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Mississippi instructor outlines AQB practicum pathway; Tennessee commissioners form small review group
Summary
Melissa Bond presented an AQB practicum pathway option that combines coursework and hands‑on appraisal reports. Commissioners formed a three‑member committee to review any forthcoming application and asked Bond and staff to provide materials and video demonstrations ahead of the commission’s next meeting.
Melissa Bond, a national education provider who runs an AQB‑approved practicum program in Mississippi, told the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission she intends to submit an application for a practicum pathway that would allow candidates to meet qualifying‑education and experience requirements through a structured curriculum and supervised hands‑on work.
Bond described the program as an AQB pathway that has existed since 2008 and said she developed her current practicum coursework with other national instructors in 2020. “This practicum pathway has already been established by AQB,” she told the commission, and “it is of course something that you will approve just as you approve CE.” Bond said the practicum mixes virtual sessions, in‑person fieldwork (including measuring houses and construction observation), and requires participants to complete 20 appraisal reports on their own before being approved to sit for a national exam.
Commissioners and staff treated the presentation as an informational briefing — no action was required at the meeting because the program had not yet been formally submitted as a Tennessee course application. Staff said Dr. Mark Sunderman will lead the agency’s initial review if and when a formal application arrives. Commissioners asked Bond to provide videos and materials used at industry conferences so the full commission could review them; Bond agreed to share video links and follow up by email.
Committee to review application: the commission agreed to create a three‑member committee to review Bond’s forthcoming application and to meet before the full commission meeting to vet materials and prepare questions. Staff said members of that ad hoc group will receive the application well in advance and that committee deliberations will be scheduled to comply with open‑meeting rules.
Provider footprint and logistics: Bond said her practicum has run four successful cohorts and is currently accepted by several states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi and West Virginia. She told commissioners she travels to states where students enroll and meets candidates at a central location for the in‑person portions. Bond said candidates in Tennessee have already expressed interest and that she plans to submit Tennessee’s application “shortly after this meeting.”
Next steps: staff will circulate Bond’s video materials to commissioners and will schedule the three‑member pre‑review committee meeting ahead of the next full commission meeting. If Bond files a formal application, the commission will review the materials and may request Bond attend a future meeting to answer questions.
Ending: Commissioners said they welcome more documentation and suggested that committee members coordinate with staff to ensure any concerns about course content, experience credit, or application completeness are identified and resolved before the full commission acts.
