What is the difference between an appraiser association and an appraisal license?

An appraiser association is a professional organization that a person chooses to join. Many offer training, testing, credentials and a code of ethics, and some require members to meet education and experience standards before they can use a designation.

A license is a legal authorization issued by a government agency. Real estate appraisers are generally licensed or certified by states, but personal property appraisers are often not licensed in the same way. That means the credential from a professional association is frequently the main indicator of training for personal property appraisers.

Rules vary, so check with your state agencies if you are unsure. When hiring someone to appraise furniture, art, jewelry or collectibles, ask which organization trained and credentialed them, whether they keep current on appraisal standards, and how many years they have worked in your category.