IC 6-1.1-35.5
    Chapter 35.5. Assessor-Appraiser Examination and Certification

IC 6-1.1-35.5-1
Conduct and administration of programs
    Sec. 1. The department of local government finance shall:
        (1) conduct an assessor-appraiser examination and certificationprogram for level one and level two certifications; and
        (2) administer a level three assessor-appraiser certificationprogram.
The department shall design and implement the programs in amanner that maximizes the number of certified assessor-appraisersinvolved in the assessment process.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.8, SEC.56. Amended by P.L.90-2002,SEC.253; P.L.1-2004, SEC.43 and P.L.23-2004, SEC.46;P.L.219-2007, SEC.75.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-2
Repealed
    (Repealed by P.L.6-1997, SEC.239.)

IC 6-1.1-35.5-3
Design of level one and level two examinations; eligibility to takeexamination; subject matter of examination
    Sec. 3. The department of local government finance shall designtwo (2) assessor-appraiser examinations, to be called "level one" and"level two". All citizens of Indiana are eligible to apply for and to beexamined under "level one" and "level two" examinations, subjectonly to the resources and limitations of the department of localgovernment finance in conducting the examinations. Bothexaminations should cover the subjects of real estate appraising,accounting, and property tax law. Successful performance on thelevel one examination requires the minimum knowledge needed foreffective performance as a county or township assessor under thisarticle. Success on the level two examination requires substantialknowledge of the subjects covered in the examination.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.8, SEC.56. Amended by P.L.6-1997,SEC.119; P.L.90-2002, SEC.254.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-4
Time and location of examinations; open book format
    Sec. 4. (a) The level one examination shall be given in July, andthe level two examination shall be given in August. Both levelexaminations also shall be offered annually immediately followingthe conference of the department of local government finance and atany other times that coordinate with training sessions conductedunder IC 6-1.1-35.2-2. The department of local government financemay also give either or both examinations at other times throughoutthe year.
    (b) Examinations shall be held each year, at the times prescribed

in subsection (a), in Indianapolis and at not less than four (4) otherconvenient locations chosen by the department of local governmentfinance.
    (c) The department of local government finance may not limit thenumber of individuals who take the examination and shall provide anopportunity for all enrollees at each session to take the examinationat that session.
    (d) The department of local government finance shall:
        (1) give both the level one examination and the level twoexamination in an open book format; and
        (2) design both examinations to approximate the work anassessing official is required to perform, including the use ofappropriate computer applications.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.8, SEC.56. Amended by P.L.198-2001,SEC.86; P.L.1-2002, SEC.29 and P.L.90-2002, SEC.255;P.L.1-2004, SEC.44 and P.L.23-2004, SEC.47.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-4.5
Level three program; rules
    Sec. 4.5. (a) The department of local government finance shall:
        (1) administer a program for level three assessor-appraisercertifications; and
        (2) design a curriculum for level three assessor-appraisercertification candidates that:
            (A) consists of tested courses offered by nationallyrecognized assessing organizations; and
            (B) requires superior knowledge of assessmentadministration and property valuation concepts.
    (b) The department of local government finance may adopt rulesunder IC 4-22-2 to implement this section.
As added by P.L.219-2007, SEC.76.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-5
Eligibility for programs
    Sec. 5. A county or township assessor, a member or hearingofficer of the county property tax assessment board of appeals, or amember of the public may apply for and take the level oneexamination. A person who is successful on the level oneexamination may apply for and take the level two examination. Aperson who is successful on the level two examination may apply forlevel three certification.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.8, SEC.56. Amended by P.L.6-1997,SEC.120; P.L.219-2007, SEC.77.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-6
Certification of successful examinees; revocation
    Sec. 6. (a) The department of local government finance shallcertify all persons who successfully complete a certification underthis chapter and shall furnish each successful certification applicantwith a certificate that prominently displays the person's name and the

fact that the person is a level one, level two, or level three certifiedIndiana assessor-appraiser.
    (b) The department of local government finance shall revoke thecertification of an individual if the department reasonably determinesthat the individual committed fraud or misrepresentation with respectto:
        (1) the preparation, administration, or taking of the examinationfor level one or level two certification; or
        (2) completion of the curriculum for level three certification.
The department of local government finance shall give notice andhold a hearing to consider all of the evidence about the fraud ormisrepresentation before deciding whether to revoke the individual'scertification.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.8, SEC.56. Amended by P.L.198-2001,SEC.87; P.L.219-2007, SEC.78.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-7
Fees for level one and level two certifications; assessing officialtraining account
    Sec. 7. (a) With respect to level one and level two certifications,the department of local government finance shall establish a fair andreasonable fee for examination and certification under this chapter.However, the fee does not apply to an assessing official, a hearingofficer for a county property tax assessment board of appeals, or anemployee of an assessing official or county property tax assessmentboard of appeals who is taking the level one examination or the leveltwo examination for the first time.
    (b) The assessing official training account is established as anaccount within the state general fund. All fees collected by thedepartment of local government finance shall be deposited in theaccount. The account shall be administered by the department oflocal government finance and does not revert to the state generalfund at the end of a fiscal year. The department of local governmentfinance may use money in the account for:
        (1) testing and training of assessing officials, county assessors,members of a county property tax assessment board of appeals,and employees of assessing officials, county assessors, or thecounty property tax assessment board of appeals; and
        (2) administration of the level three certification program undersection 4.5 of this chapter.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.8, SEC.56. Amended by P.L.41-1993,SEC.28; P.L.6-1997, SEC.121; P.L.90-2002, SEC.256;P.L.219-2007, SEC.79; P.L.146-2008, SEC.284.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-8
Repealed
    (Repealed by P.L.219-2007, SEC.149.)

IC 6-1.1-35.5-8.5
Rules for level one and level two programs    Sec. 8.5. (a) This section applies only to level one and level twoassessor-appraiser certifications.
    (b) The department of local government finance may adopt rulesunder IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter. The department of localgovernment finance shall adopt rules to set:
        (1) minimum requirements for initial certification afterDecember 31, 2001, under this chapter;
        (2) continuing education requirements for the renewal of acertification after December 31, 2001, under this chapter; and
        (3) procedures for renewing a certification issued under thischapter, including a certification issued before January 1, 1999,for a person who meets the certification requirements set undersubdivision (2).
The rules must also establish procedures for disciplinary actionagainst a certificate holder that fails to comply with the statutes orrules applicable to the certificate holder. The rules adopted undersubdivisions (2) and (3) may not require testing to renew or maintaina certification under this chapter.
As added by P.L.198-2001, SEC.89. Amended by P.L.219-2007,SEC.80.

IC 6-1.1-35.5-9
Repealed
    (Repealed by P.L.146-2008, SEC.802.)