Online BOE Training Courses

Beginning Appraisal Sessions

The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is responsible for the certification of County Assessors' personnel and BOE personnel who perform appraisals for property tax purposes. The BOE administers a certification examination to qualified individuals who are currently employed in one of the 58 County Assessors' offices or the BOE. To assist individuals in preparation for the examination, there are two alternative online sessions available.

Both courses introduce new real property appraisers and auditor-appraisers to the fundamentals of appraising for property tax purposes. They present the various appraisal approaches and significant appraisal principles for all types of property. The courses cover the economic aspects and legal definitions of market value and California property tax laws.

The first session is available through American River College, and students must pay the community college registration fee. The second session is available through Sacramento State College of Continuing Education Course Management System, and the BOE pays the fee for County Assessors' staff to participate in this session.

Introduction to Appraising for Property Tax Purposes

This is an online class, taught through American River College (ARC), a two-year public college in the Los Rios Community College District. It uses the Canvas web-based course management system. Students who are not familiar with this eLearning system should view the Canvas Student Tour Videos – beginning with the “Student Overview Video” – on the website. Once you have applied to ARC for admission and become a student at American River College, you can register for the online course using your student ID (W number) and password to access Canvas. This is a 1.5-semester unit course that concludes with a final examination. This course features staff from the BOE's Property Tax Department who functions as the online instructor. The course is offered quarterly by the college.

This course meets the BOE's training requirement for county property tax appraisers and auditor-appraisers, and successful completion of the course will result in 30 hours of appraisal training credit.

Prerequisites: None

Texts (available online at the BOE Assessors' Handbook webpage):

Note: Assessors' staff should contact their training coordinator for enrollment instructions.

Basic Appraisal Course

This online training session is hosted through the Sacramento State College of Continuing Education Course Management System. This course presents the same information as contained in the Introduction to Appraising for Property Tax Purposes class offered through American River College. This course does not have an online instructor. County Assessors may want to consider appointing a mentor to assist staff who are participating in this session.

This course is offered every calendar month and must be completed by the last day of the month. County Assessors' training coordinators should complete form BOE-746-B, Sacramento State Basic Appraisal Online Course Registration, and submit it to the Appraiser Training email address. The Registration Form must be submitted at least five days before the enrollment month.

Prerequisites: None

Texts (available online at the BOE Assessors' Handbook webpage):

This course meets the BOE's training requirement for county property tax appraisers and auditor-appraisers, and successful completion of the course will result in 34 hours of appraisal training credit.

Note: Assessors' staff should contact their training coordinator for enrollment instructions.