Governing Documents

This Administrative Rules/Board Procedures Manual (AR/BPM) supplements the Constitution, Bylaws, and the Governance Policy Manual of the Society and shall serve as an explanation and implementation of procedures for the board of governors.

The original Articles/Certification of Incorporation for the American Society of Appraisers.

ASA's Bylaws serve as the rules adopted by the board of governors to govern its internal and external operations.

ASA Constitution

PREAMBLE: To the end that a wholesome and exemplary relationship be maintained between this Society and the general public that its members serve; among the chapters, boards, and committees of the Society; and between the Society and its individual members, for the common good of every interest concerned, the constitution and bylaws are established.

ASA's Board of Governors established these Organizational Structure and Rules of Procedure for all discipline committees with the intention of having  a single uniform set of rules that will be consistent for each of ASA's appraisal discipline committees.  

This Governance Policy Manual supplements the Constitution, Bylaws and the Administrative Rules/Board Procedures Manual (AR/BPM) of the American Society of Appraisers (“Society”) and shall serve as an explanation and implementation of policies for the board of governors. 

ASA's Investment Policy Statement outlines the goals and investment objectives for ASA and is intended to provide investment guidelines for managing ASA’s portfolio.

ASA's Operations Procedures Manual supplements the Constitution, Bylaws and the Governance Policy Manual of the Society and shall serve as an explanation and implementation of procedures for the CEO and operations of the Society. 

ASA's Principles of Appraisal Practice and Code of Ethics are promulgated to: 

  • Inform those who use the services of appraisers what constitutes competent and ethical appraisal practice; 
  • Serve as a guide to its own members in achieving competency in appraisal practice and in adhering to ethical standards; 
  • Aid in the accomplishment of the mandate of the Society, which includes:  
  1. Fostering appraisal education, 
  2. Improvement and development of appraisal techniques, 
  3. Encouragement of sound professional practices.  
  4. Establishment of criteria of sound performance for use of employers of staff appraisers, 
  5. Enforcement of ethical conduct and practice by its members; 
  • Provide means, auxiliary to those used in examining applicants for admission to the grades of Member, Senior Member, and Fellow of the Society, for judging their skill, competence, and understanding of ethical principles; 
  • Epitomize those appraisal practices that experience has found to be effective in protecting the public against exploitation. 

Amendment: 
In January 2026, ASA's Board of Governors amended the Principles of Appraisal Practice and Code of Ethics to: 

(1) Sections 7.4 and 8.1: clarify expectations on appraiser signatures on appraisal reports - regardless of the standard(s) followed, the report must contain a signature from the appraiser who performed the appraisal. 

(2) Section 9: add language to provide examples and clarification on "unprofessional conduct."