How to become an ASA appraiser?

Becoming an ASA-designated machinery and equipment appraiser requires completing education, passing exams, accumulating hands-on appraisal experience, and submitting your work for peer review through the American Society of Appraisers (ASA).

The Core Path: ASA Machinery & Technical Specialties (MTS)

For machinery and equipment appraisal, the relevant ASA discipline is Machinery & Technical Specialties (MTS), with the Machinery & Equipment specialty being the most common track for industrial, construction, and manufacturing equipment appraisers.

The process unfolds in four stages:

Join ASA and pass foundational exams. Submit an application, professional resume, and references. Once accepted as a Candidate, complete ASA's online Ethics Exam and the 15-hour USPAP course and exam. USPAP, published by The Appraisal Foundation, is the recognized standard for professional appraisal practice in the United States.
Complete the MTS Principles of Valuation coursework. For the M&E specialty, ASA requires four courses: ME201 through ME204. These cover valuation approaches, report writing, and specialized machinery topics. All coursework must be completed within the past 10 years when you apply for designation.
Build qualifying experience. The Accredited Member (AM) designation requires at least two years of full-time appraisal experience; the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) designation requires at least five years. Experience must involve actual valuation assignments, not just equipment sales or inspection work.
Submit an appraisal log and sample report. ASA's MTS Board of Examiners reviews a real client report alongside a documented log of completed assignments.

If you are considering a career in machinery valuation or want to understand the credentials our appraisers hold, visit our about page or explore our machinery and equipment appraisal services.