Polish Valuers Help End European Certification
Six years ago The European Group of Valuers' Associations (TEGOVA), introduced a certification system for valuers in Europe under Euro Norm 45013. The reasoning was that clients, particulary mortgage lending banks were confused by the diversity of property valuation qualifications across Europe. In particular it was not clear which valuers were competent and experienced. In the interests of the harmonisation of valuer qualifications, certification as originally conceived and tested in Germany was seen as the answer. It had been expected that by now the market would have eliminated uncertified valuers.
However amongst the 40 valuers' associations of the 25 countries represented at TEGOVA only those of 3 countries (Germany (Hypzert), Czech Republic and Greece have subscribed to the system. Less than 1000 valuers out of an estimated total in Europe of 50 000 have been "certified". The system has been judged both a failure and unpopular amongst valuers in much of Europe.
The main problem has been the requirement that each valuer no matter how well qualified or experienced should sit a written examination. The system made no exceptions. For example members of the RICS or qualified Polish valuers would have had to resubmit themselves for examination.
Since the certification system was introduced the Polish Federation of Valuers' Associations (PFVA)representing over 3500 qualified valuers had sought to change the system in a way that would recognise the Polish qualification. Such pleas fell on deaf ears until a year ago when the PFVA tabled a formal motion at Tegova's General Assembly in Madrid, seeking once more to change the system, to make it respect existing valuer qualifications. This time, most delegates supported the Poles and set up a working party to review and modify the now discredited system.
The discontent was again evident at the last General Assembly of Tegova in Vienna on 12 November 2005. By a majority vote it was agreed that the "approved by Tegova" certification system should be withdrawn by January 2007.
In place of certification, the Tegova working party proposed a more flexible "Recognition of Professional Valuation Practice". The latter met with the overwhelming approval of the General Assembly. In the case of those valuers who have obtained a university degree or post graduate diploma or degree considered relevant to asset valuation, the proposal is that after 2 years proven post qualification valuation experience and compliance with other simple criteria concerning "life long learning" and the adherance to an ethical code of practice, they should be able to apply to their national association for "Recognition" endorsed by Tegova. Such endorsement would be renewable every 5 years.
Chris Grzesik, a member of the Tegova working party, who together with PFVA President, Professor Andrzej Hopfer, attended the meeting said "This is a victory for Polish valuers. The Polish Federation has fought long and hard to change the certification system because it failed to recognise the high standing of the Polish valuers' qualification. Now it has been scrapped altogether, welcome news not only to Polish valuers but to thousands of others including also RICS members. Clients will no longer be misled into choosing valuers on the basis of unfair competative branding which is what the certification system had come to represent".