The Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board administers the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act (Appraisal Act). This act regulates the actions of real estate appraisers in their business dealings with the public. Generally, the act requires appraisers to meet certain standards in order to conduct business and prohibits a wide variety of unfair trade practices.

As a regulatory body, the role of the Board is not to protect the industry or profession which it regulates nor to protect consumers. It is not the role of regulators to be advocates for either a profession or consumers. Instead, the role of regulators is to protect the public interest.

Protecting the public interest means assuring each and every individual’s right to justice and equal opportunity. Regulators protect the public interest when they deny the right to practice to the incompetent and unscrupulous. Regulators protect the public interest when they eliminate barriers that unreasonably limit entry into a field of practice. Regulators protect the public interest when they refuse to use licensing or registration laws to settle private disputes. Regulators protect the public interest when they refuse to use licensing or registration laws to advance the interest of private trade associations. Regulators protect the public interest when they encourage free and open markets. Therefore, the public interest demands that regulators use their best efforts to achieve impartiality.