Membership

The Appraisers Association of America, established in 1949, is the premier national association of personal property appraisers who focus on fine and decorative arts. With a membership of over 800 independent appraisers and affiliated professionals covering over 100 different areas of specialization, the Appraisers Association's roster of professionals has the widest range of experience and expertise in their respective fields. The Appraisers Association's admissions criteria are in alignment with the guidelines established by The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) for Minimum Requirements for Personal Property Appraisers. TAF is the congressionally mandated organization that oversees the valuation profession. The requirements include 120 hours of Qualifying Education, including a 15-hour USPAP Course & Exam.

There is more information about membership in our downloadable Membership Brochure here: Membership Brochure.

How to Join

The first step to becoming a member is to complete an initial screening application at the link below. We will use this information to help determine which membership track most accurately matches your level of experience.

Begin your application

If we determine that you are qualified to pursue membership, you will receive an email from us inviting you to become a Candidate for Membership. Once a Candidate for Membership, the remaining application process will include online courses and, eventually, a review of sample appraisals. The whole process can take as few as six months or up to two years to complete. Prerequisites to beginning the membership application process include 5-10 years of appraisal and/or direct marketplace experience; and 30 semester credit hours from an accredited college, junior college, community college, or university, or an Associate's degree or higher (in any field).

Please contact Patrick McIntyre, Membership Manager, at membership@appraisersassociation.org with any questions.

CASP Track

If you are new to appraising or transitioning from a related field, e.g., curator, dealer, museum professional, collector, attorney, etc., and have a basic level (less than five years) of appraisal or connoisseurship and marketplace experience, we typically recommend the Comprehensive Appraisal Studies Program, or CASP.

Learn More About CASP

Accredited Track

If you have at least five years of appraisal writing and/or direct marketplace experience, we recommend the Accredited track, which will place you on the track to become an Accredited Member. Candidates for Accredited Membership are required to complete a series of Candidate Core Courses followed by the submission of sample appraisal reports.

Learn More About Accredited Membership

Certified Track

If you have at least ten years of significant appraisal or related connoisseurship and marketplace experience, we may place you on the track to become a Certified Member. Candidates for Certified Membership are required to complete a series of online Candidate Core Courses, and to submit sample appraisal reports and a Certification Exam on their area of specialization.

Learn More About Certified Membership