Continuing education course content

(a) The contents of continuing education programs shall consist of current real estate appraisal practices, real estate practices, laws and standards of professional practice that are broad-based and essential to the role of a real estate appraiser as the appraiser acts in the best interests of the consumer. These contents shall directly relate to real estate appraisal principles and practices such as described in Connecticut's real estate appraisal statutes and regulations and any overview text on real estate appraisal principles and practices, or to new developments in the field for which licensed or certified appraisers have a demonstrated need. (b) Generally acceptable continuing education courses may include, but shall not be limited to: (1) Ad valorem taxation; (2) Arbitration; (3) Business courses related to real estate appraisal; (4) Construction estimating; (5) Ethics and standards of professional practice; (6) Land use planning, zoning and taxation; (7) Property development; (8) Real estate appraisal (valuation or evaluation, or both); (9) Real estate appraisal laws and regulations; (10) Real estate appraisal related computer applications; (11) Real estate financing and investment; (12) Real estate law; (13) Real estate litigation; (14) Real estate management, leasing, brokerage or time-sharing; (15) Real estate securities and syndication; (16) Real estate taxes and liens; (17) Real estate principles and practices; and (18) Real property exchange. (c) The commission shall not approve offerings in mechanical office and business skills such as typing, speed-reading, memory development, personal motivation, salesmanship, sales psychology, sales promotions, and shall not approve general business meetings. (d) For continuing education courses, no course of less than two (2) classroom hours shall be approved. There is no examination requirement for continuing education courses. (e) There shall be no change or alteration in any approved continuing education course without prior written notice and approval of the commission. (f) A distance education course as referred to in the Interpretations of the Appraiser Qualification Criteria of the AQB shall meet the classroom hour requirement specified in subsection (d) of this section or its equivalent, provided that the course is approved by the commission and that it meets at least one of the qualification criteria established by the AQB. Copies of the Appraiser Qualification Criteria and the Interpretations of the Appraiser Qualification Criteria of the AQB are available for inspection at the office of the Real Estate Appraisal Commission, Room 110, State Office Building, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut, during regular business hours. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from The Appraisal Foundation located in Washington, D.C. or from The Appraisal Foundation's website at www.appraisalfoundation.org. (g) The purpose of continuing education is to ensure that the appraiser participates in a program that maintains and increases his or her skill, knowledge and competency in real estate appraising. (h) At least one of the course instructors of the 7 or 15 hour USPAP course must be an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor who is also a state certified appraiser.