Syllabus ACA Online USPAP Update Course (2014 version) Contact Information William M. Novotny, ISA AM, GCA is your instructor and the developer of the course content. Bill is an AQB-certified National USPAP Course instructor. Contact Bill for questions regarding course content: findvalu@aol.com (626) 292-2224 Website link Assisting in the course design and online course is appraisal course development specialist David J. Maloney, Jr., ISA AM, author of Appraising Personal Property: Principles and Methodology, 6th Edition (Appraisers Press 2013) and the Complete Online Course in Personal Property Appraising. Contact Dave for questions regarding course administration, logging in, web issues: dave@maloney.com (301) 228-2279 Website link Introduction This ACA Online USPAP Update Course (2014 version) focuses on the new changes that were incorporated into the 2014-2015 edition of USPAP. The course follows the format of, and the material contained in, The Appraisal Foundation's (TAF) 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course Student Manual which focuses on appraising real property. ACA’s online USPAP update courses, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on the appraisal of personal property. IMPORTANT: Since this course contains only those changes that were incorporated into the 2014-2015 edition of USPAP, it should only be taken by students who completed the 15-hour National USPAP Course in 2012 or 2013 or if the student has has kept current with USPAP update courses every two years. If you last took the 15-hour course prior to 2012 or have not kept current with the update courses every two years, do the following in order to become current:
Course Objectives The objective of the ACA Online USPAP Update Course (2014 version) is to make the appraiser aware of changes that were incorporated into the 2014-2015 edition of USPAP and to help the student better understand and apply USPAP in daily practice. This is accomplished by making use of Q&A, USPAP’s FAQ, and case studies and real world scenarios to explain frequently misunderstood USPAP issues and how to overcome frequently encountered appraisal practice problems (see Objectives) Course Developers This course has been developed by AQB-Certified USPAP instructor William M. Novotny, ISA AM, GCA, in association with his Appraisal Course Associates (ACA) partner, David Maloney, Jr., AOA CM. In 2002, Novotny became the first personal property appraiser to receive an AQB certification as a National USPAP instructor. Since that time, Novotny has remained certified as an AQB USPAP Instructor. He has presented the 15-hour National USPAP Course annually to large classes of personal property appraisers from many specialties, including business appraisers. Click here for an explanation by Bill Novotny of the important role USPAP plays in the appraisal process and what the client should expect from the generalist personal property appraiser they hire. David Maloney assisted in the development of this online course by his substantial editorial support and by creating and administrating the online design of this course. His expertise with course educational requirements was instrumental, as was his editing assistance, course material organizational skills, and online course design efforts. I wish to thank him and recognize his considerable support and assistance in these specific roles as coauthor. Prerequisites Before taking this version of ACA’s online USPAP update courses, students must first have successfully completed the 15-hour National USPAP Course during 2012 or 2013 and passed the AQB course exam. Optionally, the student must have stayed current with previous USPAP update courses. The purpose of this ACA USPAP update course is not to introduce the student to USPAP, but rather to provide an update so that the student/appraiser can become informed of his or her current USPAP obligations and can apply the requirements of USPAP to daily practice. Course Fee The fee for the ACA Online USPAP Update Course (2014 version) is $185 plus the cost of the required USPAP document. Required Textbook The 2014-2015 edition of the USPAP document (available for purchase at http://www.appraisalfoundation.org) is required for this course. Please note that it is very important to have the USPAP book with you as you proceed through this ACA online USPAP update course, so have the book in-hand before registering for this course. TAF's 2014-2015 edition of the 7-Hour Update Course Student Manual is not required for this course, though you might find it helpful. Order here. Course Duration Registration entitles the student to access to this course for a one-month period. Students are encouraged to apply themselves diligently in order to complete the online requirements within this one-month period. Students may request a one-time, one-month extension period for a fee of $50. Note: The student’s time and activity are recorded online and are monitored by the instructor. This ACA online course covers material that is equivalent to the onsite 7-Hour National USPAP Update Course, thus we expect it should take you about 7 hours to complete the course. Some students take longer. Others click through as quickly as possible just to complete the course. ACA regards excessively fast clicking to the next page as unacceptable. Students who proceed through the course material quicker than the time required to read the material will be required to complete a careful review prior to being awarded the ACA Certificate of Completion. Refunds A refund in full will be made if a written request for a refund is received at info@appraisalcourseassociates.com within seven (7) days of initial registration. Lesson Requirements Each Part of this course is comprised of a series of lessons containing learning material that is comparable to that found in The Appraisal Foundation's 7-hour National USPAP Update Course Student Manual. Lessons include self-assessed questions as well as reading assignments taken from USPAP, USPAP's FAQ, and real world scenarios Testing This course has no exams or final projects. However, lessons do contain periodic multiple-choice, self-assessed questions that will test your understanding of the material. While your answers to these questions have no impact on whether or not you pass this course, they will help you better understand and retain the covered material. Your answers will also allow the instructor to gauge your progress and help ensure that you properly completed the course. Communication Students are welcome to take advantage of the course Discussion Forum to share information and ask questions regarding the course material with the instructor and other students. Students are also welcome to contact the instructor via email should the need arise. Certificates Upon completion of the course graduates will be awarded a Course Completion Certificate from Appraisal Course Associates. Continuing Education Upon completion of this online course, Appraisal Course Associates recommends that professional associations and societies credit the student with ten contact hours (1 CEU). Graduates of this online course will have been exposed to a greater amount of material (including bonus material and self-assessed testing) than would be the classroom student. |
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