Code of Ethics & Professional Standards
The principles every AUA-certified appraiser and umpire agrees to follow.
All AUA-certified members are bound by the AUA Code of Ethics, which governs professional conduct, client relationships, conflicts of interest and reporting obligations. Its core principles are integrity and honesty, client confidentiality, impartiality and fairness, continuing education, professional conduct, and transparency in reporting.
Core principles
- Integrity and honesty
- Represent facts, qualifications and credentials truthfully, and never misstate the amount of loss or the evidence behind it.
- Impartiality and fairness
- Base positions and awards on the evidence and the policy, not on who made the appointment or how the fee is paid. Umpires must remain neutral toward both sides.
- Conflicts of interest
- Disclose any financial, business or personal relationship that could affect, or appear to affect, your independence, and decline or withdraw when required.
- Client confidentiality
- Protect confidential claim, personal and business information and use it only for the appraisal.
- Competence and continuing education
- Accept only assignments you are qualified to perform and keep your knowledge current through continuing education.
- Transparency in reporting
- Document scope, pricing, methods and reasoning so that the other appraiser, the umpire and the parties can understand how amounts were reached.
- Professional conduct
- Communicate respectfully and promptly, respect the appraisal process and deadlines, and use AUA marks only while your credential is current.
Standards documents
The AUA Standards of Practice and the AUA Code of Ethics are available as free downloads in the AUA resource library.
Accountability
Keeping to the Code of Ethics is a condition of AUA certification. Misuse of AUA marks or violations of the Code may lead to suspension or revocation under AUA procedures. To raise a concern, contact AUA.
AUA certification does not replace state licensing requirements. Where a state licenses appraisers or umpires, its statutes and regulations also govern conduct.