Property Assessors Offices - Illinois Education and Training

Get the training to become an Illinois property tax assessor
By Emmet McMahan Property assessors offices in Illinois education and training will teach you how to appraise personal and real and personal property in order to estimate its fair market value. Property assessors may also assess property for the purpose of setting property taxes in accordance with a prescribed schedule.

The requirements needed to assess an Illinois property value is complex and vary by the type and value of the property being appraised. Generally, these requirements may be grouped in the following categories:

1. Education. While there are no formal degree requirements for Illinois county assessors, most practicing assessors have at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in economics, finance or real estate. However, the specific courses that a property assessor needs are usually taken at a community college or professional assessor organization.
2. On-the-job training. This is required to obtain a license or certification and should be acquired in the office of an independent fee appraiser, if possible.
3. Licensure. Federal law requires that Illinois property assessors have a state-issued license if they will be involved in transactions requiring a federal loan of $250,000 or more.
   

Complete the courses needed to perform Illinois property assessments

There are a variety of on-site universities and distance learning classes that teach students to use an Illinois property database. These institutions should update their curriculum frequently to reflect changes in the state's educational requirements for property appraisers.
Try:  The Appraisal Education Center provides courses in appraisal that are approved for Illinois. Oakton Community College offers an appraisal curriculum that is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Get on-the-job training for Illinois property assessment

Job training for property appraisers in Illinois has specific requirements, as laid out by the Illinois Real Estate Appraisers Board. These requirements stipulate the length of time the training must take, the way in which the mentor must monitor the process, and the type of experience the trainee must acquire.
Try:  The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation provides extensive information on the experience requirements for appraisers in Illinois. Southwestern Illinois College summarizes the work experience needed for each category of appraiser in Illinois.

Become a licensed Illinois property assessor

Illinois recognizes three categories of appraisers. A state licensed real estate appraiser may appraise residential property of up to $1,000,000 in value. A state certified residential real estate appraiser may appraise any residential property and a state certified general real estate appraiser can perform appraisals on all types of property.
Try:  The Illinois General Assembly provides the complete licensing requirements for appraisers in Illinois. The College of DuPage summarizes the complete licensing requirements for appraisers in Illinois.

• Illinois property assessors must meet the minimum certification and licensing requirements established by the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) of the Appraisal Foundation. However, many states have more stringent licensing requirements than those required by the AQB. For example, a state may require an appraisal license for all appraisers regardless of the transaction value of the property.