Supporting the Profession. Educating the Professional.

Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations Course

A required course under the 2026 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria, this course satisfies the mandatory valuation bias and fair housing education requirement established by the Appraiser Qualifications Board, effective January 1, 2026. It is taught live and in real time by webinar. The qualifying education version consists of seven hours of instruction plus a one-hour final examination; the examination is required for aspiring appraisers seeking an initial credential and for licensed or certified appraisers applying to upgrade to a higher credential level.

The course provides an in-depth examination of valuation bias in real estate and its relationship to federal fair housing laws and antidiscrimination requirements. You will explore the historical and contemporary forces that have shaped inequities in housing and valuation practices, including the roles of real estate agents, appraisers, lenders, government-sponsored enterprises, and federal, state, and local agencies, and work through the key federal laws and regulations: the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, FIRREA, and the related concepts of disparate treatment and disparate impact.

Through lecture, discussion, and practical case studies, you will examine explicit, implicit, and structural bias in valuation practice and consider how bias may arise in property analysis, neighborhood description, comparable selection, report writing, and communication with clients and property owners. The course emphasizes current issues, regulatory developments, and practical strategies you can use to recognize, avoid, and reduce the risk of bias in your own work. The material is presented in the context of appraisal practice, is fact-based and drawn from authoritative sources, and is delivered objectively and impartially.

Every participant receives an electronic (PDF) student manual. No other manuals or publications are required.

Appraiser CE Course Approvals

7-Hour Appraiser CE Course Approvals:

Currently approved in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana (via KY Approval), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, South Carolina, South Dakota, US Virgin Islands, Washington, and West Virginia and pending approval in many other states.

Appraiser QE Course Approvals

8-Hour Appraiser QE (with Exam) Course Approvals:

Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, and South Carolina.

Important Note: Individuals seeking an initial appraiser credential, and credential holders applying to upgrade, must complete the eight-hour qualifying education version, which adds the required one-hour final examination.

Real Estate Agent/Broker CE Approvals

Currently approved in Kentucky (6 hours Law CE or 6 hours Fair Housing PLE), Ohio (6 hours CE), South Dakota (7 Required Hours Continuing and Postlicensing Education #5745R727). Pending approval in several other states.

Fee

$195, which includes an electronic (PDF) student manual. No other manuals/publications are required.

Important Note: The eight-hour qualifying education version concludes with a one-hour final examination at no additional cost. The examination is closed-book and proctored, consists of 25 multiple-choice questions, and requires a score of at least 70% to pass. No reference materials may be used. Students who do not pass may arrange a re-take, which is administered on an alternate examination form. The seven-hour continuing education version does not include an examination.

What You Will Be Able to Do

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

List and recall key federal fair housing and antidiscrimination laws, including their historical context and essential provisions.
State examples of redlining, restrictive covenants, disparate treatment, and disparate impact.
Explain the roles and impacts of various stakeholders — real estate agents, appraisers, lenders, and government bodies — in real estate bias.
Summarize the key legal concepts underpinning federal fair housing and antidiscrimination laws.
Apply the principles of fair housing laws to hypothetical real estate scenarios to identify potential valuation biases.
Use knowledge of historical and contemporary real estate bias cases to propose solutions in practical situations.
Compare and contrast explicit, implicit, and structural valuation biases.
Analyze recent legal cases and developments to discern ongoing patterns and implications in valuation bias and fair housing practices.
Assess the effectiveness of current fair housing laws in mitigating real estate bias.
Critically evaluate contemporary public discussions on valuation bias and their implications for protected classes.
Design strategies for real estate professionals to proactively recognize and prevent valuation bias in their work.
Propose innovative approaches to address and reduce economic disparities caused by property value biases, considering the needs of protected classes.

When and Where

Delivered live and in real time via Zoom to your home or office.The course provides seven (7) hours of instruction, presented two formats, either over 1) one continuous day, or 2) two consecutive afternoons. Please plan to join 30 minutes before the start time for login and identity verification. A working webcam is required and must remain on throughout for identity verification and attendance monitoring, and a government-issued photo ID is required. Attendance for 100% of the program is required for credit.

Choose from any one of the following options:

Sept. 22-23, 2026, Tues & Weds, 1:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET, via Zoom

Nov. 9-10, 2026, Mon & Tues, 1:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET, via Zoom

Dec. 15-16, 2026, Tues & Weds, 1:00 PM ET - 4:30 PM ET, via Zoom

What Appraisers Say

Verified reviews from licensed and certified appraisers.

★★★★★

“Always enjoy taking classes from Dennis!”

Ron Scheller, Newburg, IN

Certified General Appraiser

★★★★★

“Instructor was great. Experienced, prepared and on point with all parts of the course. Will take additional courses that Dennis is teaching.”

Dennis Franklin, Birmingham, AL

Certified Residential Appraiser

★★★★★

“Great teacher... Definitely would recommend.”

Allen Swain, Greenwood, MS

Certified General Appraiser

★★★★★

“Material was presented well. Instructor was very knowledgeable of the subject matter and allowed questions from the participants. Excellent!”

Gary Blair, London, AR

Certified Residential Appraiser