USPAP
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice — Ethics & Competency Rules, Scope of Work, Standards 1 & 2, valuation bias, and fair housing.
Learn this first — free lessons on USPAP & Standards
- Standards 1 & 2~13 min
- The Ethics Rule~11 min
- Competency & Scope of Work~11 min
- Hypotheticals & Extraordinary Assumptions~11 min
- Workfiles & Appraisal Review~10 min
About USPAP on the Appraiser Exam
Under the 2026 AQB content outline, USPAP accounts for 21.8% of the Licensed Residential exam, 18.2% of Certified Residential, and 17.3% of Certified General. This section covers uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice — Ethics & Competency Rules, Scope of Work, Standards 1 & 2, valuation bias, and fair housing. Below you will find 200 free practice questions with detailed explanations to help you master this topic and pass your level's exam on the first attempt. The exam reports a scaled score; 75 is the passing scaled score and does NOT equal a raw 75% on practice questions. Scaled scoring adjusts for form difficulty.
Practice Questions
An appraiser signs, finalizes and electronically transmits a residential appraisal report to the client on March 15. Its value opinion has a March 1 effective date. The client does not open the transmitted report until March 20. What is the report date?
MEDIUMThe Dodd-Frank Act's appraisal provisions primarily focus on:
MEDIUMAccording to AQB criteria, what is the minimum number of classroom hours of qualifying education required for a Certified Residential appraiser?
EASYAfter delivering a $485,000 URAR, an appraiser discovers a previously undisclosed $15,000 seller repair credit on a comparable sale that may materially change the analysis. What is the most appropriate response?
HARDUnder USPAP, what are assignment results?
MEDIUMThe certification required by Standards Rule 2-3 must be signed by:
MEDIUMAn extraordinary assumption was reasonably supported, properly used and disclosed in an appraisal report. Later, the assumed information is found to be false. Which conclusion is best supported?
HARDUnder 2024 USPAP, which statement correctly combines the requirements for an oral real property appraisal report and its workfile?
MEDIUMMay an appraiser use a hypothetical condition in any assignment?
HARDAn appraiser accepts an assignment involving a property type the appraiser has valued once before, years ago. Competency requires:
MEDIUMThe special appraisal requirements in Regulation Z §1026.35(c), adopted under Dodd-Frank, concern which covered mortgage category?
MEDIUMA Certified General appraiser is asked to value a specialized industrial property for the first time. The appraiser knows a competency gap exists before agreeing to the assignment. What is required if the appraiser proceeds?
MEDIUMA state appraiser regulatory agency is reviewing an appraiser's continuing education compliance. The appraiser completed 28 hours of continuing education in the current two-year period, including 5 hours of USPAP update training. Does this meet AQB requirements?
HARDUnder 2024 USPAP Standard 1, which listed assignment element must be identified in developing a real property appraisal?
MEDIUMAn appraisal has a current effective date and permits an extraordinary assumption if its requirements are met. Which situation involves uncertain information rather than a fact known to be contrary to reality on that date?
HARDAccording to USPAP Standard 2, which of the following is NOT a required element in an appraisal report?
MEDIUMAn appraiser provided an appraisal of the same property for another client 18 months ago. No confidentiality obligation prevents disclosing the fact of that service. Before agreeing to a new assignment, the appraiser must:
MEDIUMAccording to USPAP, what is the primary purpose of the Ethics Rule?
EASYWhy must a report identify any real property interest that is being excluded from the value opinion?
MEDIUMA client asks an appraiser to raise a completed report’s value conclusion by $15,000 solely to match the contract price, without providing new evidence. What should the appraiser do?
MEDIUMAn appraiser is asked to determine 'fair market value' for an assignment. According to USPAP, the appraiser should:
MEDIUMWhich list gives the sections of the 2024 USPAP Ethics Rule?
MEDIUMA reviewer uses an unfamiliar analytical technique in developing an appraisal review. What does SR 3-1 require?
MEDIUMUnder 2024 USPAP DEFINITIONS, Extraordinary Assumption is commonly understood in appraisal practice as:
MEDIUMA comparable-sale grid includes a $5,000 bathroom adjustment. Which treatment best supports clear appraisal reporting?
MEDIUMAn appraiser knows, before agreeing to a new assignment, that the appraiser provided property-management services regarding the subject two years earlier. Assuming no prohibition on disclosing that prior service, what is required?
HARDAn applicable state law actually precludes compliance with a specific USPAP reporting provision for an assignment. No federal USPAP requirement prevents that provision from being voided. Under the USPAP 2024 JURISDICTIONAL EXCEPTION RULE, what must the appraiser do?
