Blog written by Dr. Randy Flowers President, Operations RSDS
In the last article, Mentorship or Competition? The Future of Valuation Training, I explored the supervisor-trainee model and how it can work when firms invest up front, codify knowledge and shift the mentor’s mindset from competition to collaboration. But the supervisor-trainee path isn’t the only model worth considering.
The practicum model, developed by The Appraisal Foundation, offers a structured alternative for aspiring appraisers to fulfill experience requirements. Instead of relying on the uneven dynamics of mentorship, practicums create a consistent, scalable system where trainees can gain real-world experience in a controlled instructional setting.
Here’s what sets the practicum apart:
Structured Experience – A formalized, approved course that counts as experience credit, not additional education.
Real-World Application – Trainees complete pre-approved appraisal assignments, applying what they’ve learned in qualifying education.
Supervised Environment – Led by qualified instructors who provide oversight and feedback without the competitive tension of the traditional model.
Alternative Pathway – Opens a new track for those who can’t secure-or don’t want-a supervisor relationship.
Controlled Access – Designed to expand opportunity while maintaining rigorous oversight.
I have integrated this model into RSDS’s training ecosystem, offering three entry routes for aspiring appraisers:
Cash – Directly fund practicum enrollment.
RSDS Sponsorship – The firm underwrites the training investment.
External Funding – Through initiatives like the Appraiser Diversity Initiative, lender sponsorships, or workforce development grants.
While the supervisor-trainee model creates collaboration through commitment, the practicum model creates access through structure. Together, they illustrate that the future of valuation training doesn’t have to be either/or-it can be both/and. If the first step is rethinking mentorship, the second is scaling access through practicums.
The industry has a choice: cling to tradition or embrace pathways that expand the bench. With both models on the table, the question isn’t whether we can train the next generation-it’s whether we’ll have the courage to build the systems that make it possible.