On October 23, 2026, NAR submitted a comment letterpdf on the Appraiser Qualification Board's (AQB) Third Exposure Draft of Proposed Changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria.
In the letter, NAR commends the AQB for the continued modernization reflected in the Third Exposure Draft. The proposed changes align with several long-standing NAR policy objectives by expanding pathways into the profession, reducing unnecessary educational and experience barriers, emphasizing demonstrated competency, and providing additional safeguards for alternative qualification pathways.
Nevertheless, NAR encourages the AQB to take further steps to recognize relevant, verifiable parallel professional experience and educational equivalencies; retain mandatory fair housing and valuation bias continuing education; and ensure consistent, transparent evaluation standards across all qualification pathways.