An Act To Conform Licensing Requirements for Real Estate Appraisers with Federal Law
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1724
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: CUSHING, POULIOT, KATZ, PLUMMER, WHITTEMORE, FREDETTE, VOLK, WILLETTE
Amends: 32 MRSA §14021, 32 MRSA §14024, 32 MRSA §14027, 32 MRSA §14035, 32 MRSA §14035-A, 32 MRSA §14036, 32 MRSA §14036-A, 32 MRSA §14037, 32 MRSA §14037-A, 32 MRSA §14038, 32 MRSA §14039

Legislative Document 
No. 1724 
S.P. 684 
In Senate, January 14, 2014 
An Act To Conform Licensing Requirements for Real Estate 
Appraisers with Federal Law 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CUSHING of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative POULIOT of Augusta and 
Senators: KATZ of Kennebec, PLUMMER of Cumberland, WHITTEMORE of Somerset, 
Representatives: FREDETTE of Newport, VOLK of Scarborough, WILLETTE of Mapleton. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §14021, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7.  Fingerprinting.  The applicant shall submit to having fingerprints taken.  The 
Maine State Police, upon payment by the applicant of a fee determined by the board, shall 
take or cause to be taken the applicant's fingerprints and shall forward the fingerprints to 
the State Bureau of Identification so that the bureau can conduct state and national 
criminal history record checks. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §14024, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 185, §5, is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §14024, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 185, §5, is amended 
to read: 
3.  Applicants licensed in another jurisdiction.  An applicant who is licensed under 
the laws of another jurisdiction is governed by this subsection. may be issued a license if: 
A.    An applicant who is licensed under the laws of a jurisdiction that has a current 
reciprocal agreement with the board may obtain a license upon such terms and 
conditions as may be agreed upon through the reciprocal agreement. 
B.    An applicant who is licensed, in good standing, under the laws of a jurisdiction 
that has not entered into a reciprocal agreement with the board may qualify for 
licensure by submitting evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant has met 
all of the qualifications for licensure equivalent to those as set forth by this 
subchapter for that level of licensure. 
C.  The applicant holds a license in good standing from a jurisdiction with 
requirements for licensure that meet or exceed the license requirements as set forth by 
this subchapter for that level of licensure; and 
D.  The appraiser licensing program of the other jurisdiction complies with Title XI 
of the federal Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 
as determined by the federal agency responsible for the determination under that Act. 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §14027, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. L, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Requirement.  As a prerequisite to renewal of a license, an applicant must have 
completed continuing education as set forth by rules adopted by the board.  An applicant 
may not repeat for credit the same continuing education course offering within a license 
renewal cycle. 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §14035, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. L, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Professional qualifications.  An applicant for a certified general real property 
appraiser license must meet the licensing requirements promulgated established by the 
appraiser qualifications board.  Each As a prerequisite to taking the examination required 
by section 14035-A, an applicant must: 
A.  Hold a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university or 
have successfully passed 30 semester credit hours in the following college-level 
subject matter courses from an accredited college, junior college, community college 
or university: 
(1)  English composition; 
(2)  Microeconomics; 
(3)  Macroeconomics; 
(4)  Finance; 
(5)  Algebra, geometry or higher mathematics; 
(6)  Statistics; 
(7)  Computers, word processing and spreadsheets; 
(8)  Business or real estate law; and 
(9)  Two elective courses in accounting, geography, agricultural economics, 
business management or real estate. 
An applicant may receive credit for a college course for an exam taken through a 
college-level examination program if a college or university accredited by a 
commission on colleges, a regional or national accreditation association or an 
accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education 
accepts the exam and issues a transcript showing its approval; 
B.    Satisfactorily complete 300 creditable class hours as specified in the appraiser 
qualifications board's required core curriculum, which must include the 15-hour 
national uniform standards of professional appraisal practice course and examination; 
and 
C.    Pass the appraiser qualifications board's uniform state-certified general real 
property appraiser examination; and 
D.    Hold a valid license under this chapter and demonstrate 3,000 hours of appraisal 
experience obtained during no fewer than 30 months, including 1,500 hours of 
nonresidential appraisal work. 
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §14035, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §6, is repealed. 
Sec. 7.  32 MRSA §14035-A is enacted to read: 
§14035-A.  Required examination; certified general real property appraiser 
An applicant for a certified general real property appraiser license must pass the 
appraiser qualifications board's uniform state-certified general real property appraiser 
examination within 24 months of the date the applicant is eligible to take the 
examination. 
Sec. 8.  32 MRSA §14036, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. L, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Professional qualifications.  An applicant for a certified residential real property 
appraiser license must meet the licensing requirements promulgated established by the 
appraiser qualifications board.  Each As a prerequisite to taking the examination required 
by section 14036-A, an applicant must: 
A.  Hold an associate's a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or 
university or have successfully passed 21 semester credit hours in the following 
collegiate level subject matter courses from an accredited college, junior college, 
community college or university: 
(1)  English composition; 
(2)  Principles of microeconomics or macroeconomics; 
(3)  Finance; 
(4)  Algebra, geometry or higher mathematics; 
(5)  Statistics; 
(6)  Computers, word processing and spreadsheets; and 
(7)  Business or real estate law. 