MEDIUMAssume a federally regulated bank makes a $180,000 one-to-four-family residential refinance, no special exemption override or stricter loan-program rule applies, and the regulatory transaction value is $180,000. Under the federal banking-agency appraisal threshold, what may the bank generally obtain?
MEDIUMA real-property appraisal contains several individually small errors whose combined effect materially undermines its credibility. Which statement best reflects SR 1-1?
MEDIUMAn Appraisal Report under Standard 2 must contain:
MEDIUMAn unauthorized third party requests a lender-client’s report. No due-process or other permitted disclosure exception applies. How should the appraiser respond?
MEDIUMAn Appraisal Report states that it develops market value but gives neither the applicable definition nor its source. Which correction addresses the missing content?
MEDIUMAn appraiser proposes to assume there are no hidden defects. Which fact would characterize that assumption as extraordinary under the USPAP 2024 definition, rather than justify dismissing it as routine boilerplate?
MEDIUMAn appraiser uses a supported extraordinary assumption about uncertain information. Which statement about communicating it is correct?
MEDIUMIn a market-value appraisal, the subject is under a current agreement of sale at $500,000 with $15,000 in seller credits, and the agreement is available in the normal course of business. What does SR 1-5(a) require?
EASYA reviewer asks why a report used three comps rather than six. The Standard 2 answer is that a report must contain:
MEDIUMUnder a free paraphrase of the USPAP DEFINITIONS, which statement best describes appraisal practice?
MEDIUMAssignment conditions include all of the following except:
HARDAn appraiser may not advertise in a manner that is:
EASYWhat is the relationship between exposure time and the definition of market value used?
HARDA written real-property appraisal report uses a hypothetical condition but does not disclose it in the report. Under USPAP 2024 Standards Rules 2-1(c) and 2-2, what is the result?
EASYAn initial narrow comparable-sale search yields insufficient evidence, and other approaches are not applicable. Further suitable market research is feasible. What is the most appropriate next step toward credible completion?
HARDStandards Rule 1-6 addresses the appraiser's obligation to:
HARDUnder a free paraphrase of the USPAP DEFINITIONS, which statement best describes credible?
MEDIUMUnder Standard 1, when must an appraiser develop the cost approach?
MEDIUMAn assignment requires a certification form that omits some SR 2-3 certification elements. What must the appraisal report contain?
MEDIUMUnder the Conduct section of the USPAP Ethics Rule, which act is prohibited?
MEDIUMIn an Appraisal Report for a 30-year-old residential property, the appraiser did not develop the cost approach. What should the report do?
MEDIUMA reviewer is engaged today to evaluate the quality of an appraisal with a prior effective date. What must the reviewer identify in defining the review problem?
MEDIUMAdvisory Opinions issued by the Appraisal Standards Board:
EASY+ 150 more questions
Other Appraiser Exam Topics
Real Estate Market
Up to 20% of exam
Property Description
Up to 11.8% of exam
Land or Site Valuation
Up to 4.5% of exam
Sales Comparison Approach
Up to 25.4% of exam
Cost Approach
Up to 13.6% of exam
Income Approach
Up to 19.1% of exam
Reconciliation
Up to 4.5% of exam
Emerging Appraisal Methods
Up to 4.5% of exam
Appraisal Statistical Methods
Up to 4.5% of exam
- •Master the three approaches to value (sales comparison, cost, income) and know when each applies
- •Understand USPAP requirements thoroughly — Ethics Rule, Competency Rule, Scope of Work, and Standards 1 & 2 are heavily tested
- •Practice math problems including capitalization rates, GRM, adjustments, and depreciation calculations — a financial calculator is allowed (see calculator policy)
- •Review wrong answers and their explanations — understanding why an answer is incorrect is as valuable as knowing the right one
- •Allocate study time based on your level's topic weight — USPAP is 21.8% on LR, 18.2% on CR, and 17.3% on CG
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions cover USPAP on the appraiser exam?
Under the 2026 AQB outline, USPAP weight varies by license level: Licensed Residential 24 questions (21.8%), Certified Residential 20 questions (18.2%), Certified General 19 questions (17.3%). Each exam has 110 scored questions in total.
What is tested in USPAP on the appraiser exam?
USPAP covers uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice — Ethics & Competency Rules, Scope of Work, Standards 1 & 2, valuation bias, and fair housing. Questions test both theoretical knowledge and practical application of appraisal concepts.
How should I study for USPAP?
Start by reviewing the key concepts and terminology, then practice with scenario-based questions. EstatePass offers 200 free practice questions for USPAP with detailed explanations. Focus on understanding the reasoning behind each answer, not just memorizing facts.
Which license level weighs USPAP most heavily?
Licensed Residential leans on USPAP most heavily at 21.8% of scored questions. Certified Residential is 18.2% and Certified General is 17.3%.
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