Appraiser Trainee

County of Orange; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Orange is offering an Appraiser Trainee program within the Assessor’s Office to train candidates in real estate appraisal for assessment purposes. The one-year training combines classroom instruction with field experience under experienced appraisers.

Trainees may advance to Appraiser I upon successful completion of phases and certification requirements. During the year, trainees will learn appraisal methods, research records, conduct property inspections, measure and draft, and

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year institution of higher education.
• OR
• Highschool graduation or equivalent with four years of relevant work experience.
• OR
• Combination of education and relevant experience totaling four years.

Responsibilities

• Learn the three major appraisal approaches: cost, sales comparison, and income.
• Review taxpayer files, records, and related documents for assessments.
• Inspect buildings to determine classification and evaluate materials, fixtures, and construction.
• Measure buildings, calculate total area, and prepare scale drawings.
• Interview property owners and real estate professionals to gather value data.

Skills

Property taxation

Data collection

Office software

Education

Four-year degree or higher

High school diploma with 4 years relevant experience

Combined education/experience totaling four years

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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 apply button will appear only on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and Thursday, November 5, 2026, and qualified candidates may submit their application.

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.

For more information on the County of Orange.

For more information on the Assessor's Office.

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

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