COLLEGE HISTORY

Why a College for Appraisers?
We've been around since 1980. The College grew out of separate seminars that Dr. David Long developed for local antiques dealers and collectors who were frustrated by the enormous amount of information they needed to acquire, and especially were frustrated by the lack of any clear, ethical standards for appraisers.

The frustrated appraisers wanted to be ethical and knowledgeable, but their desire to be both was hampered by a fundamental problem. Education about antiques and collectibles simply did not exist. There was so much to learn and there were so few complete and trustworthy resources from which to learn.

Aside from the local library, there was no place for them to go to learn enough about the many different kinds of antiques and collectibles to do their job right. Many people learned "by word of mouth" from local dealers and collectors. Some did offer seminars, but there was no way to know if the teachers of the seminars actually knew what the heck they were talking about.

Dr. David Long, a gemologist and leading appraiser, recognized the need for a school that specialized in appraising with an emphasis on antiques. The original program for the College For Appraisers grew out of seminars he developed for local dealers. The seminars evolved into courses and the courses into a curriculum. The College For Appraisers opened for business in 1980.

We have been a leader in this field ever since.

In 1982 the college was instrumental in the founding of a new professional association specifically for personal property appraising, the Appraisers National Association (ANA).

1988 the College developed an extension curriculum for California State University, Long Beach.

In 1992 the HomeStudy Program began.

By 1997 the curriculum had expanded beyond antiques appraising to include certificates in Fine Arts, Collectibles, Gemology and Business.

CFA now awards an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree recognized by the California Bureau of Pirvate, Postsecondary and Vocational Education. This makes the CFA the only school we know of in the entire world that offers an academic degree in antiques appraisal.

In 2003, the CFA was acquired by Dr. Ellen Antler, President and Walter Miller, CEO.  The college relocated from its original home in Placentia, CA to its new location in Cypress, CA.  Dr. Long passed away in 2004. 

Our dedicated faculty is made up of certified appraisers and collectors who are expert in their fields and work in the areas they teach.

The College For Appraisers welcomes diversity among students and staff and we provide equal opportunity employment and education.