General Education Information for
Assessors and their Staff
Mission Statement
Purpose
Division Courses & Workshops
Registration
Additional Class Information
Examinations
Certificates
Continuing Education
Transcripts
Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Colorado Appraisal License
Annual Law Seminar
Appraisal Organizations
General Public Appraisal Education
The Division of Property Taxation's education program is designed for county assessors' employees. The program emphasizes the application of appropriate administrative and appraisal skills within the assessor's office.
Courses and workshops are designed to review and explain current Colorado property tax law and present generally accepted appraisal and management techniques useful to the assessor and assessor staff. You can find a list of the Division classes offered by clicking on the Calendar icon.
Enrollment in Division appraisal and administrative classes is limited to county assessors and their staff; however, the Property Tax Administrator may approve attendance for people associated with ad valorem taxation. Division courses are NOT available to the general public.
Courses and workshops may have recommended prerequisites that should be completed prior to attendance. To see the specific requirements for attending an individual class Click on the Courses & Workshops icon.
Students must pre-register for all schools. Registration forms are found with the individual school announcements or you can click on the above link. Deadline for class registration is two (2) weeks prior to the first day of the class or workshop. Lack of registration may result in class cancellation. For current class offerings see the Calendar.
To receive credit for a class or workshop, classroom participation is required. The Division will enforce the "Hundred-Percent Rule," which states that you are required to be in attendance for 100 percent of the classroom instruction.
Final examinations are given for each five-day course and selected workshops. Challenge exams are not offered at any time.
Appraisal course curricula are developed to assist students in meeting mandated appraiser license requirements and maintaining a registration, license or certification as an appraiser in Colorado.
The Division of Property Taxation does not offer an assessment or appraisal designation program. However, individual certificates are issued to all students successfully completing Division courses. These certificates can be used as documentation for the Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisal licensing and certification requirements.
The mission of the Division of Property Taxation education program is to provide comprehensive professional education opportunities to Colorado assessors and their staff. The program assists in meeting professional, technical and statutory educational requirements for ad valorem real property appraisal and property tax administration. The education program is developed with the cooperation of the Colorado Assessors' Association Education Committee. It is designed to encourage a higher level of uniform and equalized property assessments statewide through the training of personnel working in the assessment field.
The education program provides opportunities for county assessors to select the courses, workshops, and seminars that are best suited to meet the education requirements of their office and staff. In addition, the education program:
- Provides assessors and their staff guidance and instruction necessary to fulfill their obligation to the public.
- Offers an annual school as required in § 39-2-110, C.R.S., for assessors and their staff.
- Affords the opportunity to acquire the understanding and knowledge of property values within classes of property.
- Presents a program to maintain or build professional levels of appraisal and ethical standards.
- Provides instruction to fulfill the educational requirements for appraiser registration, licensing, certification and continuing education.
- Provides instruction for improving property classification and valuation techniques in the mass appraisal of properties.
DIVISION COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
Enrollment in Division appraisal and administrative classes is limited to county assessors and their staff, however the Property Tax Administrator may approve attendance for people associated with ad valorem taxation. Division courses are NOT available to the general public. The education program is designed for assessors as well as administrative and appraisal staff of all skill levels. Course curriculum and examinations are developed to assist students in meeting state registration, certification, licensing and continuing education requirements as an appraiser in Colorado. Courses and workshops have been developed to review and explain current Colorado property tax law, as well as to present generally accepted appraisal and management techniques useful to the assessor. Instruction on the application of assessment and appraisal policy and procedures, as published by the Property Tax Administrator, is also provided. For more information on the courses that are currently being offered see the education calendar.
Students must pre-register with the Division for all classes. Click here for registration form. (Note: you may fill out the registration form online and send to the Division as an email attachment.) Deadline for registration is two weeks prior to the first day of the scheduled class. Classes fill quickly and early registration is advised. If the minimum class size of 12 students has not been reached 10 days prior to the first day of instruction, the class may be canceled. You may register by filling out a registration form and mail, fax, e-mail or deliver in person to the Division.
The exception to this is USPAP: All student registrations and fees for the USPAP courses must be received by the Division thirty (30) calendar days prior to the first day of class to meet ordering and shipping deadlines.
Division of Property Taxation
1313 Sherman Street - Room 419
Denver, CO 80203
Telephone (303) 866-2371
FAX (303) 866-4000
Course/Workshop Fees — A fee of $10.00 per day is required for each student scheduled to attend a course or workshop. All fees should be paid prior to attendance. If a student cannot attend a course or workshop for which fees have been paid, the fee will be credited to the county of registration only if the Division receives notice of withdrawal at least 48 hours prior to the start of the class. The exceptions are the National USPAP courses. For fees and information on the USPAP courses click on the appropriate link: Initial License (two-day course) or Continuing Education (one-day course).
Because we purchase the National USPAP Course material from the Appraisal Foundation, the fees cannot be refunded. We will instead send you the course material. Course material from one class cannot be substituted for another class.
No-Show Penalty — Effective July 26, 2006, the Division has instituted a no-show penalty for all classes. The penalty is $25 or the cost of the class, whichever is more. To avoid this penalty, notice of withdrawal from a class must be received by the Division at least 48 hours prior to the start of the class.
Course Materials — The Division of Property Taxation will provide all class material. Students are responsible for pencils, pens, battery-operated calculators, etc. If a student needs to provide any additional text or publication it will be stated in the announcement.
Recommended Prerequisites — Some courses may have a prerequisite course(s). It is highly recommended that the students take Introduction to Assessment before any other administrative class. Students should take APR 801: Basic Appraisal Principles, prior to taking additional appraisal courses (beginning in 2007, this course replaces APR 108: Introduction to Appraisal). These two courses are designed to establish the assessment groundwork and basic appraisal principles for all additional classes. Specific recommended prerequisites for individual classes are listed on the class descriptions you will find by clicking on the Courses & Workshops link.
