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Becoming a Minnesota Licensed Assessor
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Assessors play a key role in our property tax system. They evaluate land, buildings, and other structures for property taxes, the main source of funding for local governments in Minnesota.
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Their main duties include:
- Classify each property by type (residential, commercial, agricultural, etc.).
- Estimate the property value for tax purposes.
Counties and other local governments use this information to calculate property taxes for the year.
Assessors work for counties, cities, or townships across Minnesota. They work mainly at an office but also spend some time each year inspecting properties in-person. Most city and county assessors work full-time, while many township or contract assessors work part-time.
To earn a Minnesota assessor's license, you need to:
- Complete a series of required courses. For a list of courses, see Licensure Education.
- Obtain required assessment experience by one of the following options:
- Work in a county or city assessor's office under a licensed assessor
- Have a Minnesota Department of Commerce appraisers license
For a breakdown of the required experience, see the First Year Exposure Checklist.
Note: Every person assisting a licensed assessor in making exemption, classification, or valuation decisions must become licensed within three years from the date of employment.
- Apply to the State Board of Assessors and pay an annual fee.
Assessor licenses are good for one year (July 1 - June 30). Each year a renewal application must be submitted along with the annual fee. Required continuing education, must be completed at the end of each 4-year cycle, before renewing.