An applicant may receive credit for a college course for an exam taken through a 
college-level examination program if a college or university accredited by a 
commission on colleges, a regional or national accreditation association or an 
accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education 
accepts the exam and issues a transcript showing its approval; 
B.    Satisfactorily complete 200 creditable class hours as specified in the appraiser 
qualifications board's required core curriculum, which must include the 15-hour 
national uniform standards of professional appraisal practice course and examination; 
and 
C.    Pass the appraiser qualifications board's uniform state-certified residential real 
property appraiser examination; and 
D.  Hold a valid license under this chapter and demonstrate 2,500 hours of appraisal 
experience obtained during no fewer than 24 months, including complex residential 
property appraisals completed under the supervision of a certified residential real 
property appraiser or a certified general real property appraiser under section 14035. 
Sec. 9.  32 MRSA §14036, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §7, is repealed. 
Sec. 10.  32 MRSA §14036-A is enacted to read: 
§14036-A.  Required examination; certified residential real property appraiser 
An applicant for a certified residential real property appraiser license must pass the 
appraiser qualifications board's uniform state-certified residential real property appraiser 
examination within 24 months of the date the applicant is eligible to take the 
examination. 
Sec. 11.  32 MRSA §14037, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §8, is 
amended to read: 
2.  Professional qualifications.  Each An applicant for a residential real property 
appraiser license must meet the licensing requirements promulgated established by the 
appraiser qualifications board.  Each As a prerequisite to taking the examination required 
by section 14037-A, an applicant must: 
A.  Satisfactorily complete 150 creditable class hours as specified in the appraiser 
qualifications board's required core curriculum, which must include the 15-hour 
national uniform standard of professional appraisal practice course and examination; 
B.  Pass the appraiser qualifications board's licensed residential real property 
appraiser examination; and 
C.  Hold a valid license under this chapter and demonstrate 2,000 hours of appraisal 
experience obtained during no fewer than 12 months.; and 
D.  Hold an associate or higher degree from an accredited college or university or 
have successfully completed 30 semester credit hours of college-level courses from 
an accredited college, junior college, community college or university. 
Sec. 12.  32 MRSA §14037, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §8, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 13.  32 MRSA §14037-A is enacted to read: 
§14037-A.  Required examination; residential real property appraiser 
An applicant for a residential real property appraiser license must pass the appraiser 
qualifications board's licensed residential real property appraiser examination within 24 
months of the date the applicant is eligible to take the examination. 
Sec. 14.  32 MRSA §14038, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §9, is 
amended to read: 
2.  Professional qualifications.  Each An applicant for a trainee real property 
appraiser license must meet the licensing requirements promulgated established by the 
appraiser qualifications board.  Each An applicant must satisfactorily complete 75 
creditable class hours as specified in the appraiser qualifications board's required core 
curriculum, which must include the 15-hour national uniform standards of professional 
appraisal practice course and examination.: 
A.  Seventy-five creditable class hours as specified in the appraiser qualifications 
board's required core curriculum, which must include the 15-hour national uniform 
standards of professional appraisal practice course, within 5 years of the date of 
application for licensure; and 
B.  A supervisory appraiser and trainee appraiser course as specified by the appraiser 
qualifications board. 
Sec. 15.  32 MRSA §14038, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §9, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 16.  32 MRSA §14038, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §9, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Number of supervisors.  A trainee real property appraiser may have more than 
one supervising certified residential real property appraiser or certified general real 
property appraiser, but a supervising appraiser may not supervise more than 3 trainee real 
property appraisers at one time. 
Sec. 17.  32 MRSA §14038, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 518, §9, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 18.  32 MRSA §14039 is enacted to read: 
§14039.  Supervisory appraiser 
1.  Scope of practice.  A supervisory appraiser is responsible for the training, 
guidance and direct supervision of a trainee real property appraiser as set forth by rules 
adopted by the board. 
2.  Certified level license required.  A certified general real property appraiser or 
certified residential real property appraiser who has held a license for a minimum of 3 
years and within the last 3 years has not had a license suspended or revoked or been 
subject to other disciplinary action that limits the licensee's legal eligibility to perform 
real estate appraisal activity may supervise a trainee real property appraiser. 
3.  Completion of supervisory course.  A supervisory appraiser must satisfactorily 
complete a supervisory appraiser and trainee appraiser course as specified by the 
appraiser qualifications board to supervise a trainee real property appraiser licensed on or 
after January 1, 2015. 
4.  Filing with board. Before employing a trainee real property appraiser, a 
supervising certified residential real property appraiser or certified general real property 
appraiser must register the name and starting date of employment of that trainee with the 
board. 
5.  Limitation on number of trainees.  A supervisory appraiser may not supervise 
more than 3 trainee real property appraisers at one time. 
Sec. 19.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2015. 
SUMMARY 
This bill adopts the following changes to the license requirements for real estate 
appraisers as required by federal law effective January 1, 2015. 
1.  It requires applicants for licensure to be fingerprinted and submit to a background 
check. 
2.  It changes the requirements that an applicant who is licensed in another 
jurisdiction must meet in order to be licensed in this State. 
3.  It provides that a licensee may not repeat for credit the same continuing education 
course offering within a license renewal cycle. 
4.  It changes the educational requirements for applicants and requires that 
educational and experience requirements must be met before an applicant may take the 
required examination. 
5.  It establishes the qualifications and duties of supervisory appraisers.