VCU Real Estate Programs earn national board recognition

By Robert Taylor
VCU Real Estate Program

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business’ undergraduate and graduate programs in real estate have been approved by the The Appraisal Foundation, making VCU one of only two universities in the country to have both levels of programs achieve that distinction.

Approval for the Bachelor of Science in Real Estate and Master of Science in Business programs came from the Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Review Program by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of The Appraisal Foundation, a congressionally authorized nonprofit organization that fosters professionalism among appraisers by setting qualifications and standards.

The AQB Degree Review Program was established in 2009. The program entails an on-site analysis of undergraduate/graduate degree programs in real estate to determine if the course work completed to obtain an undergraduate/graduate degree is consistent with the course requirements established by the AQB in the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria. Once the analysis is complete, the AQB publishes the results for state appraiser regulatory agencies to use when reviewing the educational qualifications of applicants that hold such degrees.  
 
The AQB established this program to benefit state appraiser regulatory agencies in their review of an applicant’s qualifications as well as graduate degree applicants looking to obtain a real property appraiser credential.  

“It is our hope that this program will relieve the burden on state regulators in reviewing transcripts submitted for credit towards a state credential,” said Wayne R. Miller, chairman of the Appraiser Qualifications Board. “In addition, the program will assist graduates in obtaining credit for the work they have done to earn their degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.”

Individuals completing the entire course of study approved by the AQB may be eligible to receive credit toward a state credential under the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria.