AALP

Accreditation Overview

The ever-changing face of agribusiness poses increasing challenges for lenders, appraisers, farm managers and ag consultants. Coping with these challenges brings opportunities for those professionals that display a distinguished level of competency and leadership.

Earning your Accredited Ag Lending Professional (AALP) designation tells employers, colleagues and clients alike that you are equipped to practice and maintain the highest level of professional conduct to meet these challenges.

The professional development of an AALP candidate is designed specifically for the contemporary role of agricultural finance professionals whose competencies are gained in such areas as agricultural finance, critical thinking and written and oral communication.

This distinctive designation is offered by the Ag Lenders Society of California, the premier professional development organization for agriculture finance professionals in the state. The Ag Lenders Society regularly surveys the industry to determine the needs of employers and develops programs and seminars to keep pace with the changing agribusiness environment.

Accreditation Qualifications

Prior to submission of your application for accreditation, you must possess specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the Ag Lenders Society of California Accreditation Committee.

Please review the list of qualifications for the AALP designation. Once you have met each requirement, you are ready to start the accreditation process. You are then on your way to receiving the recognition you deserve for meeting the stringent standards, experience levels, and education requirements demanded of today's Ag Lending Professional.

Accredited Agricultural Lending Professional (AALP) Checklist

• Five years’ lending or lending related experience (one year experience is a calendar year during which a person spends a majority of their time) in direct agricultural lending, or ag lending related field for a fee, or salary. Verification of ag lending experience may be required.
• A four-year college degree or equivalent. (The four-year college degree equivalent may be accomplished by passing the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) with a score of at least 450, or another generally recognized test for college equivalency acceptable to the Accreditation Committee and approved by the Ag Lenders Society of California board of directors.
• Complete and pass the California Agricultural Lending Institute’s first and second year programs and received a Certificate of Accredited Education from the Ag Lenders Society of California. A masters or equivalent degree may, if approved by the Accreditation Committee, substitute for California Ag Lending Institute education requirements.
• A minimum 15 years experience in direct ag lending may be substituted for the education requirements outlined in the first and second bullet points above.
• Be a current member in good standing with the Ag Lenders Society of California prior to submitting an application for Accreditation.
• Each candidate must submit a written loan request report and pass an oral interview on a case study provided by the Accreditation Committee. The credit write-up will be presented in written form and then discussed orally with the Accreditation Committee, in order to simulate a presentation to a credit review panel. After completing the oral presentation, the Accreditation Committee will interview the candidate. The credit request report and oral presentation must demonstrate competency in standard credit analysis, credit structure, economics of the borrower’s operation, budgeting, management assessment and must identify and offer mitigation for any weakness found in the credit. The oral interview portion should demonstrate that the candidate also possess satisfactory knowledge of general agricultural economics, marketing, and production issues and how they might relate to agricultural lending
• Complete the AALP Application including; 1) a non-refundable fee in the amount of $350 payable to the Ag Lenders Society of California (if application is not accepted, this fee will apply to a maximum of three submissions); 2) an acceptable, completed case study report; and; 3) request for an appointment for the final oral interview.

Definition of an Agricultural Lender

A person who actively participates in the lending of money for agricultural production, real estate, processing, marketing, or other agricultural purposes. This person may be self-employed, or an employee of a firm that provides financing to agriculture. Agricultural loans worked can be short, or long term in nature. Activities would include, but are not limited to; loan analysis, loan package preparation, loan collateral evaluation, and loan marketing, loan brokerage and loan consulting.

Eligible Participants

• Short term lenders
• Long term lenders
• Ag field representatives
• Loan brokers
• Ag lending consultants

Continuing Education

Those attaining the AALP designation must complete a minimum of 40 hours of Continuing Education (CE) every five years, and be a member in good standing the Ag Lenders Society of California, to maintain the AALP designation.

Qualifying CE courses would include, but not be limited to:

• Ag Lenders Society short-courses and meetings
• RMA approved courses.
• ASFMRA meetings and approved courses.
• Others courses and seminars as designated and/or accepted by the Accreditation Committee.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for your certification, a package, including a case study along with underwriting guidelines and a schedule will be provided.  Please contact Jason Karr for your package at (559) 487-2142 or email him at jkarr@bankofthewest.com .

Alternatively, you can download the application form, complete it, and mail the form to the following address, and we will contact you.

Ag Lending Institute
University Business Center
California State University, Fresno
5245 N. Backer PB 5
Fresno, CA 93740-8001

Phone:	(559) 278-2352
Fax:	(559) 278-6964