(c) Every applicant to the board as a state-registered appraiser, registered apprentice appraiser, state-licensed appraiser, or state-certified appraiser shall have the following qualifications:

1. (1) The applicant shall have a good reputation for honesty, truthfulness, and fair dealing and be competent to transact the business of a registered, licensed, or certified appraiser in such a manner as to safeguard the interest of the public;
2. (2) The applicant shall meet the current educational and experience requirements for licensing and certification detailed in this part prior to the time he or she applies to sit for the licensing or certification exam;
3. (3) The applicant shall not have pled guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of any offense under Arkansas Code § 17-3-102 and comply with the criminal background check requirements as listed below; and
4. (4) The applicant shall be at least eighteen (18) years old and shall have received a high school diploma or its equivalent.

(e)

1. (1) All applications for registration, licensing, certification, renewal, examination, transfer, or reinstatement shall be made on forms provided by the board and completed and signed by the applicant.
2. (2) The application may require the signature acknowledged before a notary public.
3. (3) All applications shall include the appropriate fees.
4. (4) The board will not consider an application which is incomplete or with which the correct fees have not been submitted.

(f) All applicants for registration, licensing, and certification must sign an affidavit attesting to having read and understood the:

1. (1) Current edition of USPAP;
2. (2) Applicable state laws; and
3. (3) Rules governing appraisal practice in Arkansas.

(h) Criminal background checks.

1. (1) Background check required.

   1. (A) All applicants for an appraiser credential, except for temporary practice permit, shall apply for state and national fingerprint-based criminal background checks, using forms furnished by and pursuant to instructions provided by the board.
   2. (B) Each new applicant shall authorize the release of criminal background check reports to the board and may pay any applicable fees associated with the state and federal criminal background checks pursuant to the written instructions provided by the board.
   3. (C) A new state and federal criminal background check are required each time an appraiser applies to upgrade his or her credential type.

2. (2) Application procedure.

   1. (A) When an applicant applies for his or her appraiser credential or an existing credential holder applies to upgrade his or her credential type, and the board receives the appropriate application form and check for his or her application or upgrade fee, the board staff will provide the applicant with instructions to obtain his or her background check.
   2. (B) If the applicant does not have a criminal history, agency personnel will issue his or her appraiser credential when all other requirements are fulfilled.
   3. (C)

(i) It is the policy of the board not to provide a copy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record to the applicant.

1. (ii) The applicant may obtain a copy of the record by submitting fingerprints and a fee to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

   1. (iii) Information regarding this process may be obtained on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website.

   2. (D) Each applicant with a disqualifying conviction who requests a waiver may:

      1. (i) Appear before the board; or
      2. (ii) Choose to allow the board to make a determination on the request for a waiver based on the file documentation obtained by the board and that submitted by the applicant.
   3. (E) Waiver requests for a disqualifying conviction may be made in accordance with 17 CAR § 200-103(e).