Class Size — Class may be canceled if pre-registration does not equal a total of twelve (12) students, ten days prior to the scheduled class. The Division reserves the right to limit enrollment in any school or workshop. Enrollment generally will not exceed thirty-five students for any class. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis.
Class Cancellations — When a class is canceled, the Division will notify all registrants. Counties that have submitted fees prior to cancellation of a class will have those fees credited for future courses or workshops.
Class Times — All courses, workshops and seminars begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. each day unless otherwise noted on the announcement.
Lunch and Refreshment Breaks — A lunch break will be scheduled for one hour each day. Mid-morning and afternoon breaks of fifteen minutes each will also be scheduled.
Attendance Policy — Attendance is required to receive credit for a class or workshop, The Division will enforce the "100-percent Rule," which states that students are required to be in attendance for 100 percent of the classroom instruction.
School Locations — Courses, workshops, and seminars are scheduled at various locations within the state. Locations are selected for their learning environment, convenience to students and costs. Core appraisal and administration courses are offered at least once each year at three regional locations.
Student Lodging and Meals — All lodging and meal expenses are the responsibility of the student.
Final Examinations — Final examinations will be given for each five-day course. Some appraisal workshops and seminars are tested and, if passed, the credit hours can be used toward an initial appraisal license or license upgrades as well as continuing education. The minimum passing score is 70 percent for all Division courses; the minimum passing score for the 15-hour USPAP class is 76 percent. Individual test results will be mailed to the student at the county. County assessors will not receive students' individual test scores.
Make-up Examinations — Students unable to take the final examination at its scheduled time will be given the opportunity to complete the examination. The Division has the discretion to allow the student to test at a later time at a place designated by the Division. The decision to allow make-up exams is based on the circumstances that prevented the student from taking the examination at the scheduled time. Failure to timely complete the examination will result in the course being listed as "Incomplete" on the student's transcript. If this occurs, the course must be taken again in its entirety, including successful completion of the final examination, to receive credit hours and/or a certificate. All make-up and retake examinations must be scheduled with the Division.
Retake Examinations — are available to students who fail their initial examination. Students who fail the retake exam must attend the course again, in its entirety, and receive a passing grade in order to receive credit. All make-up and retake examinations must be completed within 30 days of the final date of the scheduled class. All make-up and retake examinations must be scheduled with the Division.
National USPAP Retake Examinations — are available to students who fail their initial examination. Students are allowed two retake examinations, both within 30 days from the first day of the initial class. All make-up and retake examinations must be scheduled with the Division.
Challenge Examinations — The Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers (CBREA) does not permit challenge examinations for education credit. Classroom attendance is required to meet CBREA’s requirements for initial or upgrading a Colorado appraiser license. Each class must be a minimum of 15 hours and tested for the initial license or upgrade license. The CBREA does not require testing of continuing education classes. It is optional to the Division. The CBREA should be contacted to ensure a non-division class is eligible for continuing education credit.
The Division of Property Taxation does not offer an appraisal or administration certification or appraisal-licensing program. However, attendance certificates will be issued to all students successfully completing each Division course. The certificate can be used as documentation for the Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers' registration, licensing, certification, or continuing education requirements. A certificate of achievement will be awarded to all who attend the Annual Assessment Law and Administration Seminar.
The Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers has adopted rules for continuing education. Licenses are renewed for three-year periods. During the three-year renewal period, at least forty-two hours of approved continuing education must be completed, including a minimum of seven hours of the National USPAP Course every other year. All continuing education workshop topics are listed on this site at the Calendar or Courses & Workshops link. Continuing Education workshops covering specific topics are offered each year in regional locations.
The Division will provide students with a transcript of the Division of Property Taxation classes they have attended. You may get an unofficial transcript of the division courses taken by clicking on the transcript link on our education page. Official transcripts are only available upon written request. Official transcripts are affixed with the seal of the Property Tax Administrator and will list all division classes attended, date of attendance, and whether the student passed, failed, or did not complete the class. Only courses, workshops, and seminars offered by the Division are listed. Transcripts of courses attended by other providers, including International Association of Assessing Officers, must be requested from the provider. Students are advised to keep personal records of all appraisal classes taken for appraisal licensing and continuing education purposes.
COLORADO BOARD OF REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS
The Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers (CBREA) should be contacted for information concerning the rules, regulations and requirements on licensing and certification. The CBREA also provides information on approved course providers, course credit hours, applications, testing and continuing education. The CBREA's address, telephone number and web site address are:
Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers
1560 Broadway, Suite 925
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone 303- 894-2166 OR 303-894-2185
http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate
To take an examination for a Colorado appraisal license, call 1-800-616-4226 or visit www.psiexams.com. You must provide your social security number, the name of the exam you wish to take and the date you plan to take the examination. You must schedule your examination a minimum of three (3) days prior to the date you wish to take the examination.
The Annual Law and Administration Seminar provides an opportunity for assessors to improve their knowledge and understanding or methods of assessment and appraisal. The Division conducts this annual school for assessors and their employees in accordance with § 39-2-110, C.R.S.
The International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) is one of many professional appraisal organizations that offer professional designation and education programs to the general public. For information regarding IAAO courses call (800) 616-4226 or go to their web site at www.iaao.org.
GENERAL PUBLIC APPRAISAL EDUCATION
For a list of Colorado appraisal education providers, visit the CBREA page: www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/licensing/education/appraiser/appraisalcourseproviders.htm.