Assessors, business valuators and appraisers

Overview
Employment prospects
Education and training

Overview

Assessors and appraisers determine the value of land, businesses, estates and other real property, for purposes of sale, purchase, taxation or disposal of assets. Appraisers also determine the value of personal and household items. Business valuators quantify the value of a business, its securities or its intangible assets. Assessors, business valuators and appraisers are employed by government agencies, real estate firms and other private companies, or they may be self-employed.

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Assessors

  • Assess value of land, building, structures, machinery, equipment and property improvements for purposes of taxation, grants and regional planning and prior to sale or purchase

  • Review and analyze data such as past sales, title searches, engineering and alignment maps, soil maps, subdivision plans, water and sewer plans, leasing cost data and easements

  • Explain assessment process to ratepayers

  • May specialize in advising and consulting in a specific field of assessment such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional or farm lands.

  • Business valuators

  • Collect and analyze financial records of a business, such as financial statements, budgets, projections and sales data, to assess its competitiveness or to estimate its market value

  • Prepare reports for estate planning, matrimonial litigation, insurance and business losses

  • Appear as an expert witness before courts, security regulators and other regulatory boards and commissions.

  • Appraisers

  • Appraise value of property, building, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment and personal and household items

  • Prepare appraisal reports for lending agencies, insurance companies, government departments, courts, attorneys, creditors, buyers or auctioneers.

Job titles

  • accredited appraiser
  • appraisal technician
  • appraiser (except customs)
  • assessor (except tax)
  • assistant appraiser
  • automobile appraiser

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2023 edition

Annual salary

Low

$34,934

Median

$75,248

High

$117,607

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

British Columbia

322

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • Appraisers of residential, commercial or industrial property require accreditation with the Appraisal Institute of Canada.
  • Appraisers require a college diploma or vocational training in the field of appraisal or several years of experience in a position related to the field of appraisal.
  • Assessors require a college diploma in municipal assessment and accreditation with the municipal assessment association of the province.
  • Business valuators usually require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in accounting, business or commerce and accreditation with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators based on successful completion of its business and security valuation program.
  • In Quebec, membership with l'Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec (OEAQ) is required to use the title chartered appraiser.
  • Real estate appraisers usually require several years of experience as a real estate agent, right-of-way agent or property administrator and may require Canadian residential appraiser certification.

Additional information

  • Appraisers may specialize in a specific type of appraisal such as real estate appraisal.
  • Assessors may specialize in advising and consulting in a specific field of assessment such as residential, commercial, industrial, institutional or farm lands.
  • Progression to management positions in each field is possible with experience.

Certification requirements

  • No certification requirements

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

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