A rapidly increasing number of states and municipalities are now setting standards for accurately considering the value of green attributes in homes, and Earth Advantage is meeting this growing demand by supplying appraisers with a flexible pathway towards earning a green accreditation that will now require continuing education in order to maintain. Since 2009, Earth Advantage has delivered more than 70 green trainings to over 600 appraisers across the U.S., with more locations being added within the year.
Executive Director of Earth Advantage, David Heslam, said, “We listened to appraisal professionals and responded to the market demand for more knowledge. This accreditation will allow appraisal professionals to gain competency on issues related to high performance home valuation, while also gaining a rigorous professional accreditation.”
The Accredited Green Appraiser (AGA) program (formerly CRGA) is a rigorous designation that provides appraisal professionals with a competitive edge in the valuation of energy efficient and green homes in their market. In order to obtain the AGA designation, professionals are required to complete three Appraising Green Homes course modules: Construction Methods & Trends, Valuation Techniques and Advanced Applications. The completion and passing of a qualifying exam is required. Online courses have also recently become available for those seeking accreditation remotely.
To retain the credential, appraisers must maintain four continuing education credits (every two years) and pass the accreditation renewal exam. Earth Advantage is currently working with other providers from across the country to approve their green appraisal courses as providing CEs for the accreditation, and in some cases as substitute courses in order to allow appraisers to build on their current knowledge base.
The AGA classes and accreditation helps appraisers keep up with a rapidly changing housing market and meet soon to be released state and national professional knowledge requirements. Nathaniel Cramer, of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, said, “The Appraising Green Homes classes are easily some of the best appraisal classes I have ever taken. High performance homes are becoming more and more common in New England, and I feel that I now have a leg up on my colleagues who did not attend.”
For more information on gaining accreditation or maintaining credentials, visit:
earthadvantage.org/education/.
