In response to the savings and loan crisis, Congress adopted Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act in 1989, necessitating state-level licensure for real estate appraisers. As a result, the West Virginia Legislature established the West Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board (WVREALCB) in 1990. This board was established and mandated to develop and implement the West Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act (Chapter 30, Article 38 of the Code of West Virginia). In 2014, the Legislature further solidified the WVREALCB's authority with the Appraisal Management Companies Registration Act (Chapter 30, Article 38A), enforced by the WVREALCB.
Our board is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The members include four real estate appraisers, two members from financial institutions, two public members, and one representative from an Appraisal Management Company. Except for the latter, all members must be West Virginia citizens.
The WVREALCB operates solely on fees from licensees, not taxpayer dollars. We safeguard the public interest by ensuring that real estate appraisal service consumers meet fully qualified and competent appraisers. We achieve this through licensing, education, and enforcement of strict state and federal regulations.