Where can one learn about becoming an antiques appraiser?
I would think the school he was referring to was probably the Asheford Institute of Antiques.
There are a number or ways you go about becoming an appraiser of antiques. From owning your own antique business and adding the term "appraiser" to your list of credentials, to simply creating a business card with your information on it… However, this will likely not net you any customers or clients these days, since almost all professional appraisers are now backed by an association or school that certifies their abilities and credentials to appraise antiques. In the past antique dealers were the obvious choice to conduct appraisals, but institutions such as the IRS, insurance companies, legal firms etc., are now requiring that the appraisers they hire have some form of "provable" qualifications to do the job. Schools such as the aforementioned, Asheford Institute of Antiques, teach these qualifications, as well as teaching about antiques. They likely have a certification process of some kind that demonstrates to organizations such as the IRS and insurance companies, etc., that their graduates are competent and trained in the field they represent (I am not speaking from any personal experience with Asheford, nor any other school for that matter), but I am aware of many of the principles and standards by which these schools operate from. So, if you’re looking for places to find out about how to become an antiques appraiser, I’d start with one of these schools, look at their curriculum, and see if it’s something that suits what you’re looking for. Also, do a "search" for each school – Google it – see what comes up and try and get some independent reviews for each of them. This should at least get you going in the right direction…
