Assessment Administration
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Overview
This program is designed to train municipal tax assessors in the duties and responsibilities of their office and assist in staff development. It also provides general preparation for the State Certified Tax Assessors (CTA) examination (Please note that Assessment Administration courses are not prerequisites for this exam). Experienced professionals from state, county, and local government, as well as private-sector appraisal specialists, comprise the program’s coadjutant faculty.
Tax assessors, other municipal officials, and interested citizens may enroll in the individual courses, provided that they have satisfied any prerequisites and that space is available. Registration for all classes is determined by the Center for Government Services at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Typically, both fall and spring semester courses are scheduled in convenient and varied locations throughout the state, with times and sites announced in advance of each semester. One-day seminars, and the New Jersey Assessors Continuing Education Program, also are offered each year and are announced in separate program brochures.
Course Descriptions
Property Tax Administration
The 42-hour Property Tax Administration (PTA) course is divided into two parts.
Part 1 (18 hours) covers New Jersey government and the statutory basis of assessing, including administration of local government, public records, necessary equipment, deductions, and the assessor's calendar.
Part 2 (24 hours) covers valuation methods and applications, including three approaches to value, equalization, the appeals process, exemptions, abatements, farmland valuation and rollback, and reassessment/revaluation.
IAAO Course 1: Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal
The Rutgers Center for Government Services (CGS) has an agreement with the International Association of Assessing Officials (IAAO) to offer several courses on a certified model basis. IAAO-certified instructors constitute the faculty; IAAO educational staff provide the examinations and are responsible for grading and centralized record retention. CGS administers all other program details.
The 33-hour Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal course emphasizes the theory and techniques of the cost and sales comparative approaches to value. Students review terminology, basic appraisal and economic principles, general principles of land valuation, the assessment function, and the mass appraisal process. The course includes a review and an exam.
IAAO Course 2: Income Approach to Valuation
The Rutgers Center for Government Services (CGS) has an agreement with the International Association of Assessing Officials (IAAO) to offer several courses on a certified model basis. IAAO-certified instructors constitute the faculty; IAAO educational staff provides the examinations and are responsible for grading and centralized record retention. CGS administers all other program details.
The 33-hour Income Approach to Valuation covers the theory and techniques of estimating value by the capitalized earnings approach. Material covered includes the selection of capitalization rates, analysis of income and expense in the determination of income to be capitalized, and capitalization methods and techniques. Rental units of comparison, real estate finance, and investment are treated. The course includes a review and an exam.
Please note: As a course prerequisite, students must satisfactorily complete IAAO Course 1: Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal. This prerequisite cannot be waived.
Review Course - Appraisal and Assessment Administration Course Review
This review course includes an intensive, 1-1/2 day comprehensive review of the assessment appraisal processes, utilizing the cost, market, and income approaches to value. As a course prerequisite, a student must have satisfactorily completed the full Property Tax Administration course.
County Tax Administration
This 20-hour course expands upon the Property Tax Administration course with an in-depth examination of property tax administered at the county level. The course covers county board organization, the sales ratio program, development of the equalized table and abstract of ratio, a review of exemptions, the tax appeal process, and supervision of assessors.
This course is mandatory for all new tax administrators and is advanced in nature. It is recommended that only students who have successfully completed all other property tax courses, or experienced CTA holders, enroll.
One-Day Seminars
As interest warrants, the Rutgers Center for Government Services offers one-day seminars dealing with various problems and the more advanced aspects of assessment administration on a state or regional basis.
Continuing Education
Certificates for each Assessment Administration course are awarded upon satisfactory completion of the class hours, passing the required examinations, and full payment of fees.
Information About the CTA Exam
For further information about the CTA exam, refer to N.J.S.A. 54:135.25 to 135.34, or contact the Local Property Branch of the New Jersey Division of Taxation at 609-292-7975 or visit the website.
IAAO Credit by Examination
Individuals wishing to challenge an IAAO examination without having taken Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal (IAAO Course 1) or Income Approach to Valuation (IAAO Course 2), students who withdrew from a course, and students who did not sit for the exam upon completion of a course or who failed an exam upon completion of a course may apply to sit for the exam. If a prerequisite is listed, applicants who have not taken the course are strongly urged to attempt the prerequisite examination. Applications are available from IAOO. For more information, contact IAAO at 312-819-8100.
Registration
A registration form is available in the Downloads box on the right sidebar of this web page. Payment by credit card or check or purchase order made payable to “Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey” must accompany the application. Send all correspondence and payments to:
Assessment Administration
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Center for Government Services
303 George Street, Suite 604
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-2020
Upon receipt of the completed application and payment, a class space will be reserved; no confirmation will be sent. The university reserves the right to cancel any course without sufficient enrollment.
Class Cancelation Policy
Rutgers Center for Government Services reserves the right to cancel any course or seminar. The Center will notify all students enrolled in a course that has been canceled and the information will be posted on the Center website. Students will be given a choice of receiving a full refund for courses canceled by the Center or exercising the option to enroll in the same course at a different location (if one is available) or another course that is offered during the same semester. In the event there is a difference in course fees between the course that was canceled and the alternate course, an adjustment will be made.
If the student wishes to enroll in a course that is offered in during a future semester, the tuition payment will be held in an escrow account and the student will pay the difference in costs if the registration fee of the alternative course is more expensive. If the fees for the alternative course are less, the student will receive a refund for the difference. A student may not select an alternative course that has a prerequisite if the prerequisite has not been met.
Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Rutgers Center for Government Services will refund the full course fees minus a $25 charge for processing to students who notify the Center of their intent to withdraw from a class in writing at least two (2) business days before the class is scheduled to start. Failure to notify the Center within that time period will result in forfeiture of all fees.