Property valuer: a global profession with many faces

United States: USPAP and tiered licences

A profession regulated at federal and state level, with mandatory certifications under the USPAP standards (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice). Three levels: Trainee Appraiser, Licensed Residential Appraiser (residential property) and Certified General Appraiser (including commercial property).

United Kingdom: the RICS and the Red Book as the benchmark

Regulated by the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), with an international standard: the Red Book. Key qualifications: Chartered Surveyor (a protected title) and Registered Valuer (authorised to produce official valuations). There is no state licence, but the RICS is essential for any professional recognition.

France: flexible but structured regulation

No state regulation. The profession is framed by the CEIF (Chambre des Experts Immobiliers de France), the IFEI (Institut Français de l’Expertise Immobilière), the RICS and TEGoVA. There is no mandatory certification, but the French Property Valuation Charter sets out a methodological and ethical framework.

Germany: a dual model and HypZert certification

Two statuses: Sachverständiger (not sworn) and expert sworn in by the IHK. A recognised certification: HypZert, often required for bank valuations.

Switzerland: recognition through professional associations

No strict national regulation; recognition comes through bodies such as the USPI, the SVIT or the SIV. Membership of a recognised body ensures legitimacy and credibility.

Canada: provincial regulation and AIC standards

Regulation is managed by each province, with certifications issued by the Appraisal Institute of Canada. Two main designations: AACI (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute) and CRA (Canadian Residential Appraiser).

Spain: certification required for bank valuations

Strict regulation, notably through the Banco de España. Valuers are registered with approved sociedades de tasación. Reference standards: TEGoVA and RICS.

Italy: EVS and RICS standards applied

Regulated through ASSOVIB and TEGoVA. Reports follow the EVS (European Valuation Standards) or the Red Book.

Property valuation is becoming globalised, yet remains deeply tied to its national framework. The common ground: demanding technical standards (Red Book, USPAP, EVS), membership of recognised bodies, certified continuing professional development, and adherence to a strict code of ethics: impartiality, independence and professional indemnity insurance.

There is a gradual harmonisation of practice around shared frameworks: the Red Book (RICS), the REV designation (Recognised European Valuer, TEGoVA), and the European directives applicable to valuations in a banking or legal context. This convergence is driven by the rise of cross-border investment, the transparency demanded by financial institutions and the integration of ESG criteria into value analysis frameworks.

Why this is a strategic issue

Today, a property valuer is no longer merely an assessor of prices. They are a reliable point of reference for courts and banks, a participant in non-financial reporting (green value, energy performance certificate (DPE), climate resilience) and a professional embedded in financing, due diligence and asset management processes. Valuers who are not certified or recognised risk being progressively marginalised in the long run.

The future seems clear: an increasingly demanding market, valuations that are enforceable and digitised, protected and regulated titles, and a strong expectation of interoperable methods at European and international level. The property valuer will no longer be merely local: they will need to be legitimate globally.