American Society of Appraisers

American Society of Appraisers
source
Name	American Society of Appraisers
Abbreviation	ASA
Formation	1936
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	International
Membership	Appraisal professionals

American Society of Appraisers is a multinational professional association for personal property, business valuation, machinery and technical specialties, and real property appraisal professionals. Founded in 1936, the organization provides credentialing, education, and standards development for practitioners who perform valuation and appraisal services for clients such as corporations, law firms, courts, and government agencies. The society interacts with regulatory bodies, trade groups, and academic institutions to shape valuation practice and supports members through publications, conferences, and advocacy initiatives in markets across North America, Europe, and Asia.

History

The society's origins in 1936 reflect developments in valuation practice alongside institutions like Federal Reserve System, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Internal Revenue Service which influenced appraisal demand. Early leadership included practitioners who had ties to firms involved with New York Stock Exchange listings and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants engagements. During the mid-20th century, interactions with entities such as Department of Justice antitrust divisions and United States Tax Court cases drove expansion of credentialing. Postwar changes paralleled growth in industrial asset valuation tied to companies like General Electric and Boeing, while later regulatory shifts involving Sarbanes-Oxley Act and standards discussions with organizations such as International Valuation Standards Council shaped professional practice. In recent decades, technological change influenced the society's focus, and the group engaged with regulators including Financial Accounting Standards Board and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board on matters affecting valuation reporting.

Organization and Membership

The society is governed by a volunteer board and regional chapters that liaise with national and international affiliates including chambers and professional bodies like Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Appraisal Institute, and Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators. Membership categories encompass credentialed appraisers, candidates, and associate members drawn from firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and boutique valuation practices advising clients like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. Chapters coordinate continuing education with universities and schools such as Columbia University, University of Chicago, and London School of Economics and collaborate with legal practitioners from firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and advocacy groups including American Bar Association committees on valuation and damages.

Certification and Education

Credentialing pathways require coursework, examinations, and demonstrated experience tied to credentialing frameworks resembling those of Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant programs. Educational offerings include preparatory seminars referencing methodologies used in precedents from United States Court of Appeals opinions and applied techniques used by valuation groups at Ernst & Young and McKinsey & Company. Accredited designations involve study of appraisal literature including treatises by authors linked to institutions like Harvard Business School and materials that intersect with accounting pronouncements by International Accounting Standards Board. The society maintains peer-review and mentorship programs modeled after professional societies such as Institute of Management Accountants and Society for Human Resource Management.

Professional Standards and Ethics

The society promulgates standards and a code of ethics to align practitioner conduct with expectations of adjudicative bodies like United States District Court and regulatory agencies including Securities and Exchange Commission. These standards reference valuation approaches discussed in guidance from Financial Accounting Standards Board and harmonize with international frameworks promoted by International Valuation Standards Council and multinational policy forums such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Ethical policies address conflicts of interest similar to rules enforced by American Bar Association and professional liability scenarios litigated in venues like United States Bankruptcy Court.

Specialty Disciplines

The organization covers specialties including business valuation, machinery and technical specialties, personal property, and real estate, paralleling expertise areas found in firms advising Fortune 500 corporations and specialist consultancies that work with industry leaders such as Ford Motor Company and ExxonMobil. Disciplines address valuation for mergers and acquisitions influenced by transactions involving AT&T and Verizon Communications, intellectual property matters aligned with precedents from United States Patent and Trademark Office, and complex asset classes relevant to financial institutions like Bank of America. Specialty practice integrates methods used in sectors represented by National Association of Realtors disputes and corporate restructuring contexts before United States Bankruptcy Court panels.

Advocacy and Industry Relations

The society engages in advocacy and stakeholder outreach with legislative and regulatory organizations including United States Congress committees, Securities and Exchange Commission, and accounting standard setters such as Financial Accounting Standards Board. It partners with industry groups like Chamber of Commerce, professional organizations including Appraisal Institute, and academic research programs at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology to inform policy debates on valuation issues. Through comment letters, expert testimony, and liaison roles, the society contributes to rulemaking discussions affecting taxation, financial reporting, insolvency, and transactional practice overseen by entities like Internal Revenue Service and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Publications and Conferences

The society publishes journals, newsletters, and technical papers disseminated to practitioners and stakeholders, resembling periodicals produced by organizations such as Journal of Accountancy and Harvard Business Review in format. Annual conferences and specialty symposiums draw speakers from universities like Stanford University and regulatory agencies including Securities and Exchange Commission, and attract exhibitors from professional services firms such as Ernst & Young and technology vendors that serve valuation professionals. Educational webinars and regional meetings provide continuing professional education credits recognized by credentialing boards and allied institutions such as American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Category:Professional associations of the United States