Accredited Rural Appraiser

Appraiser.png An appraiser who has received the Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) designation is trained and tested to ensure they are equipped with the tools necessary to tackle a wide spectrum of real estate valuation assignments. As with all assignments, competency in any specific arena is the duty of the appraiser; however the ARA has demonstrated through a comprehensive and intensive process that they have the knowledge and skills to successfully administer the appraisal. The Accredited Rural Appraiser conducts valuation work on wide range of property types that exist in rural parts of the country. These properties are often among the most complex properties from a valuation standpoint and require a sophisticated valuation expert to properly appraise them. An ARA has demonstrated through course work, experience, work review and a comprehensive exam that they have the expertise required for these complex valuation assignments.

Below is a partial list of the types of properties that ARAs appraise each day:

  • Agricultural Production Facilities – examples include: commercial feed yards, greenhouses, potato houses, cold storage and others
  • Agricultural Properties – examples include: production agriculture, recreational ranches
  • Natural Resources – examples include: oil/gas and other minerals, wind/geothermal/solar, timber, water and others
  • Federal , State, local Condemnation and Right-of-Way Appraisals
  • Partial Interests – examples include: undivided interest, leasehold/leased fee, life estate, conservation easements and others
  • Commercial Properties– examples include: small office buildings
  • Small business– examples include: machinery dealers
  • Rural Residential properties

Approximately one half of all land found within the United States is utilized in some form of agricultural production and even more is included in uses such as rural residential and recreational properties. At the same time, the number of appraisers that have been educated and trained in this specific type of real estate is relatively small as a percentage of the entire appraisal workforce. As a result, appraisers in this industry have formed a very close network of peers which aids in the ability to gather significant factual data pertinent to very difficult and complex real property issues. Given the complexities of issues surrounding such a large percentage of real estate throughout the United States, and the significant investment required by market participants to acquire ownership, a well trained and experienced valuation professional has vast opportunities to obtain significant business.

Important Dates

Round 1 Dates
Application due by January 15
Reports due by March 1
Demonstration report due by April 1

Round 2 Dates
Application due by May 15
Reports due by July 1
Demonstration report due by August 1

Please submit your application, experience and demonstration report to accreditation@asfmra.org. Deanna Ilk is available to assist you with questions at dilk@asfmra.org or (303) 692-1222. 

Exam Opportunities
Education Week
ASFMRA Annual Conference


Have a designation from another organization? Click here to get on the 'Fast Track' to Accreditation

Please take a look at the ARA Checklist under Helpful Links below for full details.

  1. Required coursework:
    • ASFMRA Best in Business Ethics (2 hours)
    • Integrated Approaches to Value (A360 or A304) (30 hours)
    • Advanced Rural Case Studies (A400) (40 hours)
    • Valuation of Conservation Easements and Other Partial Interests in Real Estate (A420 or A315) (24 hours)
    • Eminent Domain (A430 or A250) (22 hours)
    • Total 118 hours
  2. For ARA, five years of experience in the discipline of appraisal. At least 600 hours of the 1,600 hours during each of three years within the past five years must be in the appraisal of rural property or appraisal review in an agricultural or agribusiness situation for a fee or salary. No more than 100 hours of the 600 hours can be from rural residential appraising or reviewing. The individual shall have completed the requirements and objectives which are set out in each discipline and Standards of Professional Practice as outlined in the corresponding procedures.
  3. Submit one demonstration report via email. Demonstration reports may be submitted after successful completion of the accreditation exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, you will have two opportunities to submit your demonstration report for review.  Failure to do so will result in a resubmission of your application along with a required fee.  Please refer to the accreditation calendar to identify deadlines for each round of demonstration reports.
    If you take the exam and pass it at Education Week 2024, your demo will be due either August 1, 2024 or April 1, 2025
    If you take the exam and pass it at Annual Meeting 2024, your demo will be due either April 1, 2025 or August 1, 2025
  4. Provide evidence of certification as a Certified General Appraiser under the certification laws and regulations of any state, if the applicant of the designation works within the United States.
  5. ASFMRA membership.
  6. Comprehensive ARA Accrediting exam.

Helpful Links