Book 4 - Appraisal Institute of Canada

RC E OeportAIC Candidatesare the futureof the professionGeorges Lozano, MPAAIC Chief Executive Officernstitute members have beenimpacted by a significant numberof program and policy changes inrecent years and none more sothan Candidate members. Candidatesrepresent some 40% the membershipand, in the last two years, more than700 Candidates have been added to theInstitute’s roster of members. These newCandidates tend to be younger and assuch, are affecting the demographics ofthe Institute in a very positive way.It has been almost one year since theCandidate policy came into effect andalready we can discern marked differencesin the profile of the new Candidatesin comparison to the previous.First of all, the new group of Candidatesis joining the Institute with a differentunderstanding of the profession andthe career path that it provides. Theyhave been attracted by the profession’sinternational stature and recognition aswell as by its open-endedness and themany specialties and practice areas thatit covers.Given the significantly morestringent requirements to becomea Candidate and, subsequently, toobtain a professional designation,these new Candidates expect a lotof hard work and are prepared tomeet this challenge in expectation ofthe rewards that an AIC designationpromises. Many of these Candidateshave strong educational backgroundsincluding undergraduate degrees andother post secondary studies, givingthem the broad knowledge base thatwill serve them well as multidisciplinaryprofessionals. It is interesting to notethat the gender balance of this newgroup of Candidates is significantlydifferent from the previous, withalmost 40% of them being women, incomparison with the less than 30% ofmembership that women represented inprevious years.Perhaps the greatest differencebetween the new Candidates andthe preceding generation may be theexpectations that they have with respectto their chosen areas of work. Whileapproximately two thirds of AIC membershave been identified as appraisers whodo point in time estimates of value oncommercial and residential properties,one third of the membership is involvedin other aspects of valuation, bothin private practice and as employeeswithin the private and public sectors.Anecdotal evidence suggests that theproportion of new Candidates interestedin non-traditional areas of the professionis growing. This is evidenced by theincreasing membership in the non-feesector and the many specialty areas thatare emerging.As highly qualified professionals,AIC’s future designated members maychoose to work in a wide range ofappraisal related jobs in addition todoing appraisals on ICI and residentialproperties. Increasing numbers will steertowards top management positionswithin real estate related public andprivate sector organizations. Others willdevelop practices that serve specialtyreal property market niches and offerconsulting and advisory services therein.The well‐received We Value Canadaseminar that all Candidates must takeincludes a section where they developcareer plans and professional goals. Itsuggests that the profession is aboutto expand into many new areas of realproperty advisory services and thatappraisers will increasingly be at theforefront of all areas where real propertyvaluation expertise is required.10C a n a d i a nAppraiserVolume 51 • book 4 • 2007EvaluateurC a n a d i e n