ASFMRA AAC

The exam tests the consulting body of knowledge built through Agricultural Consulting Principles (AAC1) and Agricultural Consulting Procedures (AAC2), the 24-hour core courses, plus the ethics content from ASFMRA Best in Business Ethics. Elective coursework in finance, investment analysis, lease terms, and land real estate supports the same material. Expect questions on client service, business operations, and professional standards rather than pure valuation math.

The designation requires 92 total hours: Agricultural Consulting Principles (24 hours), Agricultural Consulting Procedures (24 hours), ASFMRA Best in Business Ethics (2 hours), and AAC Electives (40 hours). Approved electives include NCREIF and RLI courses, but applicants may propose other education for committee review and approval. Existing AFMs follow a modified pathway with additional consulting education hours.

ASFMRA does not publish a fixed timeline. Realistically, the 92 required education hours, four years of qualifying consulting experience, membership, and the report submissions set the pace. Candidates should submit any equivalent education for review very early in the process so ASFMRA can determine whether it qualifies before the rest of the file is assembled.

You submit two project reports and one consulting report as prescribed by ASFMRA. The consulting report is the more substantial document and should demonstrate the analytical and client-service skills taught in the principles and procedures courses. Build these reports from real client engagements where possible, since they are reviewed as evidence of applied consulting competence.

Existing AFMs attend Agricultural Consulting Procedures, pass the comprehensive exam, submit four years of work experience, prove an additional 40 hours of consulting education, and submit two project reports plus a consulting report. Existing ALCs attend both Agricultural Consulting Principles and Procedures, pass the exam, submit four years of experience, and submit the same reports. The normal path adds the full elective requirement.

The exam is comprehensive, so difficulty comes from breadth rather than trick questions. Common failure modes are treating the elective hours as box-checking instead of learning the material, delaying the consulting report until after the exam, and submitting equivalent education late so it cannot be approved in time. Sequence the core courses first and draft reports while the coursework is fresh.

Take Agricultural Consulting Principles before Procedures, because the second course assumes the analytical framework from the first. Complete Best in Business Ethics early since it is short and its content appears throughout the exam. Then spread electives across finance, investment analysis, and land topics, and review notes from all courses in the weeks before sitting for the exam.

Submit your application and Consulting Plan to [email protected]. Deanna Ilk assists candidates with questions at [email protected] or (303) 692-1222. The AAC Checklist, AAC Application, Experience Log, Consulting Plan, and Grading Sheet are listed as helpful links on the AAC page, and the accreditation calendar shows upcoming dates.

Yes. ASFMRA membership is required prior to submitting an application for accreditation, so join or renew before you file. Membership also gives you access to the education calendar, on-demand courses, chapter meetings, and the networking community that candidates use to find mentors and build the experience hours the designation requires.

Yes, with approval. ASFMRA states that the applicant can use other education for the elective requirement and that the committee will review and approve applicable elective education. Submit that outside coursework for review very early in the accreditation process so a determination is made before you rely on those hours.