The SRA is the Appraisal Institute’s designation for residential appraisers. It is awarded to appraisers who have demonstrated advanced education, tested competence, and documented experience in residential valuation, and it carries continuing ethics and standards obligations.

What the designation requires

Current requirements, in summary: a certified real property appraiser credential; the Appraisal Institute’s standards, fair housing, and business practices and ethics coursework; a residential valuation elective; completion of Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies / Part 1 paired with Advanced Residential Report Writing / Part 2; 3,000 hours of residential appraisal experience; passage of the Residential Comprehensive Examination; and satisfaction of the Residential Demonstration of Knowledge requirement, which may be met through the demonstration report coursework, a traditional demonstration appraisal report, peer-reviewed published research, or a qualifying thesis or dissertation.

Requirements are set and periodically revised by the Appraisal Institute. See the Appraisal Institute’s SRA designation page for the governing requirements as they stand.

Woody Fincham holds the SRA designation and is an Appraisal Institute instructor, including for the Institute’s green and energy-efficient valuation curriculum.