2023 New York Laws › RPT - Real Property Tax › Article 3 - Taxable Real Property and Standard of Assessment › Title 2 - Assessors and Assessor Training › 318 - Certification of Assessors.

§  318. Certification of assessors. 1. Any person appointed or elected
to the office  of  assessor  shall  be  certified  by  the  commissioner
pursuant  to  this section within a minimum of one year and a maximum of
three years after he or she commences his or her term of office,  unless
he  or  she has been previously certified by the commissioner and his or
her certification has not expired. The period within which each assessor
must become certified shall be established by the commissioner  by  rule
based  upon one or more general characteristics of the assessing unit or
units in which the assessor serves, including, but not  limited  to  (a)
number  of  parcels;  (b)  classification  of  parcels  by  use; and (c)
complexity of real property. At least  once  during  each  twelve  month
period  preceding  the date by which the commissioner requires permanent
certification pursuant to this section, each  assessor  must  obtain  an
interim  certification from the commissioner. Such interim certification
shall   evidence   satisfactory   progress   in   obtaining    permanent
certification  by successful completion of one or more components of the
required  training.  The  commissioner  shall  transmit   such   interim
certificate  to  the  assessor and to the appropriate city or town clerk
for filing.
2. An assessor shall be certified upon successful  completion  of  the
basic  course  of training and such examinations as may be prescribed by
the commissioner. The basic course of training shall  be  prescribed  by
the  commissioner  in  accordance  with  the classification of assessing
units established by the commissioner pursuant  to  subdivision  one  of
this section.
3.  (a)  An  assessor  or  assessor-elect  may  be  certified  by  the
commissioner  if  such  person  satisfies  the   minimum   qualification
standards  established  by  the commissioner for appointed assessors and
passes a comprehensive examination conducted by  the  commissioner.  The
commissioner  shall  annually  conduct  examinations  for  such purpose.
Examinations shall be of such character as to fairly test and  determine
knowledge,  skills  and  abilities  necessary  to  perform the duties of
assessor with respect to appraisal and assessment procedures, applicable
laws, rules and regulations and the size  and  complexity  of  assessing
units.
(b)  The commissioner may, in its discretion, waive any of the courses
of  training  or  may  certify  without  examination  any  assessor   or
assessor-elect, provided that such person is:
(i)  a  member  of the institute of assessing officers of the New York
state assessor's association or is a member of the American institute of
real estate appraisers; or
(ii) designated as a senior real property appraiser by the society  of
real estate appraisers; or
(iii)  designated  a  certified  assessment evaluator or an accredited
assessment evaluator  by  the  international  association  of  assessing
officers.
4.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this subdivision or any other
law, the travel and other actual and necessary expenses incurred  by  an
appointed  or  elected assessor, or by a person appointed assessor for a
forthcoming term, or by an assessor-elect prior to the  commencement  of
his  or  her  term,  in satisfactorily completing courses of training as
required by this title or as approved  by  the  commissioner,  including
continuing  education  courses  prescribed by the commissioner which are
satisfactorily completed by any  elected  assessor,  shall  be  a  state
charge  upon  audit  by  the  comptroller.  Travel  and other actual and
necessary  expenses  incurred  by  an  acting  assessor  who  has   been
exercising  the  powers  and  duties  of the assessor for a period of at
least six months, in attending training courses no earlier  than  twelve

months  prior  to  the  date  when courses of training and education are
required, shall also be a state charge upon audit  by  the  comptroller.
Candidates  for  certification as eligible for the position of assessor,
other  than  assessors or assessors-elect, shall be charged for the cost
of training materials and shall  be  responsible  for  all  other  costs
incurred  by  them in connection with such training. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this subdivision, if the provider of a  training
course has asked the commissioner to approve the course for credit only,
so that attendees who successfully complete the course would be entitled
to receive credit without having their expenses reimbursed by the state,
and  the  commissioner  has agreed to do so, the travel and other actual
and necessary expenses incurred by such attendees shall not be  a  state
charge.
5.  Notwithstanding the provisions of sections three hundred eight and
three hundred  thirty-four  of  this  title,  a  village  assessor,  who
satisfies   the  minimum  qualification  standards  established  by  the
commissioner pursuant to subdivision four of section three  hundred  ten
of  this  title, may complete the basic course of training prescribed by
the commissioner pursuant  to  this  section.  Where  such  training  is
successfully  completed,  a  village  assessor  shall  be  certified  as
provided by this section.
6. Whenever an individual  is  appointed  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  an
elective  office  of  assessor,  the commissioner shall compute any time
limitation imposed by this title or any rule adopted  pursuant  to  this
title from the next January first following that appointment rather than
from the date of that appointment.
7.  In  a  county  which  has  the  power  to assess real property for
purposes of taxation with one assessor appointed  as  provided  in  this
title,  the  travel  and other actual and necessary expenses incurred by
appraisal personnel employed in the office of such assessor in attending
courses of training as required by this subdivision  shall  be  a  state
charge upon audit by the comptroller.
8. To the extent funds are appropriated, all payments pursuant to this
section shall be made from the local assistance account.