Appraiser Trainee

County of Orange; Orange (AL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Orange Assessor's Office is seeking motivated candidates to begin a career in real estate appraisal as Appraiser Trainees. This one-year training program combines classroom instruction with hands-on field experience under experienced appraisers, with the potential to advance to Appraiser I.

During the training year, Trainees will learn appraisal methods, research records, perform property inspections, measure and draft, and collect data from property owners and agents to support

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four‑year institution of higher education.
• Highschool graduation or equivalent and have four years of relevant work experience that demonstrates knowledge and experience.
• Combination of education and relevant experience totaling four (4) years.

Responsibilities

• Appraisal Methods: Learn the three major approaches to estimating value: cost, comparative sales, and income.
• Research & Records Review: Review taxpayer files, records, and related documents to gather information needed to complete appraisals and assessments.
• Property Inspection: Inspect building exteriors and interiors to determine classification, evaluating the quality of materials, fixtures, equipment, and construction.
• Measurement & Drafting: Measure buildings, calculate total area, and prepare scale drawings showing buildings in relation to property lines.
• Data Collection: Interview property owners, contractors, real estate agents, and others to obtain information relevant to property value.

Skills

Legal compliance

Data collection

Communication

Education

Four-year degree

High school diploma + 4 years experience

Education + experience totaling four years

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

Job description

Posting number: 0210GE-1026-002 (O) A

Department: Assessor

Job classification: APPRAISER TRAINEE

Posting type: Open

Categories: Accounting and Finance, Real Estate

Summary

APPRAISER TRAINEE

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Appraiser Trainee positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment is open to the public and will be advertised from Thursday, October 29, 2026, through Thursday, November 5, 2026, 11:59pm PST.

Applications will only be accepted on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and Thursday, November 5, 2026, until 11:59PM (PST).

THE OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR

The Assessor’s Office values all legally assessable property with uniformity and impartiality, producing property tax assessment rolls in accordance with the laws of the State of California. The Assessor staff help Business, Real and Personal Property owners understand their property valuations and apply exclusions and exemptions as allowed by property tax law.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The County of Orange Assessor’s Office is seeking motivated candidates to begin a career in real estate appraisal as Appraiser Trainees. This one-year training program combines classroom instruction with hands‑on field experience under the direction of experienced appraisers, teaching the theory and techniques used to value real property for assessment purposes. Upon successful completion of all phases of training and certification requirements, Trainees may be eligible for advancement to Appraiser I.

During the training year, Appraiser Trainees will but are not limited to:

• Appraisal Methods: Learn the three major approaches to estimating value: cost, comparative sales, and income.
• Research & Records Review: Review taxpayer files, records, and related documents to gather information needed to complete appraisals and assessments.
• Property Inspection: Inspect building exteriors and interiors to determine classification, evaluating the quality of materials, fixtures, equipment, and construction.
• Measurement & Drafting: Measure buildings, calculate total area, and prepare scale drawings showing buildings in relation to property lines.
• Data Collection: Interview property owners, contractors, real estate agents, and others to obtain information relevant to property value.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate must meet the minimum required education and/or experience as required by the California State Board of Equalization. The following options fulfill the qualification requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited four‑year institution of higher education
• OR
• Highschool graduation or equivalent and have four years of relevant work experience that demonstrates knowledge and experience
• OR
• Combination of education and relevant experience totaling four (4) years

“Relevant experience” means employment experience within the last ten years in any of the following occupations:

• An accountant, auditor, real property appraiser, building cost estimator, engineer, real estate loan agent, real estate loan underwriter, right‑of‑way agent, licensed building contractor, or
• A real estate licensee, licensed by the California Department of Real Estate, engaged in buying, selling, leasing, or managing real estate, or
• An appraiser aide or appraiser trainee in an assessor's office or in the Board's Property Tax Department, or
• Employment in roles other than an appraiser, appraiser aide, or appraiser trainee in an Assessor's office. However, this experience will only account for 2/3 of the required four‑year experience. The remaining 1/3 must be accumulated through other qualifying relevant experience or by education in an accredited institution of higher education.

In addition to the experience and/or education required above, the ideal candidate's experience will demonstrate knowledge and experience in the following competencies:

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE | TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

• Interpreting and applying laws, regulations, State Board of Equalization guidelines, and principles of real and personal property taxation
• Collecting and interpreting technical assessor data, including blueprints, maps, sketches, and legal property documents
• Proficient with computer programs, including Microsoft Office suite

PROBLEM‑SOLVING | ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• Identifying, evaluating, and resolving issues using sound judgment and technical expertise
• Developing and implementing solutions that achieve measurable results and reflect best business practices
• Thriving in a fast‑paced environment with changing priorities

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS | TEAMWORK

• Building collaborative relationships with public and private agencies, client departments, and stakeholders to achieve common goals
• Generating consensus and working effectively as part of a team

COMMUNICATION SKILLS | ORAL & WRITTEN

• Responding to customer inquiries and the public quickly, courteously, and tactfully
• Communicating technical information clearly, concisely, and with strong grammer orally or written
• Soliciting feedback and using it to improve services and business practices

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non‑Refer)

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Online Assessment (Un‑proctored, Weighted 100%)

Applicants who meet qualifications will be invited to participate in one or more job related assessments. Applicants will be notified of their test date and access code, if applicable. Only the most qualified candidates will advance to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the County's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Omar Ghazi at [e-mail].

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.