ASFMRA AAC study guide
ASFMRA AAC · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC) designation is awarded by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) to rural professionals who advise farm and agribusiness clients on finance, business structure, personnel management, succession planning, and operational issues. AACs serve investors, non-operating landowners, farmers, and professional agribusinesses, and the designation signals training in premium consulting services delivered with honesty, fairness, and high ethical standards. Candidates reach the credential through one of three pathways: the normal path, the path for an existing Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), or the path for an existing Accredited Rural Appraiser (ALC). All pathways include coursework in Agricultural Consulting Principles (AAC1) and Agricultural Consulting Procedures (AAC2), the ASFMRA Best in Business Ethics course, approved electives, four years of agricultural consulting experience or equivalent, an approved four-year degree or equivalent, ASFMRA membership, work product submissions, and a comprehensive examination. The ASFMRA AAC study guide has 5 sections and about 1,615 words.
01Agricultural Consulting Principles (AAC1)
The AAC credential tests whether you can act as an independent advisor rather than an advocate for a particular input, lender, or family member. Core principles: objectivity, competence, confidentiality, and clear scope.
362 words, about 2 min02Agricultural Consulting Procedures (AAC2)
AAC2 covers the process : intake, data collection, analysis, verification, and reporting. Strong answers show a repeatable procedure rather than intuition.
314 words, about 2 min03ASFMRA Best in Business Ethics
Consulting rests on trust; the ethics domain asks whether you can recognize a pressure situation and choose the professionally defensible response. The ASFMRA standards emphasize honesty, integrity, objectivity, competence, confidentiality, and professional conduct toward clients, colleagues, and the public.
330 words, about 2 min04AAC Electives (Approved Consulting-Related Education)
Electives let candidates build depth in a specialty - appraisal, farm management, taxation, risk management, precision agriculture, or succession planning - while keeping the credential anchored in consulting practice. The committee approves coursework and professional education that is relevant and verifiable.
284 words, about 1 min05Consulting Report and Project Reports (Work Product Submission)
The work-product domain evaluates the written report you submit. Reviewers look for structure, transparency, traceability, and professional presentation - not just a correct conclusion.
325 words, about 2 min