How do I find an appraiser for antiques or collectibles?

Federal law requires a state license only for real estate appraisers working on federally related transactions; no such requirement covers personal property appraisers. Because antiques and collectibles appraisers do not appear on the Appraisal Subcommittee's Appraiser Registry, the practical route is professional associations, which set their own voluntary qualification criteria for personal property appraisers. The Appraisal Foundation's criteria for personal property apply only to members of its partner organizations.