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Candidate for Designation Overview

Candidates for Designation generally provide services as real property valuers to customers, employers, etc. They are also actively pursuing designated membership with the Appraisal Institute.

Individuals seeking designated membership must complete prerequisites and have good moral character to be eligible to enter the Candidate for Designation program.

View program prerequisites, requirements, equivalencies, alternative paths, and access additional resources.

MAI

MAI Designation

The MAI membership designation is held by professionals who provide a wide range of services on all types of real property related to providing opinions of value, evaluations, review, consulting, and advice on investment decisions, among other things. Property types may include commercial, industrial, agricultural, residential, and vacant land.

Track your eligibility and progress towards the General Candidate for Designation program (login required).

SRA

SRA Designation

The SRA membership designation is held by professionals who provide a wide range of services for residential properties related to providing opinions of value, evaluations, reviews, consulting, and advice regarding investment decisions, among other things.

Track your eligibility and progress towards the Residential Candidate for Designation program (login required).

designation-AIGRS

AI-GRS Designation

The AI-GRS membership designation is held by professionals who provide reviews of appraisals of a wide range of property types, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, residential, and vacant land.

Track your eligibility and progress towards the General Review Candidate for Designation program (login required).

AI-RRS

AI-RRS Designation

The AI-RRS membership designation is held by professionals who provide reviews of residential appraisals.

Track your eligibility and progress towards the Residential Review Candidate for Designation program (login required).

Annual Fee

Upon applying to enter the Candidate for Designation program, individuals are required to pay annual dues. For new applicants to AI, annual dues are prorated when joining between February and October. Individuals joining after November 1st will be charged the full annual dues for the upcoming year.

Each subsequent year, Candidates will be renewed and invoiced for the upcoming annual dues (this occurs around November 1st). Dues are subject to change annually.

AI Candidate Advisor

When individuals officially enroll in the Candidate for Designation program, they may select an AI Candidate Advisor. AI Advisor selection is optional.

Required Time Period

Candidates must complete the requirements for designated membership in four years.

Maximum Length of Candidacy

Candidates who do not complete the requirements in four years may request a new Required Time Period (if eligible). The Candidacy of individuals who are no longer eligible to enter a new Required Time Period shall be terminated and the individual will be entered into the Practicing Affiliate category.

Eligibility to request a new Required Time Period will be based on whether prerequisite requirements are considered completed. Requirements will expire over time.

Designation Requirements

Prerequisites	Each designation path will have a set of prerequisites that must be completed prior to entering a Candidate for Designation program.
Demonstration of Knowledge Requirement	The most extensive information related to the completion of this requirement may be found in the applicable guidebooks for each designation. The Official Guide to the Demonstration of Knowledge Requirement: General (MAI requirement) The Official Guide to the Demonstration of Knowledge Requirement: Residential (SRA requirement)
Experience Requirement	Information related to this requirement may be found in the Experience Credit Candidate Guidebook. Candidates may apply for a free Advisory Guidance submission before applying for the Experience requirement for their designation path. Advisory Guidance provides an independent evaluation of the Candidate’s daily work product. It is conducted by an Experience Panel member, who offers counseling and ultimately helps a Candidate understand how to better prepare for the Experience requirement for the designation process. This is a free benefit for all Candidates for Designation!
Comprehensive Examination Requirement	The most extensive information related to completion of this requirement may be found in the Comprehensive Examination Guidebook. The comprehensive examination is offered three times per year during the months of: April August November

Certification Statements

For written appraisal and written appraisal review reports, Candidates must use certification statements as part of their affiliation with the Appraisal Institute.

Sample Certification Statements (login required)

A Word about Appraisal Institute Standards, Certifications, Compliance Statements and Appraisal Institute Certification Statements

Program Fees and Designated Member Dues

There are various fees for completing Candidate for Designation requirements, including those associated with the comprehensive examination, experience submission, demonstration of knowledge, and the designation application. Fees Related to Candidacy

Annual membership dues may be prorated depending on the time of the year when receiving a designation, or additional designation. Designated Member Dues Structure