One-Day Seminars

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One-day seminars provide required and continuing education opportunities for assessors and appraisers. They are produced by the Institute of Assessing Officers, the professional instruction arm of the NYS Assessors Association. 

Reminder: New York State will not reimburse or give credits for any class taken twice within a three-year period.

As of July 1, 2021, all online class attendees are required to have a camera and microphone, and the camera must be on at all times during instruction.

All one-day seminars are held online via Zoom, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated. The link is sent to all registrants the day before the class is held. If you have registered for a class but haven't received a link by 3:00 p.m. the day before, please call 315-706-3424 or email admin@nyassessor.org. Please do not wait until the morning of the class to contact us for the link.

One-Day Seminar Fees:

IAO (not IAAO) Members: $110.00

NYSAA Members: $120.00

Non-members: $225.00

Two ways to register: Click on the class name only if you wish to register and pay online. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a PDF registration form.

APPRAISING PARTIAL INTERESTS

June 16, 2025

Instructor: John Zukowski, IAO, MAI, SRA

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

This seminar will be a guided discussion through complex valuation theory and assessment theory issues and problems. Many of the topics have less than perfect answers, generally because of poorly defined tax laws and complicated case law decisions. The class will tackle one issue at a time, discuss what we know, what we have heard, look at case studies, appraisals, case law, and try to develop an opinion on each of these complex topics. Discussion will start with what is being valued and include questions such as can the value of the business affect the value of the real estate and can management affect property values. Other discussions include Fee Simple, specialty properties, and what is considered personal property vs. real estate.

The class will discuss two public laws, 339y and 581a, and the valuation standards for assessing these properties. From there the class will have discussions on understanding current use vs. highest and best use, mainly along the lines of what does current use mean? What was its intent, and how does it affect properties such as a residence, a fast-food restaurant, and fully occupied big box or drug stores.

This seminar will be useful for all assessors who have completed their basic training or have the desire to explore somewhat complex topics to greater depths.

ETHICS AND THE ASSESSOR - This class is full.

June 18, 2025

116 Salina St., Suite 8, Liverpool, NY 13088

This is an in-person class only. Seating is limited.

Instructor: Warren J Wheeler, IAO

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  

Ethics and the Assessor is being offered to help local assessing officials understand the ethical dilemmas they may encounter during the normal course of their workday. Participants will learn about the laws that address ethics, including conflicts of interest of municipal officers and employees, RPTL Sec. 336, statement of disclosure for assessors, freedom of information laws, and open meeting laws. There will be real life question and answer sessions that will be explored through group discussions. An ethics course is required for all assessors and county directors who were elected, appointed, or reappointed within the last year.

INTRODUCTION TO COMMERCIAL VALUATION

June 20, 2025

Instructor: John Valente

 9:0 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

This commercial valuation seminar introduces the concepts of commercial valuation while doing case studies of the cost and sales comparison approach. The concepts and topics of anticipation, Marshall Swift cost tables, entrepreneurial profit, depreciation, land value, searching for comparable sales and making adjustments will be presented. Students will also explore methods of reconciliation. Students will apply this knowledge by doing appraisal case studies using a medical office building and a hotel. Interactive surveys and knowledge comprehension will be done using SLIDO technology. Smart phones are strongly encouraged. 

The following classes are tentatively scheduled for 2025. This list is subject to change.

Ethics and the Assessor, July 18, 2025 (In-person at the Cornell Seminar on Professional Development, Hotel Ithaca, Ithaca, NY)

RPSv4, August 22, 2025

PDC Process - Working with ORPTS, August 27, 2025

Forestry Exemption & Penalty, September 19, 2025

Valuation of Golf Courses, September 22, 2025

VFF Creation and Modeling, October 17, 2025

Agricultural Exemption Processing, October 20, 2025

Commercial Valuation Advanced, October 24, 2025

Ethics for the Assessor, October 27, 2025

Basic V4 Tasks, November 7, 2025

General USPAP, November 10, 2025

Valuation of Fair Housing, November 19, 2025

Valuation of Gravel & Sand, December 5, 2025