Appraiser Trainee

County of Orange

Orange, CA

$59,238.40–$79,123.20 Per Year

1 day ago

Job Description

Appraiser Trainee

Salary

$59,238.40 - $79,123.20 Annually

Location

Orange County

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

0210GE-1026-002 (O) A

Department

Assessor

Opening Date

10/29/2026

Description
Benefits
Questions

CAREER 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.

Click here for more information on the County of Orange

Click here for more information on the Assessors 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

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

"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 assessors office or in the Boards Property Tax Department, or
Employment in roles other than an appraiser, appraiser aide, or appraiser trainee in an Assessors 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 candidates 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

Please click here for details on the Appraiser Trainee classification, including the physical, mental, environmental and working conditions.

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 Countys 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. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Omar Ghazi at omar.ghazi@ceo.oc.gov.

EEO INFORMATION

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

Please note that Extra Help employees are not eligible for the benefits listed.

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.

http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

INSTRUCTIONS: The information you provide on this questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your level of expertise during the recruitment process. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. If you do not have experience in an area, please answer "N/A". Statements such as "see application" or "see resume" will not be accepted in lieu of a response. All employers referenced on this questionnaire must be listed on your application. Do you understand these instructions?

Yes, and I understand statements such as "see application" or "see resume" will not be accepted in lieu of a response.

Please select the option that best describes your education and experience? Please note, if you select options A and C, you must attach unofficial or official transcripts to your application in order to receive credit. Failure to do so will result in your application being considered incomplete. 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.) and proof of verification must be submitted with you application, or your application may be considered incomplete.

Graduation from an accredited four-year institution of higher education.
High school diploma or equivalent with at least four years of relevant experience.
A combination of education and relevant experience totaling four years, with at least 30 semester level units completed in college-level courses.
None of the Above

If you chose Option B or Option C above, please indicate ALL of your relevant experience below (must have been obtained within the last ten years):

An accountant, auditor, real property appraiser, building cost estimator, engineer, real estate loan agent, real estate loan underwriter, right-of-way agent, or licensed building contractor
A California real estate licensee, licensed by the California Department of Real Estate, engaging in buying, selling, leasing, or managing real estate
An appraiser aide or appraiser trainee in an assessors office or in the Boards Property Tax Department
An employee (other than an appraiser, appraiser aide, or appraiser trainee) of an Assessors office or property tax department of the California State Board of Equalization and other relevant experience or education
None of the above

Please describe your relevant experience as chosen above in Question 3. Include in your response the position title you held, your length of experience and specific duties performed. If "None of the above" was chosen, you may write N/A.

To ensure compliance with conflict of interest regulations, please acknowledge that if you currently hold or plan to hold an active real estate license issued by the Department of Real Estate, it must be placed in a Government (Inactive) Status for the duration of your employment with the County of Orange Assessor department. Additionally, if you hold a Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) license, you must report it to the County of Orange Assessors department upon hire and not renew your license. Please confirm your understanding of this requirement by selecting the appropriate option below:

I do not hold any active real estate license or appraiser license issued by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraiser in the State of California.
I hold an active real estate license and understand that it must be placed in a Government (Inactive) Status if I am employed by the County of Orange Assessor department.
I hold an active appraiser license issued by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraiser in the State of California and understand that I must report it to the County of Orange Assessor Department upon hire and not renew the license.
I hold both an active real estate license and an active appraiser license issued by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraiser in the State of California and understand the requirements above.

Required Question

Employer County of Orange

Address 400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone 714-834-2555

Website https://hrs.oc.gov