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The American Society of Appraisers and the Designation of
Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation


November 2025

The America Society of Appraisers, otherwise known as ASA, has its roots going back to The American Society of Technical Appraisers (ASTA) and the Technical Valuation Society (TVS), which were organized in 1936 and 1939, respectively.  In 1952 they were consolidated creating ASA.  

ASA is a multi-discipline, non-profit, international organization of professional appraisers representing all appraisal disciplines: Appraisal Review & Management, Business Valuation (BV), Gems & Jewelry, Machinery & Technical Specialties, Personal Property and Real Property. 

The term business valuation was utilized by individual appraisers prior to 1981; however, the term was not adopted by ASA until that time.  ASA’s 1981 International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, was the first such conference offering business valuation topics on the educational program.  

The steps in obtaining the ASA accreditation in business valuation are to:

1. Pass the four Principles of Valuation (POV) courses in Business Valuation (BV201-BV204), pass the BV 8-hour Challenge Exam, or have an accepted equivalency;

2. Complete the online accreditation application;

3. Pay the online accreditation application fee;

4. Upload a copy of your college degree or transcript, or if eligible, upload the College Degree equivalency Form;

5. Upload an appraisal experience or a letter from an ASA or supervisor stating you have the requisite five years of full-time appraisal experience;

6. Upload one Comprehensive Written Business Valuation Report that has been issued in the last two (2) years; and

7. Upload a completed ASA Candidate BV Report Review Checklist to accompany your appraisal report. 

It should be noted that ASA’s Business Valuation credentials are the only professional accreditations that comply with USPAP, and ASA is the only professional valuation organization offering a specialty credential in Intangible Assets. 

More detailed information can be obtained at the website of www.appraisers.org.  




Relevant Court Cases

  • Ferrara v. Ferrara, U.S. District Court of Minnesota, No. 25-cv-2142, dated October 30, 2025

  • Maryland Indoor Play, LLC et al. v. Snowden Investment LLC, Supreme Court of Maryland, No. 29, opinion filed July 1, 2025



Recent Business Valuation Articles

  • “Excessive Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Makes Earnings of S&P 500 Portfolios Questionable,” by Darrol J. Stanley and Michael D. Kinsman, dated October 22, 2025

  • “Valuation Models,” by Francesca Bastianello, Paul H. Decaire and Marius Guenzel, dated November 18, 2025



Recent Engagements

  • Valuation of a minority interest in a limited partnership primarily invested in alternative investments for gift tax reporting purposes.

  • Valuation of 100% of the member interests of a metal processing company on a controlling interest basis for potential purchase/sale purposes.

  • Valuation of the common stock of a bank holding company on a minority interest basis for estate tax reporting purposes.

  • Valuation of the common stock of an investment holding company and an equipment leasing company on a minority interest basis for redemption purposes.

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