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Join Us! Become a Member and Find Your Professional Home!
The Appraisal Institute (AI) is the leading professional association of real estate appraisers. Our Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice comprises requirements for ethical and competent practice, and advance equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession.
The Appraisal Institute’s work includes an array of professional education and advocacy programs, and stewardship of the highest-level professional credentials in residential, commercial and review of real estate appraisal. If you’re engaged in real property valuation, we are your professional home.
Become part of our global community of valuation professionals! We are a diverse association of members committed to the highest standards and ethics in the valuation profession.
Learn how AI can supercharge your career!
- Unlock more earning potential and business opportunities while demonstrating the highest standards of excellence. AI’s designations (MAI, SRA, AI-GRS or AI-RRS) demonstrate distinction in the marketplace. Membership as a Practicing Affiliate or Candidate is a first step towards achievement of one or more of AI’s prestigious designations!
- Grow your business through AI’s vibrant community of local chapters. Our chapters connect you with peers and industry leaders and expand your knowledge through locally focused education and events.
- Broaden your valuation knowledge for less! AI members save up to 30% on AI classroom, on demand, and live online education. Developed by leading experts from both the marketplace and academia, AI’s education is known for its unsurpassed quality.
- Enhance your daily work with exclusive-to-members access to AI’s esteemed Y.T. and Louise Lee Lum Library, a collection of articles, bibliographies, books, photos and academic papers dating to the 1930s. Find answers to your questions and the data and information you need to bolster your daily work!
- Demonstrate to your clients your commitment to the highest ethical standards in the profession via AI membership. Expand your competency in the profession by taking advantage of AI’s Professional Practices Library and ethics & counseling service providing you with answers to your most pressing standards and ethics questions.
- Garnering thousands of hits each week, AI’s online Find an Appraiser directory boosts your exposure to potential clients as one referral can fund a year’s worth (and more) of AI annual dues.
- Do you have an opinion about AMC fee disclosures? Or the modernization of state appraisal licensing systems? AI advocates for the interests of its members and the broader profession by forming strong coalitions and focusing on numerous issues critical to residential, commercial, and review appraisers.
- Expand your knowledge, expertise and salary in specialties like green consultation, litigation and international valuation by earning a listing on a Professional Development Program Registry with the completion of our Professional Development Programs.
- Taking education for state licensure or a designation can be expensive, so let us help with the costs in the form of scholarships and emergency assistance.
- Leverage exclusive member discounts on professional tools, appraisal software, and more while taking advantage of resources like market data sources and our AI Reports® pre-designed appraisal report forms.
Practicing Affiliate
$400 per year
If you are a valuer of real property, or are seeking licensure or certification, our Practicing Affiliate membership is perfect for you! This membership includes all valuers of real property, including those seeking licensure/certification, trainee appraisers, appraisal reviewers, tax assessors, or anyone considered a valuer of real property.
Practicing Affiliates find AI essential to their career through discounts on our education, regular updates on new developments in the profession, our engaging community for networking and business development, resources which provide tangible value in your daily work, and an environment which supports your professional goals.
Candidate for Designation
$400 per year
Candidates are individuals committed to pursuing AI designations and include certified real property appraisers, tax assessors, appraisal reviewers, or those who hold approved equivalencies or designations with other organizations.
Candidates receive personal support from AI candidate mentors and staff in completing their designation journey! Learn more about becoming a Candidate and create a prerequisite checklist today.
Student Affiliate
No annual dues
If you are a college, university, or high school student interested in real property valuation, but not practicing real property valuation, this is the home for you!
Students receive invaluable opportunities to connect with local valuation professionals and to grow their knowledge of real property valuation with access to AI’s exclusive member benefits!
Affiliate
$255 per year
AI welcomes professionals who do not currently value real property but are interested in real property valuation. Bankers, lawyers, accountants, developers, financial planners, investors, and real estate brokers are just a few of the professionals who receive value from AI membership as an Affiliate.
Affiliates value engagement with AI’s valuers of real property, access to exceptional valuation education and resources, and opportunities to grow their knowledge and network within the real property valuation space.
Hear From Our Members
Get inspired by our members and listen to their stories about why they joined the Appraisal Institute.
Luis F. Delgado, SRA
Why did you become an appraiser?
I will tell them there's, right now, no other organization that can provide them the tools to become a real professional appraiser, or at least to guide you around your jobs and the work that you're going to do as an appraiser. Because at least it gives you the right mindset to provide what us appraisers provide to the public, which is good public trust and valuations.
Julie Battaglia, MAI, AI-GRS
Why did you become an appraiser?
AI Designations are the best in the world, and I was fortunate to have support from the firm I was in at the time. This was really important for me, and as a mom I had to consider what this profession can be for those of us who have kids.
The level of freedom and choice an appraiser has is one of the perks of this profession. Appraisers can work for large global companies, large regional firms, mid-sized firms, very small firms, or they can build their own firm, or simply work as an independent appraiser. Appraisers can work as much or as little as they like and can be their own boss.
It's important for people (especially women) to know that once they get through the initial appraiser licensing requirements, they have the ability to make this profession work for them based on their specific needs.
I chose to go a step further and pursued two Appraisal Institute designations to set myself apart. I achieved these designations knowing there was so much more I could learn through the Appraisal Institute.
Alejandro Perez, SRA
I think any person that wants to be an appraiser, must...be part of the Appraisal Institute. From the first day, you understand all the benefits you get in being a member. The quality of education is unique. And the network. I recommend that to everybody who asked me, how do I become an appraiser? And the first thing I said, if you're going to do this, the first step you must do is become a member of the AI.
Sharon Harbin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS
Why did you become an appraiser?
What I would tell a person of color, coming into the appraisal industry, about the Appraisal Institute, is that it's an organization that offers a lot of opportunity. There are all types of scholarships available. And there's mentoring, there's assistance for you to go into a career that is kind of a like, maybe, top secret, but it's a career that—just imagine, it ties you to the world, because the world is made up of real estate and people when you think about it, so you are just hands on in terms of a very, very, very important aspect of real estate. That's appraising; that's determining value. And it's broad. There's so many aspects of appraising and being a member of this organization and allows you to learn, to grow, to network. And now's the time. There's all types of opportunities. I would encourage any minorities with any interest to pursue this career.
