Appraisers would submit licensing applications through a central online portal

The Appraisal Subcommittee would establish and maintain a central online portal for applications and renewals. Appraisers and appraisal management companies would use it for licensing, certification, and registration, with records available to state licensing agencies. States would keep control over application and renewal decisions. State fees and state-specific information would still go to states through the portal.

The Attorney General would provide criminal history records to state regulators when state law requires background checks. Appraisers and other people needing FBI checks under state law would submit fingerprints through the portal and authorize the Appraisal Subcommittee to process the checks. The Appraisal Subcommittee could route requests and records between states and the Department of Justice. Checks completed under these rules would satisfy federal financial regulators’ requirements for oversight of outside service providers.

The Appraisal Subcommittee could charge portal users a fee and would offer grants to help states connect their systems. Fees could apply to individuals and appraisal management companies using the portal; grants would support state appraiser licensing agencies. User fees would have to be reasonable and used only for the portal and specified background checks. Fee revenue would have to match portal development and maintenance costs. State grants would follow policies developed by the Appraisal Subcommittee.