Texas appraiser board reviews proposal to approve in‑person practicum pathway, hears provider who runs program in seven states

The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board heard a detailed presentation May 16 on creating a state approval program for practicum courses, a hybrid in‑person training pathway that combines classroom instruction and supervised field experience. The board invited Melissa Bond, creator of the Mississippi practicum program, to explain how her program is structured and to answer board members’ questions.

The discussion matters because practicums are an AQB‑recognized route for earning experience hours but have not been widely adopted; proponents say practicums can expand access to the appraisal profession in areas where supervisors are scarce. Melissa Bond described a program that emphasizes USPAP and hands‑on learning, with on‑site visits, mandatory virtual and evening sessions, one‑on‑one coaching and a large library of recorded lessons. Bond said her model delivers high pass rates on the national licensing exam and that her program is approved in…