International Society of Appraisers utilizes a "Professional Development Credit" (pdc) scale. The scale provides credits for attending courses, seminars, performing research in one’s field, participating in activities that further the appraisal profession, etc. Generally, one (1) pdc is equivalent to one (1) classroom hour.

The International Society of Appraisers requires that a minimum of 50% of professional development credits for the requalification period be obtained in activities directed towards increasing the appraiser's knowledge in USPAP, appraisal theory & methodology, and specialty product knowledge.

1.  ISA Requalification Course (on-site or via distance education).
   1. One (1) pdc per classroom hour (ex. 23 pdc's for course).
2. ISA Requalification Course Examination only, self-study with a passing grade on the exam.
   1. One (1) pdc per classroom hour (10 pdc's).
3. Personal Property USPAP Course.
   1. One (1) pdc per classroom hour.
   2. The Personal Property USPAP 15-hour course is required with documentation of a passing grade; thereafter the 7-hour Personal Property USPAP course can be used.
4. Attending courses and seminars relating to professional appraising or to specialty product knowledge.
   1. One (1) pdc per classroom hour.

   Distance education courses, whether text, tape, or computer based, will be rated based on the equivalency to live 'classroom' hours as stipulated by the course/seminar provider.
   
   This category includes on-site workshops and hands-on training given by artists, jewelers, manufacturers, restoration and repair exhibits, and art and antique conservationists. It also includes "walking tours" of museum exhibits, factories, specialty laboratories, etc. which are specifically designed to be in-depth learning experiences for the participants, and are led by an on-site expert in the field (not volunteer docents).

5. Preparing reports in compliance with ISA Appraisal Report Writing Standards.
   1. Billable appraisal hours cannot exceed 50% of the total required pdc's for each requalification period.
   2. Ten (10) pdc's will be given for each member year within the five-year requalification period wherein the individual has accrued a minimum of 100 billable hours writing summary and/or self-contained appraisal reports. Said reports must comply with ISA Appraisal Report Writing Standards.

   Billable hours are times spent on legitimate and specific appraisal assignments. They include on-site inspection, research and analysis, and document preparation. These activities can be verified by presenting invoices that document that time, whether or not full charges are rendered to the client. (Some appraisers list all time spent on assignments and then discount for professional courtesy or to correspond to an original estimate or quote.)

6. Teaching appraisal or specialty related courses exceeding eight (8) hours in duration. Applies whether instructor wrote the course material or not. (Credit will be given only once each year for teaching the same course.)
   1. One (1) pdc for each classroom "podium" hour of instruction.
7. Creating and presenting speeches or short seminars of eight or fewer hours in duration that relate to professional appraising and/or specialty product knowledge. (Credit will be given only for the first time the presentation or short seminar is given within each member year.)
   1. Two (2) pdc's will be given for each presentation hour.
8. Writing and publication of "scholarly" articles in journals, magazines, trade papers.
   1. Must be reviewed by the appropriate committee review team to determine credits awarded, up to a maximum of 25 credits per submission.
9. Authorship of independently published texts, books, substantive industry reference materials, Web sites and specialty guides recognized by the appraisal and/or specialty fields for their worth.
   1. Must be reviewed by the appropriate committee review team to determine credits awarded, up to a maximum of 75 credits per submission.
10. Participating actively on teams that develop essential knowledge baselines for courses and examinations, doing substantive course and examination reviews and revisions, and otherwise participating in activities instrumental to enhancing knowledge and skill in appraising and/or specialty fields.
    1. Up to twenty (20) pdc’s per member year for actual time spent for activities including CAPP and AM appraisal reviews.
11. Additional Professional Activities within ISA and ISA Chapters.
    1. ISA activities.
       (i) Director: 50 pdc's per year
       (ii) Standing Committee Chair: 15 pdc's pr year. At its discretion, the appropriate committee review team may award up to 30 pdc’s per year at the request of an individual. 
       (iii) Standing Committee Member: 5 pdc's per year. At its discretion, the appropriate committee review team may award up to 20 pdc's per year at the request of an individual.
    2. ISA Chapter activities.
       (i) Chapter officer: 10 pdc's per year. At its discretion, the appropriate committee review team may award up to 20 pdc's per year at the request of an individual. 
       (ii) Chapter committee Member: Five (5) pdc's per year. At its discretion, the appropriate committee review team may award up to 10 pdc's per year at the request of an individual.
       (iii) Attending chapter meeting with lectures, or specialty speakers pointed towards appraiser professional development: One (1) pdc per meeting.
12. Additional Professional Activities within FAE
    1. President: 40 pdc's per year.
    2. Executive Committee: 30 pdc's per year.
    3. Board Member: 20 pdc's per year.

Acceptable Documentation of Requalifying Credits

• Certificates or letters of completion or attendance showing dates, hours of educational activity, school transcripts, etc.
• Copies of school catalogs, programs, thank-you letters, advertisements, flyers pertaining to the offering  of a course or seminar, plus the topic and an outline of the course or speech.
• Completed ISA standard form used for verifying attendance at qualifying credit activity completion.
• Cancelled checks/credit card receipts pertaining to the event attended.
• Copies of the articles, books, texts, price lists, or other publications submitted for publication credit. Full copies of all publications must be submitted for review by the appropriate division review team.

ISA Credentialing & Requalification Policy