Which statement about confidentiality rules is true?

• A. Appraisers must be mindful not to violate the confidentiality section of the Ethics Rule
• B. Confidentiality is optional for USPAP compliance
• C. Confidentiality applies to both written and oral reports
• D. Confidentiality requires disclosure of all client information

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that confidentiality is a mandatory requirement under USPAP’s Ethics Rule. Appraisers must protect the client’s information obtained during an assignment and may not disclose it unless there is client consent or a legal or regulatory obligation to do so, or unless USPAP itself requires disclosure.

This makes the statement about being mindful not to violate the confidentiality section the best answer, because it directly captures the core obligation: avoid improper disclosure and uphold the confidentiality rule in all matters related to the assignment. In practice, you should treat all client information as confidential and only share it with others when the client has consented or when disclosure is legally required or permitted by USPAP.

The other options are not correct because confidentiality is not optional for USPAP compliance; it governs how information is handled, not that it can be ignored. It may be true that confidentiality covers information in both written and oral form, but that nuance is not the central point emphasized here. And it’s not a requirement to disclose all client information; the rule generally restricts disclosure, except where consent or a lawful exception applies.