(a) Every applicant for an appraiser classification under this chapter who is not a resident of Georgia shall submit, with the application for an appraiser classification, an irrevocable consent that service of process upon the applicant may be made by delivery of the process to the real estate commissioner, if, in an action against the applicant in a court of Georgia arising out of the applicant's activities as an appraiser, the plaintiff cannot, in the exercise of due diligence, effect personal service upon the applicant.

(b) A nonresident of Georgia who has complied with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section may obtain an appraiser classification by conforming to all of the provisions of this chapter relating to the license or certification sought.

(c) An applicant who has an appraiser classification in another state under such state's laws which are designed to comply with 12 U.S.C. Section 3301, et seq., may obtain a similar appraiser classification as an appraiser in Georgia upon, at the time of filing an application:

(1) Meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section;

(2) Paying any required fees;

(3) Providing any documentation required by the board of the applicant's classification in any other state and copies of the records of any disciplinary actions taken against the applicant's appraiser classification in that or other states. The imposition of a disciplinary action by any other lawful licensing authority may be grounds for denial of an appraiser classification to a nonresident or for suspension or revocation of the appraiser classification issued to a nonresident;

(4) Agreeing in writing to cooperate with any investigation initiated under this chapter by promptly supplying any documents any authorized investigator of the board may request and by personally appearing in the board's offices or other location in Georgia as the board's investigator may request. If the board sends by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery to the last known business address of a nonresident appraiser a notice to produce documents or to appear for an interview with an authorized investigator or the board and the nonresident appraiser fails to comply with that request, the board may impose on the nonresident appraiser any disciplinary sanction permitted by this chapter; and

(5) Signing a statement that the applicant has read this chapter and its rules and regulations and agrees to abide by its provisions in all real estate appraisal activity in Georgia.

(d) The board is authorized to promulgate rules consistent with guidelines established by the Appraisal Subcommittee for the granting of a temporary practice permit to an appraiser classified in another state in order to allow such appraiser to perform an appraisal for a single federally related transaction on property located in this state.

(e) The board in its discretion may enter into written agreements with similar regulatory authorities of other states as may be necessitated by those states' laws to assure for Georgia appraisers nonresident classification opportunities comparable to those afforded to nonresidents by this Code section. Whenever the board determines that another state does not offer nonresident classification to Georgia appraisers with requirements substantially comparable to those afforded to appraisers of that state by this Code section, the board shall require appraisers of such state who apply for nonresident classification to meet education, experience, and examination requirements substantially comparable to those required by that state with respect to Georgia appraisers who seek nonresident classification.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code section, the board in its discretion may enter into written agreements with similar regulatory authorities of other states to permit appraisers classified in those states to conduct real property appraisal activities in Georgia without obtaining a classification in Georgia, provided that such other states afford the same opportunities to Georgia appraisers.